VOTE: What does the Gympie region need the most right now?

What’s the most pressing need to help make the Gympie region a better place to live and work for everyone? Have your say in our live poll!

What’s the most pressing need to help make the Gympie region a better place to live and work for all? Have your say in our live poll!

Better public transport? The return of a private hospital? More GPs and specialists? A place to escape for the homeless or victims of domestic violence? Improved tourism? More sporting facilities?

The list of ingredients with the potential to make the Gympie region a better place to live is seemingly endless, but what comes at the top?

What vital move could instantly improve the Gympie region right now?

The Gympie Times asked readers this week to share their opinions on what would instantly make the region better, and there was no shortage of detailed responses:

Emma Buhse: “More public transport to places outside of Gympie for people who cannot drive or afford a car. Especially if it was more accessible. Accessible as in closer to town (unlike the train station). And accessible as in allowing people with mobility aids and prams to use it. We’re in dire need of better healthcare services too. We needed that BEFORE the real estate boom happened. We definitely need it now. More GPs, more medical centres, more specialists, more bulk billing. More social welfare services too for homelessness, domestic violence and mental health. More accessible public housing. So much more needs to be done.”

Kathryn Covington: “An after hours GP. To ease the pressure on the emergency department for those times when it's not an emergency, but urgent enough that you need to be seen that day/night.”

Gaylene Johnston: “A safe homeless shelter and affordable housing options.”

Does Gympie need a homeless shelter right now?

Sarah Jane McGregor: “Regular night markets so there’s something to get out and do on a weekend!”

Temena Jane: “More bulk billing doctors. I wait six weeks for an appointment currently so if it's urgent I usually end up in emergency because six weeks is much too long.”

Debbie Wright: “Private Hospital, Homeless Shelter, Trains and Buses Hourly to go to coast the list is endless.”

Jill Buchanan: “A council to go out of their way to promote our area.”

Shannon McVey: “More things to do? Restaurants, cafes open after 3pm on a weekday, weekend options, more people to support them when they stay open? Perhaps ask how many people who live in Gympie drive out of Gympie to do something because there (are) just no options in town?”

Jenny McIntosh: “A caravan park for tourists. Or open the Showgrounds to vans as was talked about. It is a disgrace that a town the size of Gympie doesn’t have a caravan park.”

Matt Hudson: “Better sporting facilities, like the indoor sports complex that was briefly discussed before the previous election and then got put on the backburner. Add to that an athletics venue that isn't shared with multiple sports (with a tartan running track).”

Karla Loren: “A weekend bus straight out to Rainbow Beach n (sic) back for teenagers and locals.”

What do you think? What’s the most urgent adjustment needed to make our region a better place for all to live?

Regional news at the heart of our best journalism

Is it something mentioned above, or do you have a better idea?

Vote in the poll above or email your ideas to [e-mail].