Top 50: Imagine my surprise to learn that Mount Tamborine has been named as one of Australia’s top 50 locations to retire in 2025 – “In its second year, Citro’s annual Australia’s top 50 retirement locations guide lists the very best locations based on a mix of lifestyle, affordability, healthcare and community.”
Given the stated criterion, I sent a lengthy email and enquired regarding:
1. The award nomination process (there isn’t one – it is based on “research across a mix of public data, industry sources and local insights)”!
2. The voting process (nope, there isn’t one of those either: “Our aim is not to suggest that every location is perfect, but rather to highlight places that, on balance, do well compared to other similar locations in the region, state and across the country”, and
3. How the ultimate winner is decided? (no response to that difficult question).
I pointed out that the Mountain failed miserably on affordability (few rentals, high rates and insurance thanks to a tornado and a cyclone) and healthcare provider shortage, public transport, the lack of reticulated water and sewage, and the need to be reasonably self-sufficient in one’s dotage, given the lack of aged-care facilities (sorry, “lifestyle villages” don’t count!)
I received the following response: “Thank you for your thoughtful note and for sharing such a clear picture of the challenges facing residents on Tamborine Mountain … it will come as no surprise to you that Tamborine Mountain scored lower than other destinations for affordability and healthcare, but was very strong in other areas. The housing and healthcare issues you raise are sadly shared by many other regional locations across the country.”
I declined the invitation to attend the awards night (in Sydney!) and to share in the “wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow community leaders from across Australia and share in a moment of civic pride.”
Really? Who writes this stuff? Keynote speakers are AMP’s Chief Economist, a Finance Commentator and Educator, and AMP’s Director of Retirement.
I think we can guess the reason for the awards.
Development on our doorstep: Canungra360 – 742ha proposed development has unsurprisingly attracted a lot of negative comment from Canungra locals who are rightly concerned about the lack of water, traffic congestion and parking issues, the loss of their quiet rural environment and the influx of vast numbers of new residents.
Impact assessable development applications: Following a public notification published in the Gold Coast Bulletin (we all trawl through the back pages to look for sneaky notices, don’t we?) Council’s Planning section will be checking which newspaper/s the proposed public notifications are stated to appear in.
Unsurprisingly, that DA attracted no submissions and was approved via delegated authority … and the property owner wants to have a community title approved now that the second dwelling has the tick of approval.
Development by stealth – please stop.
Toilets at Long Road Sports Complex: Due to the bad behaviour of a few irresponsible and socially challenged idiots, the toilets will remain locked unless a sporting event is in progress. The complex is not a dog off-leash area.
Council will be conducting impromptu checks and fines can be issued.
The recent Facebook posts about doggy-do bags have me shaking my head – your dog, your poo bag; if there is no bin, take it home with you. It is not acceptable to toss it in the undergrowth.
Also, the long-jump sand pit is continually full of dog faeces – would you want your child playing in it?
Council Ordinary Meeting of August 27, 2025: An application for a further extension of time (six years) to build a shopping centre at 1-33 Tamborine Mountain Road, Tamborine (near the roundabout) will be on the agenda for a vote.
This one has been on the books since 2004 and has had previous extensions.
Three new Planning and Environment Court appeals filed against Council: A busy month for unhappy property owners:
– an appeal against a refusal for a second dwelling on Bartle Rd which wanted an easement onto The Shelf Rd to provide a separate entrance (refused by a vote of Councillors), and
– two appeals against conditions imposed on an approved DA at Blantyre, near Boonah (also an easement issue).
New Development Applications lodged:
MCU25/116 – 38-46 Bartle Rd – Bed & Breakfast and hydrotherapy rehabilitation.
CAR25/073 – 9 Corphya Crt – carport – wants a boundary setback relaxation – road setback 2m in lieu of 6m.
CAR25/074 – 128 Licuala Dr – looks like another setback problem – no docs available yet.
Development Applications approved:
MCU25/088 – 108A Wongawallan Rd – a 2BR secondary dwelling with a GFA of 72m2; and
CAR25/058 – 11 Wongawallan Rd – a double carport with no setback from the front and side boundaries.
