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6:20AM Tuesday 02 December, 2008

Beach strip could become six lanes

12:00a.m. 8th September 2008

Beach strip could become six lanes

Queensland Transport has plans to turn Alexandra Parade into a six-lane road. Photo: Brett Wortman /178165

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Plans by Queensland Transport to turn Alexandra Parade into a six-lane road including two bus transit lanes would create further barriers to the beach in an area densely populated with holiday accommodation.

Instead, councillor Chris Thompson believes the road should be returned to council control to create a low volume, slow speed scenic route to return Alexandra Headland to a village precinct.

Mr Thompson, council’s organisational performance chair, said one of the key findings of the Alex foreshore master plan developed by the former Maroochy council had been the desire to get back beach access.

Instead, future planning by Queensland Transport for its CoastConnect bus corridor advocated increasing Alexandra Parade from four to six lanes between Mooloolaba Road and Aerodrome Road, which would also be six lanes.

One lane in each direction is proposed as a dedicated bus lane.

Mr Thompson said if returned to council control, the coastal road could become a slow scenic route which, when coupled with Noosa Junction-style raised pedestrian crossings along Alexandra Parade, would give a village-like feel.

“We need to slow that road down, not speed it up,’’ he said. “Main Roads’ thinking is all about traffic flows – the community wants access.’’

Alexandra Headland desperately needed to be returned to a community precinct and while he applauded moves to improve public transport, better options could be found.

The CoastConnect project, if approved, aims to address the low rate of public transport usage in the region. Dedicated bus lanes, improved bus stations at key locations and bus priority at intersections between Caloundra and Maroochydore are aimed at getting people out of cars.

The Nicklin Way between Buderim Street at Currimundi and the Mooloolah River would have four general traffic lanes, two bus lanes with room for cyclists and would see the widening of the Ahern and Tokara Canal bridges.

Mooloolaba’s Brisbane Road would have two general traffic and two transit lanes with Mayes Canal and Tuckers Creek bridges widened and some re-instatement of kerbside parking. In Mooloolaba there would also be a reconfiguration of Venning Street, Mooloolaba Esplanade and Alexandra Parade to include two transit lanes and two general traffic lanes. The CoastConnect proposals include an option to re-align another small section of Alexandra Parade westward at Buderim Avenue to allow for more parklands and parking.

Recent Comments

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Posted by sunnyone44 from Mooloolaba
on 8 September, 2008 at 7:03 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Don't do it, good grief it is hard enough now to cross Brisbane Road at the lights near the Bowls club without some twit going through a red light.There is a complex of Senior's units nearby and some of these seniors are a bit shaky on their feet others use their walkers to get to the shops and see their doctor .A busier road would terrify them. Apart from this issue there is the thought of more lanes, more speed, more accidents, more pollution. I can see the ugly brown smudge of pollution arising over the horizon in a few years time. People come here to relax and get away from all that sort of thing.They come to enjoy the laid back easy going lifestyle we all have. Please, do not take that away from us.
Posted by bobbuick from Mountain Creek
on 8 September, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
History repeated!

In the last ten years, there have been three major planning reviews in Mooloolaba and it seems that all have collapsed, these are
1. the Brisbane Road car park,
2. the realignment of Brisbane Road, and
3. the redevelopment of The Wharf.

