Sunshine Coast Region

Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Gubbi Gubbi country. The Gubbi Gubbi language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Sunshine Coast Region and Gympie Region, particularly the towns of Caloundra, Noosa Heads, Gympie and extending north towards Maryborough and south to Caboolture.{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/13|title=Gubbi Gubbi|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=23 January 2020}}

Prior to 2008, the new Sunshine Coast Region was an entire area of three previous and distinct local government areas:

• the City of Caloundra;
• the Shire of Maroochy;
• and the Shire of Noosa.

At the establishment of regional local government in Queensland on 11 November 1879 with the Divisional Boards Act 1879, most of the area was part of the Caboolture Division, while the northernmost part around Noosa was part of the Widgee Division centred on Gympie. The Maroochy Division split away from Caboolture on 5 July 1890. All three divisions became Shires on 31 July 1903 under the Local Authorities Act 1902.

In 1910, the Shire of Noosa split from Widgee, and on 22 February 1912 the Shire of Landsborough split from Caboolture.Queensland Government Gazette, 22 February 1912, p.435. The two new entities together with Maroochy were to remain fairly stable for almost 100 years.

On 19 December 1987, the Shire of Landsborough was granted City status, and was renamed the City of Caloundra,Queensland Government Gazette, 19 December 1987, p.1465. reflecting the population boom in the coastal section of the City.

In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the three local governments amalgamate. While it noted all three were "functioning councils with moderate to strong financial performance", it argued that they covered a self-contained region in a geographic, social and economic sense and that the advantages of coordinated planning in a high-growth area and the avoidance of duplication of facilities were arguments in favour of amalgamation. The councils opposed the amalgamation, and the Commission itself noted that the bulk of statewide individual submissions came from this region reflecting a "depth of feeling" regarding the issue.{{cite book|title=Report of the Local Government Reform Commission|author=Queensland Local Government Reform Commission|volume=2|pages=302–309|isbn=978-1-921057-11-3|date=July 2007|url=http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/map/reform/sunshine-coast-rationale.pdf|access-date=3 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317011144/http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/map/reform/sunshine-coast-rationale.pdf|archive-date=17 March 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} On 15 March 2008, the City and two Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect twelve councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.

In the 2011 census, the Sunshine Coast Region had the 4th largest population of any local government area in Australia (following the City of Brisbane, City of Gold Coast and City of Moreton Bay).{{cite web|title=Table 1: Population growth and turnover in Local Government Areas (LGAs), 2006 to 2011|date=25 November 2009 |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/subscriber.nsf/log?openagent&Population%20growth%20and%20turnover%20in%20Local%20Government%20Areas%202006%20to%202011.xls&1380.0.55.007&Data%20Cubes&027E069DBA81A5E2CA257AF7000D10C4&0&2006-2011&21.01.2013&Latest|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=10 August 2015}}

In 2012, a proposal was made to de-amalgamate the Shire of Noosa from the Sunshine Coast Region.{{cite web|title=Proposal regarding the de-amalgamation of Noosa|url=http://www.dlg.qld.gov.au/resources/report/local-government/bc/noosa-proposal.pdf|access-date=14 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428114424/http://www.dlg.qld.gov.au/resources/report/local-government/bc/noosa-proposal.pdf|archive-date=28 April 2013|df=dmy-all}} On 9 March 2013, Noosa residents voted to de-amalgamate Noosa from the Sunshine Coast Council.{{cite web|title=Noosa Area De-amalgamation Poll – Noosa – Poll Area Summary|url=http://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/NOOSA/results/district65.html|publisher=Electoral Commission Queensland|access-date=14 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512060549/http://ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/NOOSA/results/district65.html|archive-date=12 May 2013|df=dmy-all}} On 18 March 2013, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council decided its new planning scheme should not apply to those areas that were part of the former Noosa Shire (different attitudes to planning and developments having been a major objection by residents of Noosa Shire to the amalgamation).{{cite news | url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/council-votes-separate-noosa-and-sunshine-coast-pl/1797581/ | title=Council votes to separate Noosa and Sunshine Coast planning | newspaper=Sunshine Coast Daily | date=19 March 2013 | access-date=22 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322031146/http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/council-votes-separate-noosa-and-sunshine-coast-pl/1797581/ | archive-date=22 March 2013 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }} The Shire of Noosa Shire was re-established on 1 January 2014.{{cite web|title=De-amalgamation|url=http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/bc/|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=14 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826155025/http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/bc|archive-date=26 August 2013|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|title=Local Government (De-amalgamation Implementation) Regulation 2013|url=https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/L/LocalGovDeamallmpR13.pdf|work=Local Government Act 2009|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=14 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526200010/http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/L/LocalGovDeamallmpR13.pdf|archive-date=26 May 2013|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

{{Main|List of Sunshine Coast Region suburbs}}

The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The 2016 census, did not include the Shire of Noosa's census figures.

