Business owners say lengthy seawall works have left them struggling, with construction taking a heavy financial toll on trade.
Sunshine Coast Council says it is committed to completing the Moffat Beach project “as quickly and safely as possible”, emphasising that the result will deliver a stronger foreshore for the community.
Stage one of the reconstruction project began in May and is expected to be completed before Christmas, but business owners say the damage is already done.
For Sugar Mama’s owners Timmy Kaye and Katarina Langlois, who have operated since 2020, the works have created significant financial pressure.
“We’ve lost about 20 per cent of trade and revenue every month since it began, except for the September-October school holidays,” Mr Kaye said.
He said the downturn had forced them to cut costs and wages, seek rent relief, enter payment plans for ATO obligations and fall behind on supplier invoices.
“We’ve done what we can to adapt. It’s been hard to keep on top of things all year and it’s now getting to a point where it becomes a scary thought of what could be around the corner if we don’t fight to be here,” he said.
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The couple, who have lived locally for eight years and are raising three young boys, said attempts to seek support from the council had been unsuccessful.
“I do believe they should be doing better by us, as they have not taken us seriously down here at Moffat Beach and now all our businesses are struggling to make it through the end of the year,” he said.
“I think it’s time to call out the Sunshine Coast Council for some honest answers and accountability for our loss of income over such a prolonged time.”
A council spokesperson said the upgraded seawall would provide “a strong, resilient foreshore that continues to attract visitors and support local businesses for years to come”.
Council’s Economic Development team met with Moffat Beach traders in August and offered one-on-one meetings to all 20 affected businesses, providing additional support resources by email.
“To date, two businesses have reached out for one-on-one meetings and council officers remain on-hand to meet with any businesses,” the spokesperson said.
“Council doesn’t provide financial compensation related to construction disruption; however council has and is providing a range of business support resources to assist businesses pre-construction, during and post-construction.”
The Pocket Espresso Bar has also felt the impact, with owner Esther Bundellu saying the cafe was down almost 10,000 sales.
“For us that is a loss of more than $200,000,” she said.
“We’ve never gone backwards in sales before this. So, you can imagine the shock of having to just constantly pivot in that regard. But we’re like a cockroach, you cannot kill us.
“Knowing we’re not really seeing the same projection that we were hoping for, and knowing exactly why, is pretty disheartening. Also knowing that council can’t see the value in us, that really hurts.”
The council said its construction team remained committed to reducing impacts and keeping the project on track.
“To encourage our community and visitors to enjoy the beauty of Moffat Beach and to visit all the amazing cafes and shops there, we’re pausing construction works from December 19, 2025, to January 5, 2026,” the spokesperson said.
The beach in front of the central and eastern seawalls and the Queen of Colonies car park will remain open. The large rock stockpile area on the western beach has also been reinstated as public beach space for the holiday period.
Despite the challenges, both cafes have received strong backing from locals.
“The reaction has been great. We feel so loved by our regulars and the community here in Caloundra and across the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Kaye said.
