Not everyone uses Social Media
For our supporters who prefer not to reference Facebook, here are several updates from our page where we share articles, development application links and other local updates that we think are relevant to our beach-side community.
What's been happening?
(i) Sunshine Coast Marine Turtle Conservation Plan
At the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 24 August 2023, the final Sunshine Coast Marine Turtle Conservation Plan was endorsed.
Click HERE to download and read the plan
(ii) That development! Beachside, Buddina
Following Council's refusal of the developers 2023 proposed dilution of turtle lighting conditions, an Appeal was lodged and the 1st review by Judge Long in the P&E Court was on Friday 25 November. The law firm, representing the developer, stated:
... following “without prejudice” discussions, the parties have reached an agreement that resolves all outstanding issues in the appeal... Our client is currently in the process of preparing those expert reports and these will be subsequently settled ... the proposed course of action that has been agreed between the parties...
SCRC was self-represented and confirmed the above arrangement.
Interesting (and very concerning) that Council has apparently agreed to a dilution of the turtle lighting approval conditions, while expert reports to support the newly agreed dilution are in the process of being prepared? 🤔🙄
(iii) ShapingSEQ 2023 update (the SEQ Regional Plan)
The updated plan will be published by the State in early 2024. Friends of Buddina made 2 submissions which we published on our website.
SCRC also made a submission and continue to push the State for reclassification of a large area nearby the Kawana Shopping Centre as a Major Regional Activity Centre.
"Council recommends and requests that the Kawana Shoppingworld precinct be identified as forming a component part of the Kawana Major Regional Activity Centre." (page 16, recommendation #8)
If successful, this will likely result in similar planning development of higher density and increased building heights at Kawana as seen at Caloundra CBD and Maroochydore CBD.
Click HERE to read the detail of Council's submission.
(iv) Federal Gov't Funding of Transport Projects (some scrapped & some deferred)
The recent Federal funding announcement supported projects of "national importance/significance" and included cuts for projects that did not satisfy this criteria, such as the Mooloolah River Interchange (MRI) and its dependent projects (Kawana Motorway and SC Mass Transit/Light Rail).
No doubt there will be a delegation heading to Canberra to discuss reinstatement of federal funding with the State (and Council) having to consider alternative funding arrangements for local projects.
In the meantime, the Direct Rail business case is scheduled to be finalised & submitted by end 2023 and, as a project of "national importance/significance", 50/50 funding will be considered by the Federal Government.
(v) Sunshine Coast Public Transport - the future?
2 different systems along 2 different routes:
SC Direct Rail along the CAMCOS corridor
SC Local Mass Transit along the Coastal corridor
For the Local Mass Transit proposal, its dependence on the MRI is further challenged by the withdrawal of Federal funding, so the questions remain When? Which vehicle? and at What cost?
TMR are progressing only 2 options for a SC Local Mass Transit system along our Coastal Corridor:
Light Rail (with and without wires); and
Rapid Bus Transit
TMR suggest that both options are similar and will be run on a dedicated "right of way" along the coastal route (Maroochydore to Birtinya). Fixed infrastructure will be located down the middle or both sides of the roads and interruption to motor vehicle traffic as right of way at intersections is given to the mass transit vehicle. Public consultation is from 1 November to 10 December 2023.
The State is asking do you want “Light Rail” or “Bus Rapid Transit” along Nicklin Way, then over to Alexandra Headlands, and along the beachfront to Maroochydore? These are the same preferences previously proposed by Council. If you have ever responded to any State Gov’t surveys, then you know that you need an account (email & password) to log-in and it’s super easy to set up an account.
It is important that we ALL respond individually to the survey for the SC Public Transport, labelled as Vehicle Options. This is the link to the page where you’ll find the survey ½ down the page:
👉 https://www.yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au/sunshine-coast-public-transport/scpt-quick-poll
You can also contact TMR via email: SCPublicTransport@tmr.qld.gov.au
Complacency and inaction EQUAL Light Rail and high density development within 400m of Nicklin Way. Ohhhh yes, and much of the beachfront along Buddina and Warana is coincidentally within that range!
Some stories of interest: Here’s a selection of articles we shared on our FB page.
(i) We need urban trees more than ever – here’s how to save them from extreme heat
Is anyone out there listening?
Click HERE to read this article from The Conversation.
(ii) The illegal killing of 265 trees on Sydney’s North Shore is not just vandalism. It’s theft on a grand scale
And this happening here on the Sunshine Coast – all too often! Future generations have been robbed of the benefits these trees (including saplings and established trees) … these assets are lost to our environment, the climate, protection and as habitat for other plants and animals.
Click HERE to read this article from The Conversation.
(iii) Sign installed on foreshore amid warning of huge fines for illegal clearing
Will our SC Council also adopt support for the environment?
Click HERE to read this article from the Sunshine Coast News
(iv) Why are dead and dying seabirds washing up on our beaches in their hundreds?
Dead migratory birds on our beaches - we are starting to see instances here on the Sunshine Coast. When a Mass Mortality or 'Wreck' event occurs it is an alarm bell - seabirds are the marine equivalent of the “canary in the coal mine” and we should be listening to what they’re telling us. What's causing the deaths is a large #MarineHeatwave off the east coast of Australia (refer to the Adrift website https://adriftlab.org/ for more information about their research work).
Click HERE to read this article from The Conversation.
(v) Paddy the green turtle spends winter in South Australian waters, defying 'natural history books' – an interesting read from ABC news.
Click HERE to read this ABC News article
Material Change of Use development applications (DAs)
We regularly share the website links to some local development applications submitted to Council.
The following DA's at BUDDINA and Warana are in progress PENDING APPROVAL by Council:
𝗠𝗖𝗨𝟮𝟯/𝟬𝟯𝟬𝟰 Dual Occupancy at 88 Lowanna Dr on 546m², lodged 14/11/2023
𝗠𝗖𝗨𝟮𝟯/𝟬𝟮𝟵𝟮 Dual Occupancy at 16 Currawan St on 557m², lodged 03/11/2023
𝗠𝗖𝗨𝟮𝟯/𝟬𝟭𝟭𝟲.𝟬𝟭 Dual Occupancy Minor Change at 3 Langura St on 570m², lodged 02/11/2023
𝗠𝗖𝗨𝟮𝟮/𝟬𝟮𝟲𝟲.𝟬𝟭 at 37 Adaluma Ave was lodged 19/10/2023 and is an IMPACT assessable application for a habitable room on the rooftop, exceeding prescribed building heights.
𝗠𝗖𝗨𝟮𝟯/𝟬𝟬𝟵𝟯 Multiple Dwellings (3 units) at 12 Alkira St on 546 m², lodged 14/04/2023
To view all development applications lodged, not yet approved, use this link
👉 https://developmenti.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Home/AddressSearch
and then enter Buddina or Warana (or any suburb) into the search criteria to narrow the selection to your locality and review the “Application Documents” for the selected application of interest. Alternatively, you can change the criteria and select approved applications
Current Surveys - have your say, don't leave it to others with different opinions
TMR Survey - Light Rail or Rapid Bus Transit - otherwise comment on another option
The State is asking do you want 'Light Rail' or 'Bus Rapid Transit' along Nicklin Way, over to Alexandra Headlands and along the beachfront to Maroochydore?
Please respond individually to the survey about Public Transport labelled Vehicle Options. This is the link to the page where you’ll find the survey ½ down the page:
👉 https://www.yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au/sunshine-coast-public-transport/scpt-quick-poll
