SUNSHINE VALLEY SELLING YOUR HOME? CALL MATT WOTTON 0404 840 071 GazetteSeptember 23, 2020 | Edition 212 | sunshinevalleygazette.com.au | 10,000 Copies Fortnightly | [email protected] 10 ways to put a Spring in your step these holidays SPRING is in the air and holidays have begun, and we’ve compiled a list of activities to embrace everything the hinterland has to offer. Take a treetop challenge, savour fine foods or listen to the sounds of the rainforest with a visit to Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. With your newfound vigour you’ll have energy to burn so we’ve included the must-do activities for kids; from searching for the Gruffalo to animal encounters. We guarantee you’ll leave with a spring in your step! 1. Get ready to zipline through the rainforest 25m above the ground at The TreeTop Challenge. Located next to The Big Pineapple, it’s a great way to let the kids burn some energy. 2. For an up close animal encounter, visit Wildlife HQ and Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World, whose aviaries are home to more than 700 native and exotic birds. 3. Head over to The Ginger Factory and take on their augmented reality rainforest trail where they have brought to life five characters from The Gruffalo. Simply download the app and follow the clues. 4. Food glorious food. The hinterland’s food scene is rich in its diversity. Go off the beaten track and check out Kenilworth Dairies for mouth-watering cheese and chocolate mousse. Or try Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School, Yandina. 5. For an immersive experience, visit Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve in Maleny where the Rainforest Discovery Centre leads you through to 55 acres of pristine sub-tropical rainforest. Adventurers navigate the TreeTop Continued Page 21 Challenge in Woombye. IMPROVING safety in Nambour would imme- trol,” he said. “And it’s not good enough. I think diately stimulate business investment and if Queensland Police and the Department of reinvigorate the town, according to a local busi- Health fix the drug issue in the centre of town nessman. then the business investment will come and it’s Andrew Pitcher was raised in Nambour and actually that simple.” ‘Make Nambour has been involved in real estate investment and What wasn’t as simple, he said, was trying to development in the area for more than 20 years. navigate levels of government bureaucracy and “As a community, we need to aim higher,” he politics to get some real action on the ground. said. “This isn’t the town we grew up in. It isn’t “I certainly don’t want to cut across or devalue the town we love.” any of the work already in play in town. And Mr Pitcher said investment would quickly everyone is very sympathetic to people with safe and watch flow into the town as soon as serious drug and drug issues. But we need to get more action, crime issues were addressed. quicker. It’s not fair on the tens of thousands of “I know of plenty of business investment that people who want to feel safe and who want to is not far from coming to Nambour, but they’re see Nambour thrive. all a bit reluctant because of a group of about town thrive’ 20-40 people who are probably a bit out of con- To Page 2 Sunstate Gearbox 15 YEARS & Diff Service IN PALMWOODS! ALL YOUR DRIVE LINE NEEDS Nobody has sold more All cars, trucks, Specialising in: machinery properties in RTA No. AU49451 • Manuals • Automatics Removed David & Tina P 5478 8020 Palmwoods than us! • Transfercases • Differentials CA$H for some Ledger F 5478 8850 • Tailshafts • Clutches Burns Property Scrap metal Power Steering • Suspension • Wheel Alignments (formerly Elders Palmwoods) Child Restraints • Roadworthy Inspections OBLIGATION FREE APPRAISAL bins supplied Longevity + Integrity = BEST RESULTS Tyre & Balancing • All Mechanical Service & Repairs 5 Charles Court, Kunda Park Caloundra Scrap Metal Air Conditioning • All Brake Repairs We also sell nuts, bolts and tyres. Burns Ph: (07) 5476 8911 Property 1300 132 013 4/27 Main St, Palmwoods, Qld 4555 www.sunstategearbox.com.au ADVERTISEMENT Marty HUNT MP REALTY Member for Nicklin Fighting for our community Authorised by Marty Hunt MP. Shop 3, 51 Currie Street, Nambour QLD 4560. 