A long-time local is urging officials to address speed and noise concerns at and near an overhauled intersection.
Brian Burgess told Sunshine Coast News that drivers were using Mooloolaba streets as a “raceway”, after a roundabout was replaced by traffic lights at the junction of Brisbane Road, Tarcoola Avenue and Foote Street in 2021.
About 21,000 vehicles use the crossroads per day.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said the Brisbane Road upgrade had led to a range of improvements in the area, including a reduction of crashes along a key stretch and fewer vehicles using side streets as rat runs, while a Queensland Police Service spokesperson said officers regularly patrolled the streets and were “aware of community concerns”.
Mr Burgess said local roads had “turned into an unofficial raceway, 24 hours a day: worse at night and weekends”.
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“All kinds of vehicles roar down these roads as if they are in the Formula 1, without any policing of speed and noise,” he said.
“The noise from the vehicles, buses included, and hoons in modified vehicles, continues to affect the wellbeing of the area’s permanent residents.
“It is about time some action was taken to restore peace in the neighbourhood.
“The buses, cars and motorbikes race for the lights, and race from them.
“This happens constantly, peaking in the evenings on weekends and holiday periods.
“The scream of high revs and exhaust is annoying, especially late at night.”
Mr Burgess has lived along Foote Street for more than 11 years.
“I have witnessed the deterioration of the precinct’s ambience since the Brisbane Road upgrade,” he said.
He called on police to “place cameras on Brisbane Road, Foote Street and River Esplanade, intermittently, or physically attend and monitor and influence the miscreants’ behaviour”.
“Since the Brisbane Road upgrade, I have only seen one RBT exercise in Foote Street and no active police presence on any of Brisbane Road,” he said.
The council spokesperson said the multi-stage upgrade of Brisbane Road was designed to “improve safety and increase capacity for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians”.
“The project provides safer crossing points, smoother traffic flow, reduced peak‑period delays and supports future traffic demand in and around Mooloolaba,” they said.
The spokesperson said traffic lights were installed at the intersection five years ago, when the section of 50km/h Brisbane Road was also widened to two lanes in each direction.
They said seven crashes were reported along the Brisbane Road stretch, from Hancock Street to Kyamba Court, in the three years before the upgrade and three since, with two crashes at the intersection in the three years before the upgrade and one since.
“Council has not received any requests relating to speeding concerns on Brisbane Road since the upgrade was completed,” they said.
The spokesperson also said the Brisbane Road upgrade had led to improved traffic flow in the face of population growth.
“Fewer vehicles are now using Tarcoola Avenue, with a matching increase on the northern Brisbane Road approach. This suggests the upgrade has reduced shortcutting along Tarcoola Avenue and Goonawarra Drive, which drivers previously used to avoid delays on Walan Street.”
They also said traffic data, collated during the past month, showed vehicles speeds were at or below 37km/h in both directions of Foote Street.
Meanwhile, a QPS spokesperson said local police regularly monitor the area and are “aware of community concerns”.
“Sunshine Coast police conduct regular patrols and targeted enforcement activities across the Mooloolaba area, including Brisbane Road and surrounding streets, to deter and detect speeding and dangerous driving behaviour,” they said.
“Police are aware of community concerns regarding driver behaviour in this area and take all reports of hooning and excessive speed seriously.
“Officers regularly review operational data, community complaints, and intelligence to inform enforcement strategies and ensure resources are deployed where they are most needed.
“Speeding and reckless driving places all road users at risk and remain a key focus for police.
“Enforcement action, including the issuing of infringement notices, is undertaken where offences are detected.
“Sunshine Coast police continue to work closely with government and local council partners to support road safety outcomes and respond to emerging traffic issues.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report dangerous driving behaviour, including hooning, to police.”
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
