Growing local jobs and maintaining our liveability matters. Consultation is underway into the future planning of Sunshine Coast Airport and so it is important to be informed and involved in the process to ensure the best outcomes are achieved.
This Development Scheme planning is part of a Priority Development Area (PDA) process which was declared on 28 July 2023, by the Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) making it officially a collaboration between Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), Sunshine Coast Council and Sunshine Coast Airport.
This is different from the Master Planning process that Council and the airport undertook previously with the PDA overriding the Master Plan so expect there will be changes.
The Sunshine Coast Airport PDA, which covers the entire Airport site in Marcoola, was declared at the request of the Sunshine Coast Council to provide a streamlined planning framework to accommodate the future needs of the airport. ECQ advise that the PDA, which covers the 460-hectare airport site, will support the creation of a modern competitive airport, delivering significant growth opportunities across employment, local business and tourism with a 2046 horizon. This means that not all development happens at once and will be sequenced over the life of the Development Scheme.
There are a number of precincts within the site under the Development Scheme. The one which may peak more interest is the former north-south runway, particularly on the northern end near Marcoola.
More detailed Precinct Plans, which sit under this scheme, will be developed and released as works are staged over the next couple of decades. EDQ advise that each Precinct Plan will be subject to more detailed investigation and public consultation as they are released.
It is vitally important that the community, particularly the neighbouring suburbs, are heard in this first stage, which is the Development Scheme consultation process, to help ensure future development is compatible with community needs – such as traffic and flood management, and integration into the neighbouring community.
I support a viable and vibrant airport and aviation precinct to connect our Sunshine Coast region for today and into the future while ensuring that the right balance is achieved with the local community and environment. I believe that there must be no compromise of the flood and storm network system and key transport issues, particularly with the David Low Way, must be addressed. How the new precincts integrate into the local business and residential community, with the beautiful Mt Coolum in the backdrop, is very important and needs great care and consideration.
I recently met with EDQ and raised these issues. I will also be following up with the Department of Transport and Main Roads about their network planning, and existing needs (such as the intersection of Mudjimba Esplanade and David Low Way) and other intersections as I am concerned that there must be a better plan to address these safety issues with current demands, let alone future impacts.
I encourage residents to review the details of the plan and the consultants’ hydraulic and traffic reports that are being used to underpin this process which are online under the ‘Development Scheme’ by clicking HERE
To have your say submissions are currently open and close on 8 August – these submissions will form part of the planning process. Click HERE to submit your submission.
There are a number of advertised community information sessions which have been held by EDQ. In addition, on Saturday, 20 July from 1-4pm at the MUDJIMBA COMMUNITY HALL (Cottonwood St, Mudjimba), a Community Forum at the request of the Marcoola Community Group and other local groups, will have EDQ, Sunshine Coast Council staff and community representatives in attendance, which should be very informative and if you have any concerns I encourage you to attend.