The only public interest in these, and new plans like the Alexandra Parade, is how effective will the SCRC be. There would be many residents in the Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headlands, are expecting no change from the ineptness of the Maroochy Shire Council.
Posted by Pikey from Rosemount
on 8 September, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Gold Coast!
Posted by Pandanus from Mooloolaba
on 8 September, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Please, please, PLEASE don't let this happen. We don't need it and it would destroy whatever remains of the ambience of our area.
If traffic is really such a problem then divert it to back roads away from the beach area. We have all seen the devastation caused by increased traffic lanes through other towns/cities and we surely do NOT want that experience here.
Time for our Super Council to show they are up to the job and reject outright any further consideration of this crazy concept!
Posted by diddleedee from London/Wimbledon
on 8 September, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why in heaven's name would you need six traffic lanes for Alexandra Parade? As an overseas visitor I really love Mooloolaba and the surrounding area. It would be ruined if this is implemented. What idiot thought this up?
Posted by masmithuk from Mountain Creek
on 8 September, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I drive this road many times a week and just don;t see the need for more lanes be they for buses or general use. It just don't get that busy.
Posted by maryannemcl from beerwah
on 8 September, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
After spending the last few weekends having to travel to the Gold Coast all I can say is stop.....think......please...... The only thing good about the trip is the 4 lanes off traffic. My husband travels between Brisbane and Sunshine Coast nearly every day.

Put the money into The Bruce Highway instead please all the way to Bundy and as far up as we can. This would go a very long way to helping the road toll.
This should be more important [after the last few days of accidents] than the coastal strip.
Posted by alwaysright from maroochydore
on 8 September, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What is the point of making it 6 lanes when it has 3 sets of traffic lights on it and reverts to a single lane at the Mooloolaba end of it anyway???

QLD Transport at their finest again!
Posted by Stink from maroochydore
on 8 September, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Great. Six lanes instead of four with a starting grid at the Sebel traffic lights. The hot car lads will love you.
Posted by MammaBear from Chancellor Park
on 8 September, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Six lanes of traffic? You've got to be kidding. Does anyone who is driving from Alex to Mooloolaba really need to be there in that kind of a hurry? There are other roads that can be used if you need to get to either of these destinations (think Motorway). The only time the traffic seems to increase is when there is a decent swell or when mother nature puts on a show in the ocean. Its a Sunshine Coast tradition to drive past the Bluff slowly. We don't need it and I'm sure I speak for many, we don't want it. If anything, make it slower so impatient buggers don't abuse us locals!
Posted by mmarch from Mooloolaba
on 8 September, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mamabear - note that the motorway is almost useless to travel from mooloolaba to maroochydore as there is no enry to it! one must go down brisbane road and around the mountain creek roundabouts and then back onto the motorway, or else run down through all the traffic lights along wises roads.
Maroochydore to mooloolaba via the motorway is a dream, it is very quick.
Unfortunately it takes so long to get to maroochy from mooloolaba during business hours that a lot of time is lost in travelling such a short distance.
Posted by Jewel from Maroochydore
on 8 September, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I agree we certainly DON'T need a six lane highway..........PLEASE leave this beautiful area alone, money would be better spent on the Bruce Highway.
Posted by Eugene from Doonan
on 8 September, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mmarch has hit the nail on the head.
If there were more access/egress ramps to the motorway it might even be useful as an alternative to the coast road, and that applies for the whole length of the Coast.

As the population grows this will become more critical for ease of access.

Why aren't our Councillors lobbying the State Government for the bleeding obvious ?

Would love the SCD to get an answer on this.
Posted by debbiemagee from Buderim
on 8 September, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
If people don;t want the extra roads then stop driving or buy smaller cars.

It's typical of Australian's today; we winge about petrol prices yet refuse to give up our precious 4x4, we winge about new roads but will not stop driving.

Get over yourselves and think of others.
Posted by News_Watcher from Redcliffe
on 8 September, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ed, Whilst it wasn't my intention to respond to the above story, since sighting this report, I note that Lindsay Tanner a federal minister in the Rudd government has expressed a view that the PM shouldn't call an early federal election but time will tell on that. I would oppose the building of a 6 lane highway on the beachfront as the money could be spent on other important and urgent issues.

