SAFETY ON YANDINA COOLUM RD 
Dear editor,

I am amazed that after all these years, the narrow strip between the motorway and Yandina Coolum Beach Road near the roundabout has not had a vegetation barrier or physical barrier installed to stop Coolum Beach Road motorists freaking out, especially at night, from northbound motorway traffic and vice versa. Anywhere else, this safety issue would have been fixed long ago. If the government doesn’t want to spend the money, a number of warning signs on both approaches might be a good idea. No doubt in the too-hard basket for the local member.

Graeme Hyland,
Mt Coolum.
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ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS 
Dear editor,

Today, I join the global community in honouring the millions of people killed and injured on the world’s roads. Each year, more than 1.2 million people die in crashes worldwide—lives cut short in tragedies that are preventable.

In Australia, the loss is growing. Road deaths have risen for the past five years, with more than 1,300 lives lost in the last year alone. Thousands more families are living with life-changing injuries

I am calling for renewed national leadership and urgent action to reverse this unacceptable trend.

Unless we take action, we will fail to get close to our objectives of 2030, or have we forgotten them already?

Since 2022, we have not seen a reduction in deaths but an increase.

On this day of remembrance, we ask all Australians to reflect, support affected families, and reaffirm the commitment that every life matters and every death is preventable.

Colin Caudell,
Coolum Beach.
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RENEWABLES 
Dear editor,

In the outer Paroo, reported facts are few, and where people of science are scanty, on a line never crossed by those in the bush are the thoughts of renewable energy. It brings shame to the names of those who are game to give wind farms some land on which to expand, or anyone who dares to praise them. While fame outlives blame in policy games, there are naysayers who’d rather get fracked.

Margaret Wilkie,
Peregian Beach.
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E-BIKES  
Dear editor,

Going back a few years now, there was an overnight transition (not quite), but it almost seemed like that. What was the number of push bikes sharing the roads with motor vehicles? The majority had no issues except the mandatory wearing of helmets, which was probably 20% compliant.

I am in no way against ways to minimise congestion on suburban roads; however, then out come the E-bikes and scooters – thousands all over Australia. Local and city councils had them scattered all over the place. At least a lot of our fearless leaders were obviously asleep at the wheel, as there appeared to be very few, if any, rules in place and even now the rules appear more like guidelines.

They appear to be able to go where they please – overtake, undertake, wrong side of the road, red lights, pedestrian footpaths etc.

I am aware the Police are cracking down as best they can, but they can only do so much. In the meantime, motorists and heavy vehicle drivers continually have to take evasive action to prevent collisions with these scooters and bikes. Please, leaders shut the show down – for the sake of safety and crashes get them all off the road and start again with a better plan

Gordon Benfer,
Yandina Creek.
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NET ZERO 
Dear editor

Australians know a good thing when they see it, and especially if they can see the long-term benefits, not only for themselves but for future generations and the environment.

In 2024, 4.2 million homes and businesses switched to solar power. As of October 2025, that number has risen to 10.9 million or 38.68% according to the Australian Clean Energy Regulator.

The Albanese government’s rebate scheme for households to install batteries has been accessed by over 100,000 households.

In the first six months of 2025, 12.1% of all new car sales were electric vehicles.

Most Australians accept that we face an existential climate crisis if we don’t stop using fossil fuels, and they want our government to do more.

So, why is the Liberal National Coalition making itself even more irrelevant since their drubbing at the election by walking away from their net zero policy? Is it just engaging in political maneuvering, trying to determine who will control the coalition and satisfying their fossil fuel donors?

Clean, sustainable renewables, of which we are fortunate to have in abundance, are the way of helping to keep the planet liveable for future generations.

Robyn Deane,
Nambour.
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MICROPLASTICS 
Dear editor,

The pressure is on to build new homes as quickly as possible, but a dangerous downside is toxic polystyrene pollution spreading from building sites.

Polystyrene waffle pods are increasingly used in constructing houses to contain the rising cost of concrete placements and speed up construction.

When they blow off-site, the issue goes beyond the visual pollution in our neighbourhoods as the pods contain powerful additives, including flame retardants and plasticisers. These can generate alarming environmental and human health problems when they break into tiny particles.

Like other people in the neighbourhood, when I’m out enjoying our beautiful state of Queensland, I often pick up litter if I see it – but the threat comes from what we don’t see.

Microplastics are almost invisible and linger lethally in the natural environment for years. They are incredibly difficult to remediate.

When they end up in our waterways and are ingested by fish, our community is at risk from eating seafood contaminated with the chemical toxins that break down in the gut of a wide range of aquatic species.

The microplastics are not only dangerous in themselves but also absorb notorious nasties such as heavy metals and pesticides.
As the construction industry continues to grow, so too does its responsibility to prevent further environmental harm and risk to humans.

With frenetic activity on so many sites, regulation is difficult. It is hard to identify the site where the microplastics came from in polluting the food chain, and to rely on penalties as a deterrent.

The solution lies in collaboration between developers, builders, and tradies with local government and state pollution control authorities to address a problem that is not going to go away soon.

Let’s not turn a blind eye to the threat as we try to make up for the housing deficit inherited from decades of neglect and the human cost of homelessness.

Garry Reynolds,
Peregian Springs.
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TRUMP 
Dear editor,

What does Donald Trump need to do to win over his remaining critics?  After one year into his second term, his achievements are remarkable, least of all his brokering of a peace deal in the Middle East and other conflicts.

It’s unconscionable to his most biased critics who claimed he was a dictator revisited to stride the world political stage as a peacemaker. And his efforts to secure the southern border of the USA and deport dangerous illegal aliens show the rest of the world how to get things done.

All praise to President Trump and his hard-working, patriotic administration. A courageous politician who delivers on his promises and does not bow to unelected bodies such as the WEF, WHO and the United Nations.

G.Black,
Coolum Beach.
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