Three major Sunshine Coast high schools with a combined enrolment of more than 4000 students have announced a sweeping ban on e-bikes and e-scooters from next year.
In a joint letter to families, the principals of Coolum State High School, Noosa District State High School and Sunshine Beach State High School said “ongoing, numerous concerns from community members” had forced the decision.
“Following extensive discussions, we have made the collective decision to ban all e-bikes and e-scooters from our school sites starting from the beginning of the 2026 school year,” the letter said.
The schools made the move in consultation with representatives from the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
“From 2026, any student reported to be breaking the law by riding a non-compliant e-bike or e-scooter in school uniform will face a school-based consequence,” the letter said.
“This measure reinforces our commitment to student safety and responsible behaviour within the community.”
The schools said they had repeatedly raised concerns with families throughout the year but unsafe practices and the use of illegal devices continued.
“Despite repeated requests for parental support in managing the use of non-compliant vehicles, we continue to see students riding and storing e-mobility devices that do not meet Queensland road laws,” the letter said.
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The principals’ letter also cited several recent fatalities involving young people and e-mobility devices, including on the Sunshine Coast.
“In light of these safety concerns – and the additional fire risk posed by lithium battery storage – we believe this ban is a necessary step to protect our students and school communities.”
The letter said a recent audit conducted by QPS found a “vast majority” of e-bikes and e-scooters on the schools’ grounds were not compliant with road rules.
According to the Department of Education website, Sunshine Beach State High School has 1405 students enrolled, while Coolum State High School has 1551. Noosa District State High School operates main campuses at Cooroy and Pomona, with enrolments of 882 and 284 respectively.
The schools said managing the devices was diverting staff from their core responsibilities.
“While each school has made efforts to manage this issue, staff are not equipped to assess the legality of individual vehicles. Our priority must remain on delivering high-quality education, not regulating student transport choices,” the letter said.
“We are announcing this decision now to give families ample time to make alternative arrangements. We encourage students to travel to school via school bus services or by using conventional bicycles. We understand this change may cause some initial inconvenience, but we believe the long-term benefits to student safety and community wellbeing far outweigh the short-term challenges.”
The letter was signed by principals Anthony Swan (Sunshine Beach), Troy Ascott (Coolum) and Stacy Wilmore (Noosa District), who thanked families for their cooperation.
“We appreciate your understanding and support, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with families in 2026 and beyond,” they said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said schools maintained strong relationships with QPS officers as they continue to crack down on illegal e-mobility devices.
“All Queensland state schools place the highest priority on the safety of all students, staff and members of their communities and, as part of this, road safety is regularly highlighted at school,” they said.
“Individual school principals and their communities work together at a local level to address issues of concern regarding student road safety.”
Earlier this month QPS launched Operation X-Ray Surety, a statewide campaign focusing on addressing unsafe behaviours, particularly during the busy school holiday period.
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