I have always questioned the performances of the Departments of Main Roads and Transport and; what about giving back control to the local council? I would also like to see what the residents of the Sunshine Coast think about this plan and perhaps; the council could undertake a survey of ratepayers. We know that the government has the final say but again, we're heading towards a state election.
Posted by bendertiger from Calamvale
on 8 September, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why not just put in some bus lanes and leave it at that? That way, we kill two birds with one stone...or three! Buses can get to where they need to go, it makes public transport more attractive plus it provides a way to ride my bicycle down the road without 'running' into pedestrians on the beach path!
Posted by mmarch from Mooloolaba
on 8 September, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
people should also be presented with a few more facts before reacting with hysteria to a '6 lane hwy' on the beach front.
The current proposal shows 4 lanes (one lane each way and one transit lane each direction) from brisbane road until pacific tce where it currently starts as 4 lanes through to maroochydore.
From Pacific tce the existing two lanes remain and it is proposed to have a designated bus lane run from there into maroochydore CBD. So instead of saying its a 6 lane hwy, essentially the road is staying as is and they are adding a dedicated bus lane so that the busses arent getting stuck in the traffic like the rest of us! I would take the bus into maroochydore from here if it was quicker than driving.
Posted by buderimbob from Buderim
on 8 September, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Premier Bligh should take note of the WA.election results and spend more time, not money,listening to the people she is supposed to represent.
If the government widens Alexandra Parade it will still be narrow at both ends therefore a waste of money to widen this scenic road.If Anna wants to spend money on the coast we need improved medical facilities and more police please.
Posted by SpareUs from Spin
on 8 September, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Come on people, don't be sucked in by a misleading headline and disinformation. Go over to the accompanying story with the real meat - Plan to cut bus travel times in half - like mmarch apparently has, and discover that this is about dedicated bus and cycle lanes and that its not a done deal but a proposal for which public input is invited.
Posted by My_say from Mt Coolum
on 8 September, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Don't destroy the magic and beauty ambiance of this area by changing any aspect of the road. Improve the access on the inland leading roads if need to and let people use the motorway if they need to get anywhere in a hurry. keep this area a treat to drive down.
Posted by Phil_Surfmore from Alex
on 9 September, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Direct the through traffic away from the beach area.

Build more bike paths

People not cars.
Posted by Phil_Surfmore from Alex
on 9 September, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why not make Alex Pde and Aerodrome Rd a two lane road and use the vacant lane for the buses that we all use (not). Make the traffic slow down so all through traffic by-passes the local area. Noosa has the right idea on traffic management.

Where is all the traffic going along this stretch of road,anyway? From some smart cafe in Mooloolaba to the plaza? Then what? Off to work? Do a few laps and go home? Maybe Qld Trans. should take the one way section past Maroochy Surf club and expand that too.

Anyone been to California and seen the six lane highway running along (and ruining ) their coastal strip? So so ugly and inaccessible to local traffic.

Bob,please stand up for the people who voted for you and let us know what you think of this plan!?
Posted by michellejones5 from Yaroomba
on 9 September, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Last Summer we had turtles nest on the beach at Alex Headland and when the hatchlings emerged they were already disorientated by the light pollution along that strip. We were hoping to address this issue with Council before the next nesting season and see if we could have some lights changed or modified...what hope will we have if they proceed with this plan right along the coast?
Posted by Phil_Surfmore from Alex
on 10 September, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
While we are on road 'improvments'...what do you lot think of the Maroochydore Rd/ Sunshine Mwy round about?
I hope the four sets of traffic lights on the feeder roads are temporary but I think not.
If its anything like the round about at Bris. airport we are in for some very frustrating delays.
Any bike lanes here while we are looking at it?
Surely there is a better way to keep the community moving around without a traffic light at every road intersection.
Posted by coastres from Sippy Downs
on 10 September, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Phil you are kidding right about the rounabout. That place was a deathtrap and traffic never moved well around it, lights is the only option there unless you prefer it the old way when tow trucks would be waiting in the middle for accidents to happen.
Posted by Sunshine_2 from Brisbane
on 18 September, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
With the growth on the Sunshine Coast lets look at the problems on the Gold Coast . Should the State Govt look further ahead for the population in years to come and consider a tram system like around St Kilder in Melbourne . Lets think ahead with the cost of fuel for the buses.

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