COOLUM LAKES  
Dear editor,

I read your article about the proposed 823-dwelling development application lodged by Cairns developer Darren Halpin with interest.

I met Mr Halpin on 24 May, after I found the pop-up that he said would be at Tickle Park (it was south of the Surf Club on some grass).  I found his answers to our questions about how he would deal with the flooding that occurs on this parcel of land regularly (Coolum Lakes) inadequate.

What he is proposing is ecologically unsound, which is why it is zoned rural with flood overlays. This land should not be rezoned to accommodate his development.

We were all wondering where the water that has been seen cresting at the lip of the Sunshine Motorway would go; perhaps one of the roofs should be a helicopter pad for evacuations.

His claim that the development would provide ‘right size’ housing for older residents is disingenuous. The proposal we saw was higher-cost homes that would not necessarily be available to all seniors. Not all of us want to ‘right size’ Mr Halpin.

The roads leading in and out of the proposed development are inadequate now. How are we to cope with construction vehicles and eventually the residents’ vehicles on South Coolum Road?

The feedback that the door knock led to support for the development is also misleading. There have been community meetings that I have attended in which residents have expressed shock at the idea of building on that floodplain.

When this DA comes to council, I sincerely hope they can see that this development should never go ahead.

I support Mr Halpin building his residential community on the coast somewhere, but not on our floodplain. I am sure there are more appropriate locations.

Karen Mork,
Coolum Beach.
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ANH DO VISIT  
Dear editor,

An Archibald Prize winner, a qualified lawyer, well- published author, popular TV performer, giver to charities, well- known comedian, immigrant, refugee from a war zone, boat person, child of poverty and a self-described happy refugee. Anh Do brought his talents and happiness to Australia and Noosa last week. More please!

Margaret Wilkie,
Peregian Beach.
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RETIREMENT VILLAGE  
Dear editor

With the drenching of late, it is timely to give the 823-retirement dwelling proposal on South Coolum Road proper scrutiny.

The developer will need to bring in fill, which will cause heavy traffic issues and impact on roads leading into the development.

What about the displacement of water, which would normally spread out on the floodplain – where does it go?

How will insurance companies assess the risk of the properties built on the floodplain?

While I hope Brian Anker from Development Watch is correct in assuming that Council will reject this proposal, I am far from optimistic as the LNP State Government can override the Council’s decision.

As Mr Anker said, we do need more housing, but is this really an appropriate place for such a project?

Robyn Deane,
Nambour.
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CWA LOVE  
Dear editor,

There’s a quiet revolution breaking out in country halls across Australia, and it isn’t driven by politicians, committees or consultants. It’s being led by women.

The revival of the CWA — that grand old brigade of scones, sewing and steel‑spined kindness — isn’t about nostalgia. Younger women are joining because the world feels wobbly, and they want something solid to hold on to.

Long before we invented terms like “community resilience,” the CWA women were practising it. They cooked for families in crisis, checked on neighbours during drought, stitched quilts for fundraisers, and somehow knew who needed help before anyone else did.

They didn’t call it leadership. They called it Tuesday.

In a time when towns are stretched by cost‑of‑living pressures and the frayed edges of social fragmentation, the CWA offers something rare — a place where community still feels whole.

Now, from Roma to Ravenshoe, and along the coast, that spirit is rising again.

On the Sunshine Coast, the most striking development is the opening of new branches, including a brand‑new one in Bli Bli.

And this month, Maroochydore is hosting the QCWA State Conference, a gathering that highlights just how central this region has become to the organisation’s future.

New members are discovering that the CWA isn’t quaint — it’s a blueprint for how communities survive and thrive. As one young woman put it, “I came for the baking. I stayed because these women know how to hold a town together.”

Today’s members bring new tools to old wisdom — digital organising, social‑media fundraising, and the juggling act of work and family that makes their commitment even more remarkable.

They anchor communities when rivers rise, when crops fail, when someone’s world falls apart at 3 pm on an ordinary Thursday.

Real strength doesn’t shout. Sometimes it wears an apron, carries a thermos, and calculates on a spreadsheet how many meals will be required for disaster‑relief workers.

The CWA isn’t making a comeback. It’s passing the torch — and Australia is quietly rising with it.

Garry Reynolds,
Peregian Springs.
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