File:Suncoastshires.png

The Sunshine Coast economy is dominated by two sectors – Healthcare (including age-care) and Retail, which provide 30% of the regional employment.{{Cite web|url=http://economy.id.com.au/sunshine-coast/workers-key-statistics?Indkey=23000|title=Sunshine Coast : Local workers – Key statistics – All industries|website=economy.id.com.au |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126031545/http://economy.id.com.au/sunshine-coast/workers-key-statistics?Indkey=23000|archive-date=26 November 2017|url-status=live|access-date=26 November 2017}} Other significant areas are accommodation and food services, education, construction, manufacturing and professional services. Efforts are being made to diversify the regional economy by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.{{Cite news|url=https://invest.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Economic-Strategy/Industry-and-Investment-Action-Plans|title=Industry and Investment Action Plans|date=2013-09-17|work=Sunshine Coast Council|access-date=2017-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042102/https://invest.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Economic-Strategy/Industry-and-Investment-Action-Plans|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

Local educational institutions, government and community groups have funded a number of initiatives to encourage entrepreneurial and innovative businesses to the area.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/usc-news-exchange/news-archive/2017/june/usc-welcomes-state-govt-funding-for-innovation|title=USC welcomes State Govt funding for innovation|website=www.usc.edu.au|language=en|access-date=2017-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033945/https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/usc-news-exchange/news-archive/2017/june/usc-welcomes-state-govt-funding-for-innovation|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The University of the Sunshine Coast's Innovation Centre acts as an incubator startup companies, as does the Spark Bureau. The University site at Sippy Downs is designated as a 'Knowledge Hub' as part of the Queensland Government's South East Queensland Regional Infrastructure Plan and is master planned as Australia's first university town based on the UK models with the potential for over 6,000 workers in knowledge-based businesses.{{cite news|last=Hoffman|first=Bill|title=$290m will give us 1000 workers|url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/06/26/290m-state-government-university-1000-jobs/|access-date=9 July 2010|publisher=Sunshine Coast Daily|date=26 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709101536/http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/06/26/290m-state-government-university-1000-jobs/|archive-date=9 July 2010|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Sippy Downs was highlighted as an 'Innovation Hotspot' in July 2010, by top European Business magazine CNBC Business, with the potential to be 'Australia's no-worries-answer to Silicon Valley'.{{cite news|title=Skippy Down Queensland|url=http://www.cnbcmagazine.com/story/sippy-downs-queensland/1175/1/|access-date=9 July 2010|publisher=CNBC Business|date=July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222101034/http://www.cnbcmagazine.com/story/sippy-downs-queensland/1175/1/|archive-date=22 December 2010|df=dmy-all}}

The Sunshine Coast's major university is the University of the Sunshine Coast with its main campus at Sippy Downs. Central Queensland University also has a campus in Noosa. TAFE Queensland services the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay regions through TAFE East Coast, with three Sunshine Coast campuses at Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Nambour as well as a Noosa campus.

The Sunshine Coast has many varied denomination, private and public primary and secondary schools (see List of schools in Sunshine Coast). The Lexis English group, providing English classes to international students, has a campus in Maroochydore, while Lexis TESOL Training Centres provides teacher training programs such as the Cambridge CELTA and TESOL.{{cite web|url=http://www.lexisenglish.com/sunshine-coast/|title=Lexis English Sunshine Coast – Study FCE, CAE, IELTS, EAP and General English in Maroochydore|website=www.lexisenglish.com|access-date=17 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330125940/http://www.lexisenglish.com/sunshine-coast/|archive-date=30 March 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council operates libraries at Beerwah, Buddina (Kawana), Caloundra, Coolum Beach, Kenilworth, Maleny, Maroochydore and Nambour.{{Cite web|url=https://library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/About-Libraries/Open-Hours|title=Libraries: Open Hours|website=Sunshine Coast Regional Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130114048/https://library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/About-Libraries/Open-Hours|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=live|access-date=30 January 2018}} It also operates a mobile library service visiting Beerburrum, Bli Bli, Buderim, Caloundra West (Bellvista), Conondale, Eudlo, Eumundi, Glass House Mountains, Little Mountain, Montville, Mooloolah Valley, Mooloolaba (Parkhaven), Mount Coolum, Mountain Creek, Pacific Paradise, Palmwoods, Parklands, Peachester, Pelican Waters, Peregian Springs, Sippy Downs (Chancellor Park) and Yandina.{{Cite web|url=https://library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/About-Libraries/Mobile-Libraries/Mobile-Timetable|title=Libraries: Mobile timetable|website=Sunshine Coast Regional Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130114548/https://library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/About-Libraries/Mobile-Libraries/Mobile-Timetable|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=live|access-date=30 January 2018}}

