A Federal Member is urging residents to “make your voice heard” against roadworks that will remove parking spaces while adding lanes to a busy connection route outside his electorate office.
Sunshine Coast Council is set to begin the Lake Kawana Boulevard roadworks that will also see traffic lights installed at the roundabout at the intersection with The Decks, near the access to the Entrance Island gated community.
Member for Fisher and Wurtulla resident Andrew Wallace sent an email to residents, asking them to contact Division 3 Councillor Peter Cox directly, voicing their concerns on several issues, including the loss of 32 car spaces and the amenity of the area, as well as what he regards as a short community consultation process that started on September 20.
Mr Wallace’s electorate office is at The Edge on Lake Kawana Boulevard, where the roadworks are to commence.
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As well as housing the federal parliamentary office, The Edge is a hub for financial and insurance services, online and digital companies, allied health and medical. Hundreds of staff, customers and community members use the carparks every day, yet tenancies are yet to be at full capacity.
The busy boulevard, which links Nicklin Way and Kawana Way at Birtinya, is used by healthcare workers and visitors to access the Sunshine Coast Heath Precinct, tradespeople and commuters at the southern end of the Coast as a link to Caloundra Road and the Bruce Highway, and Kawana residents to visit Stockland Birtinya shops and other local retailers, cafes and businesses.
The council-approved project scope will include:
- a two-lane road in both directions
- traffic signals to replace the roundabout at The Decks and Lake Kawana Boulevard intersection
- indented bus stops on the eastern and western side of Lake Kawana Boulevard
- additional street lighting
- dedicated bicycle lanes each way
- upgraded pedestrian crossing.
The car spaces on either side of that section of Lake Kawana Boulevard will be removed and no longer accessible from commencement of the works.
Bus stops will be temporarily relocated closer to the Nicklin Way.
Sunshine Coast-based civil contractor Hall Contracting will undertake the works, which are expected to take nine to 12 months (subject to weather and progress).
Lake Kawana Boulevard is expected to remain open during construction.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said the signalisation of the Lake Kawana Boulevard and The Decks intersection was a long-standing obligation of Stockland, the Kawana master developer. This obligation was included in both the Sunshine Coast University Hospital Infrastructure Agreement and the Kawana Waters Structure Plan.
“As a result of the continuing growth of the Kawana area, the road network is now carrying greater traffic volumes. Providing a safe and direct on-road path for cyclists and improved public transport facilities is now a priority,” the spokesperson said.
“As per the structure plan conditions, Stockland must convert the existing roundabout at the Lake Kawana Boulevard and The Decks to a signalised intersection prior to creating the first lot in the Town Centre East Precinct.
“This includes widening Lake Kawana Boulevard to two lanes in each direction for safety and traffic engineering requirements and to minimise potential traffic queues to Nicklin Way or at the newly signalised intersection.
“The on-street car parking in front of the commercial premises on Lake Kawana Boulevard was provided temporarily on the clear understanding it would be removed when the road needed to be widened to four traffic lanes.
“The buildings, when developed, included more on-site car parking than was required by the planning provisions.”
Mr Wallace said he was only made aware of these changes by email on September 18, leaving very little time between the date of notification and the planned start of the works.
The loss of the parking spaces was “most disappointing” and a number of businesses had reached out in response to that notice with grave concerns for the viability of their business, he said.
“As Bokarina, Birtinya and Wurtulla residents know too well, our streets are already jam-packed with the cars of visitors, customers, and employees frequenting The Edge and surrounds,” Mr Wallace said.
“Reducing carpark capacity even further will only deter local business and consumer investment. It reduces foot traffic, limits businesses’ capacity to serve their clientele, and exacerbates the current parking problem.
“In my seven years (as a Member), I have heard very little about congestion on Lake Kawana Boulevard, and quite a lot about the parking situation.
“I’m calling on council to halt the project until a proper consultation can be done. At the same time, I’m calling for alternative parking arrangements for local businesses, residents and visitors which will not impose any cost on them, and which will ensure the amenity and accessibility for which our 4575 postcode is known.”
Mr Wallace said that if the council was serious about driving local investment and protecting the character of the community, it would maintain the amenity and accessibility of the 4575 postcode.
“Time and again, council and the federal government have worked together to find solutions to these problems,” he said.
“We are united in the fight for better roads and rail. But delivering the infrastructure, opportunities and essential services that the Sunshine Coast needs must be balanced with our responsibility to protect the character of our community.”
