Sunshine Coast

Who should pay for repairs of damaged residential canals?

This letter was published in the Sunshine Coast Daily of Wednesday 7 May 08.

Canals should be fixed by owners

There's a new council in town and promises made by Maroochy to its millionaire landowners need not necessarily apply now.

These people along the canals bought land that had been cleared from an old swamp. Their land and the mosquito pond in front of them is the lowest point on the landscape.

It was designed by nature to capture the silt and run-off from higher up the river system so that the offshore marine habitats are protected. It's still working fine, even after all of the alterations.

The land and its mosquito ponds have appreciated in value remarkably.

Anyone living on those canals can be rightly be called millionaires. Why should the rest of the Coast have to dip into their pockets to help them out?

The canals aren't public property and until the millionaires open up access through their land, similar to the British rambling laws, then they should be responsible for the upkeep.

If they think the developer of the projects on the Esplanade is to blame, sue, and if they win, use the money to fix the problem.

No one forced you to buy on a cleared swamp. Take responsibility for your own actions. Don't expect the rest of us to bail you out.

Cate Molloy pledges to bring "tindo" - the world's first solar bus to the sunshine coast

Media Release: 5 March 2008

Cate Molloy, Division 9 Candidate for the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, today pledged that if elected she would urge, if not demand, that the new Sunshine Coast Super Council adopt Adelaide City Council's new TINDO (Kaurna Aboriginal name for sun) totally solar powered electronic bus system.

"Adelaide City Council's electronic solar bus system is a world first. It is an exciting and fabulous transport system that the Sunshine Coast must adopt," said Ms Molloy.

"The TINDO system will be used everyday by the people of Adelaide through the Adelaide City Council's free Adelaide Connector Bus service," she said.

"We must do the same here. The TINDO is a purely solar powered electronic bus which is totally environmental friendly ," she said.

"It is financially competitive - but most importantly it is totally clean and silent with a performance in power to match diesel engines," she said.

"The Sunshine Coast must adopt Adelaide's forward thinking," said Cate Molloy.

"We must overhaul our transport system and make bus transport available to all while getting rid of carbon emissions," said Cate.

"The Sunshine Coast Council in alliance with the Australian Government could easily afford to replicate Adelaide's solar PV system," she said.

"It's just up to us to show the vision and determination to make it happen," said Cate Molloy.

"And I pledge that if elected, I will make it happen," said Cate.

Enquiries:
Cate Molloy,
Peregian Beach, Queensland
07 54483248
0408729499
0407114729
cate.molloy|AT|gmail.com

Cate Molloy agrees to be interviewed by OSCAR on condition that it is public

Ms Cate Molloy, Division 9 Candidate for the Sunshine Coast Super Council, has now agreed to be interviewed by OSCAR on one very important condition.

"I am happy that OSCAR has finally decided to release the names of its constituent organisations," Cate Molloy said.

"I am still nevertheless very much concerned about the transparency and accountability of the selection process of this self-anointed community lobby group," she said.

"I am therefore happy to be interviewed by OSCAR on one condition," said Ms
Molloy.

"My condition is that the interview be conducted very publicly in the media. By this I mean that OSCAR should put its questions to me in the press and I shall similarly answer them in the press for all to see," said Cate Molloy.

"Only by conducting such an "interview" process in this way, can the voting public, OSCAR's member organisations and its grassroots constituents see the basis on which OSCAR will make its decisions on its preferred candidates," said Ms Molloy.

"By setting itself up as a self anointed lobby group to influence voters, OSCAR has a public duty and responsibility to at all times be accountable and to act transparently. It therefore must conduct its interviews in public," said Cate Molloy.

Enquiries:
Cate Molloy,
Peregian Beach Queensland
07 54483248
0407114729
0408729499

Cate Molloy calls on all Sunshine Coast Super Council Candidates to boycott OSCAR

Media Release: Cate Molloy calls on all Sunshine Coast Super Council Candidates to boycott OSCAR

24th February 2008

Ms Cate Molloy, Division 9 Candidate for the Sunshine Coast Super Council (and former Member for Noosa) today called on all Council and Mayoral candidates to boycott the group called OSCAR (Organisation of Sunshine Coast Associations of Residents).

OSCAR claims to represent the interests of the residents of the Sunshine Coast and is interviewing candidates with a view to promoting those it favours.

"However, Oscar so far refuses to be transparent by identifying its member organisations," Cate Molloy said.

"This is extremely worrying. Any group can purport to be representing the community but actually be a front for any sort of vested interests," she said.

"If OSCAR refuses to be transparent and accountable to the community, just as all candidates are expected to be, then it must be boycotted by all candidates," said Ms Molloy.

"OSCAR must also answer allegations that it actually approached certain candidates to run before the election writs were issued," she said.

"If this is the case, this group can hardly pretend not to be biased," Cate Molloy said.

"True democracy has no place for shady interest groups which refuse too identity just who their members are, and who they represent, " said Cate Molloy.

"For any candidate to allow him/herself to be interviewed by this group is to reward this questionable group with credibility,' said Cate.

"This should not be allowed," she said.

Enquiries: Cate Molloy
Peregian Beach, Queensland
07 54483248
0407114729
0408729499