2 NEWS SunshineValleyGazette.com.au | September 23, 2020. SunshineValleyGazette.com.au | September 23, 2020 NEWS 3 SUNSHINE VALLEY ‘Police presence required in CBD’ Gazette From Page 1 Editor’s Letter by Cameron Outridge “I think someone has to start saying some- [email protected] thing because I actually don’t think the prob- lems are unfixable. But no-one wants to take the first real steps.” Local Matters Mr Pitcher echoed the frustrations of many people in town who were afraid to speak up Sunshine Coast Every community newspaper likes to about the issue or who wondered why nothing proclaim its commitment to local stories had been done. Caloundra I Maleny I Woombye and issues. And we’re no different. But I’d “Make no mistake, if the anti-social behav- like to think that anyone who reads this iour, intimidation, crime and lawlessness are edition would agree that we are certainly not stopped, the reinvigoration simply won’t living up to our motto ... Local Matters. happen. We know that from the last few years. We feel very proud when we are called The Nambour community needs to aim higher, on to promote community groups, busi- and authorities need to make the streets safe Marty Hunt is pushing for increased Police presence in Nambour CBD ... the business community nesses, issues and events. again.” was very supportive of a Police Beat and there was even free premises offered for it in C-square. Our job is made much easier when Mr Pitcher and his wife Jo both went to school readers reach out to let us know what’s in the town, played sport in the town, and have important to them in their communities. many friends in town. There are only three of us (Tanya, yours “One of our parents went to school in Nam- truly and designer Katie) so we rely heavily bour and two of them worked in the town from Hunt pushes for on contributions. So please keep them the 1950s to the early 2000s. It has been good to coming. us. We’ll always back Nambour.” BEFORE AFTER On that note, thankyou to everyone who But real solutions were needed to break the has contributed to the whopping (for us) 61 CBD’s reputation for crime, homelessness, drug articles, columns and letters in this week’s use and antisocial behaviour, he said. Police Beat re-boot edition. “Everyone tries to paint a rosy picture about MEMBER for Nicklin Marty Hunt said he was visit, to see how the Police Beat trial was going Comprehensive Denture Services Try flicking through the following pages how Nambour is ‘coming back’ and that ‘great pressing on to regain the momentum of a six for them and it was very positively received. It and tell me that we don’t honour our credo. things are happening’. But words don’t have a Andrew Pitcher ... “real solutions are needed to break the CBD’s reputation for crime, week trial of a Police Beat in Nambour earlier makes people feel safe. And it discourages the direct to the public As usual you’ll find smiling faces, commu- real impact on the safety and security of people homelessness, drug use and antisocial behaviour”. in the year that had to be cut short when COVID type of antisocial behaviour that makes people nity news and great business coverage. in the town. Everyone knows people who used hit and police resources were redirected. feel scared. It’s not necessarily high crime but to shop in Nambour, who used to use its ser- “No doubt safety is the issue that we have to it’s behaviour that can be intimidating. When • Denture Repairs and Relines • Health Fund and DVA Rebates New Masthead: vices, but who simply no longer bother. That is Andrew Pitcher’s Proposal address to make sure people feel safe in Nam- your daughter, mum or grandmother is walking We enjoyed terrific feedback on the new an economic and social tragedy.” bour and the push for a Police Beat or at least down the street you don’t want to see people • Full and Partial Dentures • 10% Senior Discounts masthead. One person said they preferred Mr Pitcher said he was shocked at the levels There are two things that must happen, and gent on a better social environment. There is no a regular mobile beat unit continues,” Mr Hunt hanging around, fighting, swearing, drinking, the traditional look of the old English font, of crime and anti-social behaviour in recent quickly, in this order: shortage of money ready to come back into town said. spitting on the ground. • Comfortable Flexible Dentures • Mouthguards and more but overwhelmingly the response has been months, including the murder in the main 1. Improve safety in Nambour, immediately if the conditions are right. Mr Hunt said the business community was “And that fear, whether it’s warranted or not, positive. People like the clean, easy-to- street, an armed robbery, stabbings, drug use in and sustainably. • Large retailers like OfficeWorks, Bunnings, very supportive of a Police Beat and there was it exists. Perception is reality. This is not neces- read, fresh look. And so do we. public spaces, break and enters, and domestic • A police presence is required in the centre of Kmart and many fast food outlets should be in even free premises offered for it in C-square.