Hello and Welcome!
Thanks for visiting my website. On this site you will find information about key local and regional issues which people have already raised with me. I’ve also listed the values and principles which guide the way I deal with issues.
Most importantly, this web site is a way for you and I to get to know each other. I invite you to contact me by email or phone to talk about the issues that matter most to you. I’d also be happy to meet with you or your community group to further discuss your issues.
During the campaign I’ll be door-knocking and visiting local community groups, so there will be plenty of opportunities for us to get to know each other. By election day on 15 March I’d like you to be able to vote confidently for
"DEBIN08"
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan took time from his busy schedule to travel to the Sunshine Coast to launch Debbie's campaign. Debbie is standing for Division 8 as an independent, but there is little doubt the direct access she has to Cabinet Ministers and other decision makers in the Queensland and Australian governments will help when the Sunshine Coast Regional Council needs to lobby those tiers of government for funding or improvements.
At her campaign launch, Debbie Blumel told guests, "We must ensure that detailed consultation is undertaken with all interested parties, especially with residents, the people who live here and have made their homes here, when future land use planning is undertaken.
"And development applications must be rigidly tested against the council's endorsed planning schemes to ensure the will of the people is implemented, and implemented with transparent integrity. There must be no deals done behind closed doors. Absolutely none."
Key issues in Division 8
This campaign is about the local issues that matter most to you.
1. Airport
Successive reviews of the Airport Master Plan have recommended the construction of a longer 45 metre wide east west runway to replace the short, 35 metre wide north south runway. However, there is still no timeframe and no financial plan for its implementation. The current runway is dangerous. It cannot and must not be extended any further into the safety zone where people live. I will work with the state and federal governments to achieve land acquisitions, land tenure changes and necessary approvals to underpin a financially viable plan for the airport. I’ll stop the buck passing on this issue and personally drive the process forward.
2. De-main the David Low Way and fix the congested intersections
Traffic congestion on the David Low Way is horrendous. It can be difficult and dangerous to enter this road from side streets. Ocean Drive and Tanah Street East/West are particularly difficult. The David Low Way is a State Government main road, but I’ll work hard to “de-main” it. This will transfer responsibility for the road to the Sunshine Coast Regional Council along with a financial package to assist with future works. Then we’ll have the funds and capability to fix the hot spots and landscaping. It makes sense for this to be done by the regional council because that’s the level of government that’s closest to the problem and the people it affects.
Debbie and Deputy Premier Paul Lucas talk to locals.
3. Stop urban sprawl on the floodplains
Proposals to develop urban sprawl on the upstream Maroochy River floodplains would exacerbate flood impacts at Twin Waters, Maroochy Waters and Cotton Tree. That’s why I campaigned hard to ensure that the floodplains were not included in the urban footprint under the SEQ Regional Plan. While our “Save the Caneland” campaign was successful back then, the five year review of the SEQ Regional Plan is already upon us.
We can expect developers to exert intense pressure on our new Regional Councilors to support such schemes. I’ve stood up to the developers before on this issue and I’ll do so again. Remember that every cubic metre of landfill upstream is one more cubic meter of flood water downstream in Division 8.
Developing the floodplains will also create heartache for future residents and potentially lead to huge liabilities for Council - that is, for ratepayers.
I’ve seen devastating flooding along Bradman Ave, Mudjimba, Pacific Paradise, Marcoola and even at Twin Waters when it was still a wetland. You can count on me to protect these communities by saying NO to urban development on the upstream flood plain.
4. Pacific Paradise Community Hall
Funding of $800,000 was obtained from the State Government for a Pacific Paradise community hall some years ago. This was widely reported in the media at the time, and the lack of progress has been very disappointing for everyone concerned.
I will work with the Pacific Paradise community to help them secure the additional funding they need to build the hall. Together we can get this stalled project moving again.
5. Save Yaroomba’s parabolic dune
The potential damage to the Yaroomba parabolic dune from ramming through an ocean-view recreational pathway between the controversial Hyatt re-development and Yaroomba Beach must be stopped. Cutting a 5 metre swath through the dune vegetation is likely to lead to erosion, degradation of biodiversity and permanent structural damage to this significant environmental icon.
The 96km pathway is a project being driven by SUNROC. Yes that’s right - it is being driven by our very own councils. A desperate 11th hour bid by a local community group staved off this environmental blunder – for now.
I’m committed to a better route for the pathway and I’ll also approach the State Minister to identify and implement an appropriate land covenant to secure and protect the parabolic dune from any such stupidity in the future.
Learn more about parabolic dunes.
6. Development applications which are inconsistent with the planning scheme
This division’s current councilor, Tony Northey, seems to think his role is to champion development applications, such as the proposed North Shore shopping centre, on behalf of developers. This is very concerning behaviour from an elected representative!