The Sunshine Coast University Hospital is the region's major hospital located in Birtinya, which opened in April 2017. The region's previous major hospital located in Nambour will be downsized and renovated, however it still operates as the coast's secondary hospital. Services remaining in Nambour General Hospital include emergency, cancer care, same-day and elective surgery, general medicine inpatient services, renal dialysis, outpatient services, medical imaging, pharmacy, diabetes services, oral health, allied health, mental health and breastcreen. There are smaller hospitals located in Caloundra and Maleny but, due to limited facilities at those hospitals, most cases are referred to the SCUH.

A number of private hospitals exist throughout the region, most notably the 'Sunshine Coast Private Hospital' at Buderim, Caloundra Private Hospital (formerly known as Andrea Ahern) at Caloundra, Selangor Hospital at Nambour, the recently established Kawana Private Hospital.

The car is the predominant mode of transport for Sunshine Coast residents, with the region connected to Brisbane via the Bruce Highway. The Nicklin Way and Sunshine Motorway are the major arterial roads, which pass through most major areas of the Sunshine Coast. Many intercity and interstate coach operators also operate daily bus services to Brisbane using the major corridors.

File:Sunbus Volvo B12BLE with Bustech VST body.jpg services all the major centres on the Sunshine Coast]]

The Sunshine Coast is a growing region, and has a variety of transport modes including train, local bus services, ferry and the Sunshine Coast Airport. However, in recent years the local council has been looking at more reliant, high quality public transport options to create a 'transport spin' on the Sunshine Coast with the Maroochydore railway line and Sunshine Coast Light Rail proposed.

Plane {{Main|Sunshine Coast Airport}}

Flights from the Sunshine Coast depart from Sunshine Coast Airport, which is located {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Maroochydore in Marcoola, and fly direct to Sydney, Melbourne. Adelaide and Auckland with Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Qantas and Air New Zealand.

Rail {{Main|Queensland Rail City network}}

Queensland Rail's Sunshine Coast railway line operate interurban services daily, with most trains running express between Caboolture and Bowen Hills stations. The train lines run through the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, with buses connecting to the coastal strip. Further north of the Nambour station, commuter trains operate to Gympie twice per day. Landsborough and Nambour railway stations also serve as a gateway to Queensland's network of long-distance trains, providing access to destinations including Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns.

Bus {{Main|Sunbus Sunshine Coast}}

Bus services are operated by Kinetic Group, which operates under the Translink public transport system. These buses connect the suburbs and localities within the Caloundra, Maroochydore and Noosa areas. Sunshine Coast Council operates zero-fare bus services throughout the coast to surrounding suburbs and major park and ride stations during the peak summer holiday period.

{{Main|Sport on the Sunshine Coast}}

Sunshine Coast Stadium is located at Kawana Waters and is home to the region's sporting teams in statewide competitions. The Sunshine Coast Falcons compete in the Queensland Cup rugby league competition while the Sunshine Coast Fire FC compete in the National Premier Leagues Queensland Football competition. The Sunshine Coast has numerous golf links, including Headland Golf Club (Buderim), Pelican Waters, Pacific Harbour, Twin Waters, Palmer Coolum Resort (previously Hyatt Regency Coolum), Mount Coolum, Beerwah, Maleny, Cooroy, Caloundra and Maroochy River. The Sunshine Coast Regional Tennis Centre is located at Caloundra.{{cite web|title=Sunshine Coast Regional Tennis Centre|url=http://www.elitetennisinternational.com|access-date=28 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512204955/http://www.elitetennisinternational.com/|archive-date=12 May 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

There are several newspapers which cover the Sunshine Coast region. Sunshine Coast Daily is published Monday to Saturday by APN News & Media. Free distribution weekly community newspapers published by APN include: Buderim Chronicle, Caloundra Weekly, Coolum & North Shore News, Kawana Weekly, Nambour Weekly, and Range News. Independent weekly newspapers include Glasshouse Country News and Hinterland Times.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gcnews.com.au/|title=Get to know us|work=Glasshouse Country News|access-date=27 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327084659/http://www.gcnews.com.au/|archive-date=27 March 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hinterlandtimes.com.au/about/|title=About|work=Hinterland Times|access-date=27 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327165925/https://www.hinterlandtimes.com.au/about/|archive-date=27 March 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

