A community group has expressed its concerns about a proposed hinterland-to-coast recreation trail and says there are more pressing projects in the region.
The Nambour to Coolum trail is an almost-50km planned track that could offer walking, running and cycling opportunities, and provide people with an opportunity to access a diverse landscape.
The Sunshine Coast Council-endorsed project has the support of several groups, including the Coolum Residents Association, and detailed planning is set to be undertaken during the next two years.
But the Bli Bli Community Association has questions and qualms regarding the draft route and associated costs.
The most recent map of the trail, produced in October, showed it would meander through the countryside and towns and over waterways.
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On a hinterland to coast bearing, it would start within Nambour, run adjacent to Petrie Creek, go through Bli Bli, shift north and go past the Maroochy Wetland Sanctuary, cross the Maroochy River, run through the Coolum Creek Conservation Park and environment reserves, go under the Sunshine Motorway and finish within Coolum.
Group president Chris Baker said more information was needed regarding the route.
“The association is not against the concept but is against the location as shown on the maps,” he said.
“If the trail were to follow public land and public roads then we would have no issue.
“The majority of the trail is in the Bli Bli area and is on private land.
“Landholders still run farming operations on this land and, in the main, cattle run free on the land. It would not be appropriate to have the public traversing the land with cattle at large.”
Mr Baker said council would also need to get permission from local property owners.
“Landholders do not have to allow the trail through their land,” he said.
Mr Baker said the group also wondered whether the project represented value for money.
“There has been no business case published as to the cost/benefit of such a project,” he said.
“The cost to create a trail would be massive, with what commercial return?
“The plan includes building a bridge across the (Maroochy) River which, in order to be flood-proof, would come at a very large cost.
“The old train bridge across the river used to provide access across the river, however, council was not prepared to assist to preserve that bridge and with recent floods (it) has virtually disappeared.”
He said there was a better possible route to consider.
“We would prefer that Finland Road is used, as it would link into Coolum and get people across the (Sunshine) Motorway,” he said.
“This way, it avoids massive costs of building paths, traversing private properties and building bridges across the river.
“But how you get from Bli Bli to Nambour, we don’t know, as that is all private land.”
Mr Baker said there were other local projects that council could prioritise.
“We would prefer to see the money put into finishing the link across to Twin Waters, as well as developing the land that council has bought on Godfreys Road, rather than it sitting there for the next 20 years.
“Have a plan and get in and get the land developed for the benefit of the community.”
He said a path from Bli Bli to Godfreys Road could enable pedestrians to either connect with a path to Twin Waters or go across Talep Bridge (where the Sunshine Motorway crosses the Maroochy River) and back along the path past Erbachers Fruit and Vegetables to Bli Bli for a complete loop.
Mr Baker said the planned hinterland-to-coast trail appeared to be a long way off.
“There needs to be proper consultation and thought put into the project, with a proper business case undertaken, as it is very doubtful there is a strong business case for it to be built,” he said.
He said there was scarce community consultation, aside from councillor Maria Suarez attending a local meeting in November. He said that gathering was held because “the Coolum Residents Association were becoming very active in respect to the topic”.
Mr Baker said he looked forward to more discussions about the proposal.
“We are prepared to discuss future plans and workshop a sensible alternative without costing the ratepayers a huge amount of money,” he said.
Sunshine Coast News asked council several questions regarding the proposal, including how much of the trail could go through private land, whether it had approached landholders and whether cost estimates had been done, but received a limited response.
“We are unable to provide specific detail at this stage as this will be determined by the future planning,” a spokesperson said.
“This will include further stakeholder engagement across our community.”
Council endorsed the proposal in 2017.
Very little progress has been made on it since, but council outlined its next steps to SCN last month.
“We are moving forward with the trail, but it’s a complicated and multifaceted project that is interconnected with other projects in the area,” a spokesperson said.
“We are preparing to undertake detailed planning over the next 18 to 24 months, which includes further community involvement in the process.”
The spokesperson said the trail would benefit locals and tourists.
“(It) will encourage even more people to head outdoors and enjoy our great environment,” they said.
“It will offer more walking, running and cycling opportunities for our region and provide a unique opportunity to access a diversity of recreational, natural and historical experiences.”
Coolum Residents Association vice-president John Fuller said the group wanted the trail ready before the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
He said it could bring significant economic benefits to the region, promote community health, reduce traffic, and he said the route could acknowledge the region’s history, including the sugar cane industry, and the area’s significance to Indigenous residents.
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