Palmwoods
District News

September
1998

Page 4

Hinterland shire plan fails to win support

THE Hinterland Shire Committee has been struck a body blow in its bid to have Maroochy and Caloundra coastal suburbs amalgamated into a coast city and a rural shire.

Both Maroochy Shire and Caloundra City councils have rejected the concept.

Minister for Local Government, Planning, Regional and Rural Communities Terry Mackenroth sought council comment after a meeting with the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Shire Steering Committee.

He said the Government would not make any references to amalgamate or create local governments without the agreement of the affected local governments.

Earlier this month Maroochy Shire Council resolved that it did not wish to initiate a review of shire boundaries at this time.

Caloundra City Council was told last week that costs of a boundary review for Caloundra had been estimated at $150,000 and that there was little support from the local community to justify the expense.

"This has no standing and no support. In general there is no great support for this in the hinterland," Cr Ian Bryce said. "There’s also a great concern that there is no symbiosis or empathy with Yandina."

The Bruce Highway and the Mary River valley are suggested east and west boundaries for the proposed Hinterland Shire with the Caboolture Shire boundary at Beerburrum to the south and Noosa Shire boundary near Eumundi to the north.

Landsborough and Palmwoods have both been suggested as civic centres for the new shire, causing concern that existing infrastructure in Nambour was being overlooked.

Chairman of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Shire Steering Committee John Chiarotto said he was disappointed with the decision even though it came as no surprise.

"We expected this move to be rejected but we still had to go through the motions," he said. "We are thankful to the councils that it was at least considered but this doesn’t mean that the battle is over just yet."

The move for a hinterland shire began in October 1995. The Steering Committee has submitted a petition of 3800 signatures to Parliament supporting a boundary review.

The proposed new shire would have a population of 40,000 with an estimated total income of $25 million.

·=============== ===============·

Sunshine Coast
Index