Latest News
SCRC Proposed Planning Scheme Open for Public Consultation
Updated July, 2025
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) has announced its Proposed Planning Scheme 2025 is now open for public consultation from now until September 19th 2025.
​
This new scheme will shape development on the Sunshine Coast for the coming decades. It will determine housing styles, heights, commercial development, greenspaces, industrial zones etc. It will dictate the look and feel of the region for years to come. Once approved, this new scheme will replace the current 2014 Planning Scheme. ​SCRC began preparation of this new draft plan back in 2020.
​
MTAG believes there are massive issues with this proposed new planning scheme that will negatively change the liveability and lifestyle of those living along the coastal corridor.
35% of new arrivals or approximately 76,000 more people are being added to the Coastal Corridor: Maroochydore to Caloundra. The majority of these are being placed in the Northern section of the corridor, Maroochydore to Warana.​ ​The amount of rezoning is significant and threatens to turn our Coastal Strip into another Gold Coast.
​​
The Proposed Plan continually references a "rapid transit system" along the Coastal Corridor, yet there is no funding, and no definite guarantee that this will be delivered. The plan is based on flawed assumptions.
​
We encourage everyone to go to Council's Have Your Say Website and read what is being proposed. It is important to make an online submission, telling Council your thoughts. Once this goes through there is no turning back. The developments will be code assessible which means you will not be notified, have no say and no right of appeal.​​​​​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
2025 Happenings
Updated May, 2025
Much has happened within the last 6 months with most of it good news. In March 2025 the Queensland State Government, as part of its 100 day Olympic review, announced they will committ to the "Wave". This is heavy rail from Beerwah to Birtinya and then Bus Rapid Transit from Birtinya to Maroochydore and on to the Sunshine Coast Airport via the CAMCOS corridor. (See Media Statement below). This is great for the Sunshine Coast as we should now have an interconnecting public transport system that connects a number of the major centres of the region.
​
So where does this now leave the mass transit system proposed along the Coastal Corridor? Whilst the business case for this continues, we believe, it is unlikely to eventuate within a 10 year horizon. We believe there is not the funds at a State or Federal level to fund both the "Wave" and a Coastal Mass Transit System.
​
MEDIA STATEMENT: Delivering 2032 and Beyond: Games legacy rides ‘The Wave’ all the way to Sunshine Coast Airport
​
Published Tuesday, 25 March, 2025 at 12:42 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Veterans
The Honourable David Crisafulli
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Brent Mickelberg
​
Delivering 2032 and Beyond: Games legacy rides ‘The Wave’ all the way to Sunshine Coast Airport
-
2032 Delivery Plan sets a plan for seamless public transport all the way to the Sunshine Coast Airport, in time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
-
The Wave includes heavy passenger rail to Birtinya with metro all the way to the Sunshine Coast Airport, through Maroochydore CBD.
-
Project will also deliver upgrade of Mooloolah River Interchange to remove congestion.
-
Major new transport connections deliver a lasting legacy for the Sunshine Coast.
​
The Sunshine Coast will be connected with seamless public transport from Beerwah through to the Sunshine Coast Airport, with a major new rail and metro connection, The Wave.
​
Unveiled as part of the 2032 Delivery Plan, The Wave is just one of the major infrastructure legacy projects for the Sunshine Coast, and extends on the Crisafulli Government’s promise to deliver a connection to Maroochydore.
The Wave will roll through the Sunshine Coast, with heavy passenger rail from Beerwah to Birtinya, then metro to the Sunshine Coast Airport with stations at Mountain Creek and Maroochydore.
​
Passengers will be able to ride The Wave, with seamless transitions between stations.
Metro infrastructure will be constructed from the Birtinya station to Maroochydore station, delivering the long-awaited Mooloolah River Interchange. The Crisafulli Government will build the Interchange as a priority to remove congestion and allow The Wave to carry commuters without delay. Premier Crisafulli said The Wave would keep the Sunshine Coast moving, now and beyond 2032.
​
“The Games are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver the infrastructure the Sunshine Coasts needs, not only today, but in the decades to come,” said Premier Crisafulli.
​
“The Wave will go further and faster, with seamless public transport all the way to the Sunshine Coast Airport, and connect to the Athlete Village built for the Games.
“This is exactly what is needed for 2032, but more importantly, it is necessary for the future of the Sunshine Coast beyond the Games.”
​
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said The Wave would deliver a lasting public transport legacy for the Sunshine Coast.
“The Wave is something the Sunshine Coast can really get behind,” Minister Mickelberg said.
​
“We are delivering seamless public transport further than what was initially planned, with commuters now able to travel past Maroochydore all the way to the Sunshine Coast Airport. “By delivering metro, we are able to build the Mooloolah River Interchange which locals have been waiting for decades to see but has repeatedly been delayed by Labor.
​
“The Mooloolah River Interchange will ease congestion at the well-known traffic chokepoint on the Coast, and will include two extra lanes on the Sunshine Motorway north of Kawana Way, which is long overdue.
​
“The Wave is just part of Delivering 2032 and Beyond, now we’ve set the plan, we’ve got to get on with it.”
​
​
​
Light Rail
Updated 15 December 2023
TMR Announces Rapid Bus Transit as the preferred transport option for our Coastal Corridor.
Light Rail is finally dead!
​
Finally some common sense has prevailed! On Friday 15 December 2023, the Queensland Government announced they will drop light rail for the Sunshine Coast. The Sunshine Coast News reported:
​
"The Department of Transport and Main Roads has announced the preferred vehicle option for a major public transport project in the region.
​
Following a rigorous process, bus rapid transit has been identified as the likely choice for Sunshine Coast Public Transport. The decision marks a major milestone for the project during its 12-year history and essentially puts to an end to the alternative option, light rail.
​
Sunshine Coast Public Transport is expected to improve connections from Maroochydore to Caloundra, and link with the proposed Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line service.
​
The selection of bus rapid transit means rubber-tyred vehicles would operate on a dedicated right-of-way basis that provides an exclusive separated route from other road traffic for the sole use of public transport.
​
Technologies are continually evolving with several variations of the bus rapid transit vehicle type emerging within the market, such as trackless trams, which operate on rubber wheels and follow line marking on the road surface. The move puts to rest an alternative option for light rail, which was also under consideration, and eliminates community concerns about overhead wires, fixed steel tracks and noise."
​
This represents a huge win for the Sunshine Coast Community but the fight is not over. We have to continue to monitor how TMR plan to implement Rapid Bus Transit. TMR are saying rapid bus transit will run on a dedicated right of way down the centre of the road. We do not want them to make it a psuedo light rail . The beauty of rapid bus is its flexibility. A dedicated right of way means lane removal, side street blockages and increased traffic congestion.
A fixed right of way also gives developers certainty.
​
According to what Council sent out this week, they are planning to locate over 60% of the new population out to 2041, in the coastal corridor. That is an extra 102,000 people in an area that currently has about 80,000 people!! Light Rail is gone but high-rise is not! Public consultation on the new SCRC 2024 Planning scheme is expected in the 2nd half of 2024.
We will continue the fight !
​
​