While much of traditional media has an online presence there has also arisen media organisations that are exclusively online. View News is one such organisation operating a news site for the Sunshine Coast concentrating on local news from the various Sunshine Coast communities.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

Sunshine Coast is served by publicly owned television services (ABC TV), (SBS) Television and three commercial television stations (Seven Queensland, WIN Television and 10), which are the regional affiliates of the Seven, Nine and Ten network stations in Brisbane. Both sets of commercial stations are available throughout the Sunshine Coast. Other channels include 10 Bold, 10 Peach, 10 Shake, Sky News Regional (regional only), ABC TV Plus/ABC Kids, ABC Me, ABC News, SBS World Movies, SBS Viceland, SBS Food, NITV, SBS WorldWatch, 7two, 7mate, 7Bravo, 7flix, 9Gem, 9Go!, 9Rush & 9Life. The Sunshine Coast is also in the television broadcast licence areas of Brisbane (metro), enabling most areas of the Sunshine Coast to receive the commercial Brisbane stations.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} Subscription television services Foxtel and Austar are also available.

All three main commercial networks produce local news coverage – Seven Queensland and WIN Television both air 30-minute local news bulletins at 6pm each weeknight. Southern Cross 10 airs short news updates of 10 News First.

Seven's bulletin is produced and broadcast from studios in Maroochydore, from where six sister local news programs for regional Queensland also originate. WIN News is also produced from a newsroom in Maroochydore, but broadcasts from studios in Wollongong.

The Sunshine Coast region is served by commercial, community and government radio stations. Commercial stations 91.9 Sea FM and 92.7 Mix FM are owned and operated by the EON Broadcasting, one of Australia's last independent broadcasters. Rival commercial operator Grant Broadcasters runs 91.1 Hot FM and Zinc96. The Government-owned ABC services the region with 90.3 ABC Coast FM and ABC NewsRadio on 94.5 FM, Triple J on 89.5 FM and ABC Classic FM on 88.7 FM. Many community access stations, as well as some Brisbane stations, can also be received.

{{Infobox legislature|name={{nowrap|Sunshine Coast Regional Council}}|leader1=Mark Jamieson|leader2=Rick Baberowski|leader1_type=Mayor|leader2_type=Deputy Mayor|structure1=Australia_Sunshine_Coast_Council_2020.svg|structure1_res=225px|political_groups1={{nowrap|{{Color box|#2955E8|border=darkgray}} Independent LNP (2)
{{Color box|#888888|border=darkgray}} Independent (8)}}|last_election1=15 March 2024|next_election1=25 March 2028}}

Sunshine Coast Regional Council is divided into 10 wards (divisions), each represented by one councillor, plus an elected mayor who represents the entire region. The council is elected for a four-year term. A deputy mayor is selected by council, also for a four-year term.{{Cite web|title = ECQ 2015 Local Government Boundary Review|url = http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/2015_Local_Government_Boundary_Review/?HIDEMASTHEAD=true&COUNCILS=Sunshine%2520Coast%2520Regional%2520Council|website = results.ecq.qld.gov.au|access-date = 19 February 2016|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160309155102/http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/2015_Local_Government_Boundary_Review/?HIDEMASTHEAD=true&COUNCILS=Sunshine%2520Coast%2520Regional%2520Council|archive-date = 9 March 2016|df = dmy-all}}

From the region's founding in 2008 to 31 December 2013, there were 12 divisions. Divisions 11 and 12 were abolished with the de-amalgamation of the Shire of Noosa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/6/2014-01-13-deamalgamation-report-attachment-pdf|title=The Noosa De-amalgamation: Building a New Organisation|publisher=Shire of Noosa|date=2 January 2014|access-date=28 August 2023}}

The current council, elected in 2020, is:

As of March 2016, the Sunshine Coast Region has the following sister cities:{{Cite web|url=http://invest.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/sitePage.cfm?code=sister-cities|title=Sister Cities and International Partnerships|publisher=Sunshine Coast Regional Council|access-date=21 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313123029/http://invest.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/sitePage.cfm?code=sister-cities|archive-date=13 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}

• Tatebayashi, Japan
• March, Fenland District, Northeast Cambridgeshire, England

As of March 2016, the Sunshine Coast Region has the following friendship cities:

• Xiamen, China
• Mont Dore, New Caledonia

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Sunshine Coast Region}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080725132555/http://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/2008/html/SunshineCoastRegionalCouncil.html Queensland Electoral Commission Interactive Map]
• [https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ Sunshine Coast Regional Council]

{{Sunshine Coast Region}}

{{Local Government Areas in South East Queensland}}

{{Local Government Areas of Queensland}}

Category:Local government areas of Queensland

Category:2008 establishments in Australia