I am committed to testing all development applications against the endorsed planning scheme for the area (which is legally required even now) and I’ll champion community concerns, not developer interests, until all have been answered.
7. Improve the health of the Maroochy River
The Maroochy River estuary is at the heart of Division 8. The river mouth will inevitably experience the positive or negative impacts of conditions throughout the catchment.
I will support the efforts of communtiy organisations to increase understanding of the Maroochy River ecosystems and I’ll support riparian restoration and revegetation projects in the upstream council divisions where the problems start.
8. Hooning
Hooning in cars creates significant disturbances and causes accidents in our neighbourhoods. It is the role of the police to catch and prosecute the perpetrators, but local road design modifications and other initiatives can also help to make streets unappealing to louts. I’ll work with neighbourhood groups to quickly solve their hooning and rat-running problems. Our neighbourhoods must be kept peaceful and safe.
9. Broadband
It seems ridiculous, but many people living in the middle of Division 8 still can’t access broadband. Broadband is essential for service industries, students, small businesses, investors, medical file transfers and a multitude of livelihood and lifestyle reasons.
Local Government Association State of the Regions Reports show that regions with full broadband coverage are more productive than those without. Media mogul James Packer described Australia’s broadband position as “embarrassing”, and he was right.
I will work with the federal government and telecommunication agencies to ensure that everyone in Division 8 can get broadband Internet access. Let’s not put up with a second-rate service any longer.
10. Climate Change
Low lying coastal communities such as ours are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as storm surges and floods. We urgently need to review our vulnerability by mapping the potential effects on our coastal residential communities, infrastructure and ecosystems. This will help us to plan for safer more sustainable communities. Communities must be involved in these assessments.
There is much we can do locally to help ourselves too, through:
- Smarter energy use
- Better public transport
- Renewable energy use
- Smarter land use
- Getting involved in emissions trading
- Shifting away from fossil fuels.
I’m committed to new directions and fresh ideas. That’s why I successfully advocated for $4.6 million from the Rudd Government for the innovative Coolum Ridges Rainwater Harvesting Scheme.
Coolum Ridges will become a water recycling demonstration project for the rest of the world with the commitment of $4.6 million, (a pledge I made and which will be honoured by the Rudd Federal Government) to establish a water recycling scheme at this new estate.
With the cooperation of the Federal Government, Maroochy Council and FKP Developments, this project will provide a roof water harvesting scheme by treating roofwater and returning it to the town supply system.
11. Housing affordability
The number of households in mortgage stress – that is, paying more than 30 per cent of their gross income in mortgage repayments – has exploded on the Sunshine Coast. The increase in the proportion of households experiencing mortgage stress locally is 5% above the national average.
The housing affordability crisis is exacting an unfortunate human toll, including health effects.
The Rudd Government is establishing a National Rental Affordability Scheme that will help create 50,000 new affordable rental properties across Australia. This scheme will use tax incentives and financial support to provide rental housing to low and middle income families at 20 per cent below market rents. The government is also establishing a $500 million Housing Affordability Fund to tackle the cost of infrastructure, saving each new home buyer up to $20 000.
I will work with regional housing organizations and peak bodies to identify and facilitate local opportunities for these schemes so that Sunshine Coast families can benefit.
12. Cycling-friendly roads
Many Sunshine Coast people are keen to commute by bicycle, for fitness and for fun.
We need to lift our investment in safe cycling infrastructure to support this healthy activity, especially as peak oil and climate change impacts affect us more and more.
Shared pathways suit slower speeds such as child cyclists (especially around schools), mobility vehicles, walkers and runners. Dedicated cycleways are needed for commuting cyclists travelling longer distances at higher speeds. Where pathways are not feasible, painted cycling lanes and bicycle awareness zones (BAZ) can effectively create awareness of the need to share the road. Dedicated two-way protected cycling lanes have been used in other countries to support commuting cyclists and must be considered here. Wider shoulders need to be designed on new roads and retro-fitted to existing roads to create greater clearance between cars and cyclists.
Statement of Principles
I believe in…
- putting people first
- protecting and enhancing the natural environment
- strengthening the regional economy
- creating thriving villages, not urban sprawl
- creating healthy communities with shade, pathways, sport and recreation opportunities, and public transport
- sustainable population growth through a robust planning scheme
- supporting major regional infrastructure – roads, bridges, entertainment and convention centre, botanical gardens
- supporting the Sunshine Coast University and its innovative business incubator
- precinct planning to support small businesses with streetscaping and street furniture
- supporting social and community events that bring people together
- regional economic development that matches our regional strengths and attributes
- attracting significant State and Federal funding to the Sunshine Coast
and that
- community engagement and participation produces better results every time.
Authorised by Ray Barber 20 Heathfield Rd Coolum Qld 4573