12:00a.m. 4th July 2008

This year’s budget has focused heavily on transport, with $11 million to be spent on footpaths, bikeways and bus stops.

The financial management portfolio representative, councillor Chris Thompson, said $48.3 million allocated for transportation was distributed evenly across the Sunshine Coast.

“We’re actively trying to improve the public transport and liveability aspect,” he said.

“It’s evenly divided amongst maintenance of the streets and providing footpaths and bus stops.”

The money includes $12.5 million for resealing and rehabilitation, $9.7 million for road infrastructure, $6.6 million for pathways, $5.3 million for bridges, $5 million for beautifying streets and $2.5 million for gravel roads.

The Sunshine Coast Airport will receive the biggest slice of the pie with $11.7 million, including $2.5 million to upgrade its baggage security and $4 million to build a new security screening area with access to toilets and shopping.

It will replace the congested security checkpoint and “glass box” departure area.

A further $6.5 million has been spent on a new entry road to David Low Way, with traffic lights to be completed by Christmas.

A new access to the airport will eventually link with the Sunshine Motorway.

The airport’s general manager, Peter Pallot, said the improvements would mean “the end of traffic queues trying to get in and out of the airport”.