Conondale: A Sunshine Coast “hippy commune” having its live music club axed by Sunshine Coast Council has to be one of the most heart-breaking stories of the century, writes Yelo editor Penny Brand.

When the sun broke today and our alarm went off, my daughter Lola and I jumped up and diligently threw on the clothes we’d prepared the night before (actually we ditched the dresses for jeans and I threw on my Powderfinger tee, but the thought was there. We were prepared).

It was such a fun morning showcasing Nambour to everyone eating their morning Vegemite toast when The Today Show‘s brekkie weatherman Dan Anstey descended on his former stomping ground, and what has historically been the Coast’s capital city.

We met fellow alumni Jon from Powderfinger (badda-bing-bang-boom! Yes he’s the drummer) and Sunny Coast soul-sweetheart Andrea Kirwin (isn’t she lovely?).

There were local ambassadors such as I am Nambour lifeblood Rhonda Billett and Ben from Small Change Espresso offering up coffee and brekkie burgers.

Then later, Antonia Masell of Maiori Pizzeria amazed us with his mind-blowing pizzas of epic-ness, and Cameron from DownTown Burgers showed off his mouth-watering, home-grown offerings such as the “Kevin ’07′”, paying homage to another Nambour hero or anti-hero, former Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd.

Just four wonderful, hardworking entrepreneurials, joining the vision to re-ignite the flame of the belly this region once had.

I was pumped.

After all, I created a music street press (hello Yelo!) on the back of an exploding population, armed with a desire to take the music community with it.

Lola made a home-made sign which won her a Nambour mug.

We were happy.

We rounded out the day at Lake Currumundi with coffee, gelato, and fish and chips.

After showers and dinner we snuggled into bed, reliving more music from our incredible homegrown artists who we had mingled with earlier in the day.

Our buckets were full.

The prized mug was also full with espresso on almond (because I don’t drink and it’s Saturday night – part-y!).

But just like that my heart actually broke a little.

Like a lot.

An email notification popped up on my screen with the subject: “CLOSURE OF CRYSTAL WATERS MUSIC CLUB”.

It still pangs at the sights of those words, because I know exactly what they mean.

Those words mean tyranny.

Do you remember when the Sunshine Coast Council infamously and outrageously sent in workers to chop up a community garden full of fresh, organic fruit and vegetables being grown on their median strip?

The ABC reported in 2017 that “Council unapologetically chopped down and mulched 18 fruit trees on verges in Buderim within the hugely popular Urban Food Street (UFS) precinct”.

“The precinct has organically grown over the past seven years to span 11 streets in the leafy suburb, where produce grown on the verges is consumed by more than 200 people.

“The area has been at the centre of a six-month stoush with the council after a complaint was made.”

One complaint. Two hundred healthy-eating residents.

And that dog-off leash situation at Point Cartwright? Where Council just days ago voted in favour to ban dogs from our most popular dog-off-leash beach, also making national news?

This is like that.

This Sunshine Coast Council is tyrannical.

One complaint and out comes the do-gooder extinguisher to put out those little pesky neighbourly fires.

Are they expecting an applause?

Well there isn’t one coming from the Sunshine Coast music community and there’s an election soon enough.

A couple of weeks ago Council shut down the Crystal Waters eco-village’s music club without notice.

It came after Maleny Lane was pushed to the streets in protest to save their village music stage, again making headline news.

Are you seeing a pattern here?

What’s the world coming to when a hippy commune can’t even have a bit of music?

One noise complaint and thousands of musicians and music-goers have to suffer the consequences of their mental health, something that fills their cups and brings them the utmost joy?

Do these Councillors have rocks in their heads?

Crystal Waters Eco-Village has around 200 residents and is in the middle of sweeping green pastures and idyllic rolling landscapes.

In the middle of Buttfuck Nowhere, so to speak.

In a heartbreaking email to Council and Yelo on Saturday night (September 2), a Flaxton resident and regular user of the Club (who wished to be nameless) wrote:

“I am writing to express my concern about the closure of Crystal Waters Music Club ( CWMC).

“CWMC is more than a music night. It’s a reunion of people, particularly for those of us who no longer live there and don’t often get to community events at Crystal Waters.”

Other businesses, including a bakery were still operating, he said.

“A cafe has been operating there for several years, a restaurant operates on music nights and at other community events.

“Then there are the monthly markets, but there has been no move to stop that.

“Government, whether local or State, should not be finding reasons to prevent such an important local institution, but be standing back and allowing it to flourish.

“Crystal Waters is a community which stands up for itself. And so do we, who value it and have it sewn in the fabric of our lives.”

*tears*

It feels like Romeo and Juliet have just died.

I want to be proud of our region. Not depressed about it.

Bring back that energy we had on the Nambour Forecourt this morning, beaming the quintessential quirky but fun, surfy but happy, Sunshine Coast energy we know straight into the homes of Australians.

What’s wrong with some community live music, fruit and veg, and walking your dog on the beach?

What will be next?

I’m not feeling very Happy Vegemite-y, Council.

Not very Happy Vegemite-ty at all.

Heart. Broke.

What do you think all this hocus pocus is all about? Let us know! Reach out here.