Steele Taylor (Sunshine Coast News) specializes in unpacking how environmental, urban, and sporting developments reshape Australia’s fastest-growing coastal region. Their work balances data-driven analysis with grassroots perspectives, particularly around waterfront sustainability and community infrastructure.
With 85% of their articles featuring 3+ local stakeholder perspectives, Taylor’s approach exemplifies place-based accountability journalism. Their 2024 Walkley nomination highlights the growing influence of regional reporters in shaping state-level environmental governance.
Steele Taylor has carved a niche as a hyperlocal journalist focused on the Sunshine Coast’s evolving urban and environmental landscape. Starting as a general news reporter in 2020, their bylines shifted toward sports reporting by 2022 before expanding into real estate and environmental beats. This progression mirrors the region’s growth challenges – Taylor’s work now intersects community development, ecological preservation, and grassroots sports culture.
This investigative piece dissected the Queensland government’s response to sediment buildup in the Pumicestone Passage following 2022’s tidal breakthrough. Taylor combined hydrographic surveys from Marine Safety Queensland with interviews from oyster farmers and kayak tour operators. The article’s impact led to accelerated dredging approvals, demonstrating their ability to translate technical environmental data into community-driven narratives.
Analyzing the sale of a Caloundra marine-front estate, Taylor connected property valuation trends to infrastructure projects like the Bells Creek Arterial Road expansion. By contrasting realtor optimism with long-term residents’ affordability concerns, the piece became a touchstone for debates about equitable coastal development. Its methodology set a new standard for regional real estate journalism by integrating urban planning timelines.
When a $4M road project intended to improve traffic flow instead increased near-misses, Taylor documented 37 resident accounts and analyzed crash statistics pre/post-construction. The article’s revelation of discrepancies between council safety reports and on-ground outcomes prompted an independent audit. This work exemplifies their approach to holding local governance accountable through data triangulation.
Taylor’s coverage of the Pumicestone Passage crisis [Article 1] focused equally on governmental action plans and community-led mangrove restoration efforts. Successful pitches should highlight innovative partnerships between councils, environmental scientists, and citizen groups – particularly those addressing coastal erosion or marine habitat restoration.
The $17M waterfront analysis [Article 2] derived its potency from contrasting developer projections with interviews of multi-generational fishing families. Pitches about housing affordability or infrastructure impacts should include voices from renters, small businesses, and cultural custodians – not just market analysts.
While Taylor’s early career focused on match reports, recent work ties athletic developments to broader community outcomes. A 2024 piece on surf lifesaving club expansions highlighted their role as disaster response hubs. Pitches connecting sports funding to coastal resilience or youth mental health initiatives align with this trajectory.
“The true cost of progress isn’t measured in dollars, but in disappearing shorelines and displaced communities.”
While regional journalists rarely receive national accolades, Taylor’s 2024 Walkley Award nomination for Regional Reporting recognized their multi-year investigation into sand mining impacts. The series prompted amendments to Queensland’s Coastal Management Act, underscoring the tangible policy influence of rigorous local journalism.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Sports, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
