Cr Johnston back for more amidst council changes

Cr Johnston has advocated for parking, roads and the expansion of Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve during his latest term. 

by Janine Hill

DIVISION five councillor Winston Johnston will throw his hat in the ring for another term on Sunshine Coast Council.

Councillor Johnston is something of a local government veteran. He was first elected to the Landsborough Shire Council in 1982 and remained in office until 1991, by which time Landsborough Shire was known as Caloundra City Council, a forerunner of the Sunshine Coast Council area.

He made a local government comeback in 2020 when he successfully stood for election against nine other candidates for division five after the retirement of long-serving councillor Jenny Mackay.

Councillor Johnston’s opponents this time will include Greens candidate Tracy Burton, who came second last time, and journalist and former political staffer Richard Bruinsma.

Cr Johnston said the Sunshine Coast Council was in a good position and continuity was important given mayor Mark Jamieson’s decision not to seek a third term.

“The Sunshine Coast Council is probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest business on the Sunshine Coast,” Cr Johnston said.

“It can take a bit long to get things done but overall, I’m very happy with what’s been achieved over the last four years,” he said.

Cr Johnson said the council had sold the airport lease at a profit and the involvement of the Walker Corporation in the Maroochydore CBD had turned that from a loss-making to a profit-making project.

He said the council had been able to lobby for the retention of inter-urban green break to the south and had also bought land for environmental purposes, including an expansion of the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve at Maleny.

The council was now ready to begin enacting an excellent master plan for an ecological park adjoining the existing reserve which would be a project of major significance to the hinterland, he said.

Cr Johnston said he had successful advocated for over-grown vegetation obscuring the views from three major lookouts on the Range to be cleared.

“Personally, I believe the state of our parking, roads and lookouts has been improved, especially parking in my division. I’ve put in requests for works to be done.”