Contributing for others – Standing Up For The Sunshine Coast
October 4, 2019
One of the models that we use in our work is what we call The Ten Dimensions of Wealth, and one of those dimensions is contribution.
We’re both long time advocates for the environment and sustainability, and proud Sunshine Coast residents so we especially look up to those who go the extra mile to protect the environment as their form of contribution.
The Sunshine Coast's Fight for Integrity
Lynn Saxton has dedicated over 15 years to advocating for the integrity and sustainability of the Sunshine Coast. Recently, she has been spearheading efforts through Sunshine Coast Development Watch to combat inappropriate development that threatens the community’s natural beauty and heritage. Saxton’s story is a powerful example of how personal dedication can lead to monumental change, and it serves as an inspiration for communities everywhere to stand up for their rights.
Understanding the Challenge
This project in discussion included plans for high-rise buildings that starkly contrast the area's original planning scheme, which advocates for low-rise, environmental-friendly structures. Saxton highlights how this development poses a risk not only to the local wildlife and residents' views but also to the local tourism and small businesses that thrive on the area’s unique charm. There are many such projects that negatively effect lifestyle and ecosystems adversely and overall can create many problems that could be thought about more wholistically to avoid unnecessary issues.
Community at a Crossroads
This development, backed by modifications to the planning scheme by the Sunshine Coast Council, has seen over 9,000 objections from both residents and tourists, indicating widespread opposition. The core of the issue lies in the council's decision that appears to favour high-rise projects, setting a dangerous precedent for future developments. This fight is not just about a local neighbours; it symbolises a broader struggle for maintaining community standards and environmental integrity in the face of rapid urbanisation.
Making Your Stand: How to Help
Despite the daunting task, Lynn and her team worked relentlessly and this has paid off and eventually the development was stopped and a less damaging project is in its place.
The Bigger Picture: Contributing to Community
This is not just a call to action for those near the Sunshine Coast but also an invitation to reflect on what contributions you are making to your own community. Are you helping to preserve the local environment? Supporting small businesses? Ensuring that your home remains a place of natural beauty and cultural heritage?
A Call to Legacy
Take a moment to consider the legacy you want to leave. It’s about more than just immediate impacts; it’s about how future generations will experience their community. Your engagement and support can forge a lasting difference.
The fight for the Sunshine Coast isn’t just about preserving its physical space, but its heart and spirit. What things in your life or business are worth preserving, what would you like to see happen and what small thing could you contribute that would make a difference?
