Latest news
Saturday, 7 November 2026 - 4:10 am
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50 cents, 0 cents, 1 question: how much can fare cuts boost public transport use?

Greg Smith Aug 27, 2024 0
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Councillor tries new measure to have resort gate opened for ‘Roos’

Greg Smith Jul 8, 2024 0
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Coolum and Yaroomba Community thanks its Development Watch champion

Greg Smith Jun 18, 2024 0
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Planning laws protect people. A poorly regulated rush to boost housing supply will cost us all.

Greg Smith Dec 18, 2023 0

Key issues and events

Petitions

Protect the Pumicestone Passage and the greenbelt between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast

-> Development of the new SCRC Planning Scheme

-> OSCAR Submissions and presentations

->  Brisbane Olympics 2032

-> OSCAR meetings

 

OSCAR is a non-partisan and not-for-profit umbrella/peak organisation covering resident and community organisations on the Sunshine Coast and Noosa local government areas (LGAs) in South East Queensland.

The Noosa Council is north of the Sunshine Coast local government area and was re-established on 1 January 2014 after successfully de-amalgamating from the Sunshine Coast.

The Noosa Council covers a total area of 870 km2  and has a population of 57,397 (June 2022).

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council sits between the Noosa Council to the north and the Moreton Bay Regional Council to the south. This includes unique towns and communities across the hinterland and along the coastal strip – from Weyba Downs to the north, Kenilworth to the west and Beerburrum to the south.

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council covers a total area of 2,264 km2  and has a population of 371,000 (2024).

OSCAR objectives

The objectives of OSCAR are to have the Noosa Council and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council achieve and maintain:

  • Transparent and accountable governance, including community consultation that is respected and acted upon;
  • A culture in which planning schemes are subject to amendment only in the public interest after a rigorous process of public consultation and never to expedite the approval of a development application;
  • A rate of population growth consistent with a balance between the natural and built environments that permits a comfortable lifestyle and preserves biodiversity;
  • Retention of the existing character of towns and villages, with future urban development low-rise and supported by environmentally responsible transport options;
  • Developers being fully responsible for project infrastructure costs; and
  • Rates set as low as possible consistent with efficient and effective delivery of local government services.

View the full OSCAR Mission Statement

News

  • 50 cents, 0 cents, 1 question: how much can fare cuts boost public transport use?

    David Levinson, University of Sydney; Andres Fielbaum, University of Sydney, and Emily Moylan, University of Sydney Public transport ridership has taken a beating in many Australian cities since the onset of COVID. With more people still working from home – typically office workers who had been concentrated in central business districts – passenger numbers remain […]

  • Coolum and Yaroomba Community thanks its Development Watch champion

    MEDIA RELEASE from Development Watch Coolum and Yaroomba Community thanks its Development Watch champion Lyn Saxton has never been one to watch from the sidelines. The Coolum and Yaroomba community says thankyou this month to one of its hardest working volunteer champions, as she steps down from her role as President of Development Watch. Lyn […]

  • Planning laws protect people. A poorly regulated rush to boost housing supply will cost us all.

    Patrick Harris, UNSW Sydney and Edgar Liu, UNSW Sydney The housing crisis is firmly on the Australian policy agenda. Governments see a rapid increase in supply as the main solution. The importance of supply is not disputed. But more housing alone isn’t enough: new housing must be provided in ways that do not widen the […]

  • BiospHERO Day

    BiospHERO Day Join us to Celebrate people and nature in our Sunshine Coast Biosphere. The MET, Maroochydore Sunday, 5 November 2023, 10am – 3pm