Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

BOB ABBOT …

“I won’t be one of those former mayors who can’t let go.” In four months the first amalgamated Sunshine Coast Regional Council stands down along with its high profile mayor, Bob Abbot. Mayor Abbot spoke with HT editor Michael Berry about his retirement from office and his views on the next mayor and council. HT: The council election [...]

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Funding our Future …

Mayor Bob Abbot predicts closer links between Local Governments and the Commonwealth Mayor Bob Abbot is a board member of the Australian Local Government Association. He returned recently from the national congress of local governments in Canberra where the heads of the three major political parties jointly supported a closer relationship between the federal and local [...]

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Bob Abbot … MAYOR with a MISSION

With nine months to go before the next local government election, Mayor Bob Abbot is on a mission to consolidate the legacy of the Sunshine Coast’s first amalgamated council. Regardless of whether or not he will stand again as mayor, he wants the community to recognise the importance of Council’s completed Corporate Plan. Bob Abbot [...]

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Sunshine Coast … who can afford to live here?

“Housing is almost unaffordable now for a large percentage of this community” MAYOR BOB ABBOT AT COUNCIL we don’t have a housing affordability policy, we have an affordable living policy because we know full well that the initial cost of the house is only one segment of the long-term cost of living. You can buy a [...]

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Sunshine Coast … who can afford to live here?

Rick Baberowski Everyone wants to live in paradise, and in recent years the Sunshine Coast has been the focus for those wanting what they see as the best of all worlds. The reality is that all communities are a fine balance of infrastructure, economic activity and controlled growth. This particular paradise is beginning to feel the [...]

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Bob Abbot’s Election Countdown…

Mayor Bob Abbot assesses his chances as Council nears the end of its first term. You have a year left as mayor of the Sunshine Coast. Will you be standing again? I will make up my mind by August this year and I’ll make an announcement in September. That’s six months out from an election. If [...]

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MAYOR BOB ABBOT

Keeping the Lights on! THE PRESSURES on the Sunshine Coast to withstand its tsunami of urban sprawl are enormous. Mayor Bob Abbot is now openly attacked by the development industry, with the Property Council even calling on the state government to remove him. Here, the mayor reveals how he copes with the pressure. I do understand the various [...]

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BOB ABBOT: Give us infrastructure first …

Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot is claiming a victory in securing important infrastructure commitments ahead of residential development of the Palmview greenfield site. In this interview with HT editor Michael Berry, the mayor explains the importance of this win. HT: The latest population growth figures reveal we are failing to contain growth within reasonable limits, despite your best efforts. Are you [...]

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MALENY COMMUNITY ASKS COUNCIL … Where is our Obi Obi walkway?

A public meeting of almost 200 Maleny residents on August 28 questioned Council’s spending priorities on the Maleny Community Precinct. SUNSHINE COAST COUNCIL has completed its Master Plan for the Precinct but has left off the plan a key community resource – the 4km walkway from the township to Gardners Falls. There was also concern over [...]

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Decentralise or Perish – Bob Abbot’s Prescription For Queensland

Bob Abbot believes that population growth and related infrastructure problems are central to the coming federal election. He is buoyed up by his inclusion on Federal Labor’s population panel and believes that decentralisation is back on the agenda for handling population growth on both sides of the political divide. “Decentralisation means regional development”, says Mr Abbot. [...]

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