Keep rates fair for retirement village residents
The issue
For many years, retirement villages have been a haven for elderly residents seeking peace, companionship, and security in their golden years. However, recent increases in residential rates have begun to threaten this sense of security.
We are calling on Sunshine Coast Council to reconsider the recent increase in council rates and to avoid any further significant increases for Retirement Village residents on the Sunshine Coast.
A high percentage of our residents rely on the Age Pension and are living on fixed incomes that have not increased in line with rising inflation.
Some Villages have received rate increases of over 200%. These increases directly impact residents as they are passed on in the form of Monthly fees which in some cases will result in increases greater than $21 a month per resident household.
Many residents are already struggling to meet inflated charges imposed by the Council in the past year, let alone these unjustified additional charges that have been introduced without community consultation or prior notification to affected Villages.
The residents in these villages already fund and maintain facilities within their own community, including the provision and maintenance of private roads and surrounds, drainage, street lighting, gardens, and a community library while many residents make limited use of council-funded infrastructure and services such as roads, libraries and beaches, and yet continue to face substantial rate increases.
Our seniors deserve to live their retirement years with dignity and financial security, not increasing financial stress.
By signing this petition, you are asking Sunshine Coast Council to take a fair and compassionate approach by reviewing these increases and considering the unique circumstances of the elderly pensioner residents in retirement villages.
We propose an actionable plan:
1. Implement a cap on annual rate increases for retirement villages, aligning these with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and annual pension increases, ensuring retirees can keep pace with the cost of living.
2. Encourage government and local authorities to provide subsidies or incentives to villages that demonstrate a commitment to affordable living for pension-dependent residents.
We need your help to bring about this crucial change.
Sign this petition to stand with us in advocating for justice, protection, and the respectful treatment of our valued retirees.
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The issue
For many years, retirement villages have been a haven for elderly residents seeking peace, companionship, and security in their golden years. However, recent increases in residential rates have begun to threaten this sense of security.
We are calling on Sunshine Coast Council to reconsider the recent increase in council rates and to avoid any further significant increases for Retirement Village residents on the Sunshine Coast.
A high percentage of our residents rely on the Age Pension and are living on fixed incomes that have not increased in line with rising inflation.
Some Villages have received rate increases of over 200%. These increases directly impact residents as they are passed on in the form of Monthly fees which in some cases will result in increases greater than $21 a month per resident household.
Many residents are already struggling to meet inflated charges imposed by the Council in the past year, let alone these unjustified additional charges that have been introduced without community consultation or prior notification to affected Villages.
The residents in these villages already fund and maintain facilities within their own community, including the provision and maintenance of private roads and surrounds, drainage, street lighting, gardens, and a community library while many residents make limited use of council-funded infrastructure and services such as roads, libraries and beaches, and yet continue to face substantial rate increases.
Our seniors deserve to live their retirement years with dignity and financial security, not increasing financial stress.
By signing this petition, you are asking Sunshine Coast Council to take a fair and compassionate approach by reviewing these increases and considering the unique circumstances of the elderly pensioner residents in retirement villages.
We propose an actionable plan:
1. Implement a cap on annual rate increases for retirement villages, aligning these with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and annual pension increases, ensuring retirees can keep pace with the cost of living.
2. Encourage government and local authorities to provide subsidies or incentives to villages that demonstrate a commitment to affordable living for pension-dependent residents.
We need your help to bring about this crucial change.
Sign this petition to stand with us in advocating for justice, protection, and the respectful treatment of our valued retirees.
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Petition created on 22 October 2026