A snapshot of Sunshine Coast crash hotspots has revealed where the highest number of serious incidents have occurred in recent years.
State government data, released to Sunshine Coast News, highlighted the junctions that had the most significant incidents from mid-2021 to mid-2024.
Four of the ‘top’ 15 were along one stretch of road: bustling Nicklin Way.
But the Maroochy Boulevard and Wises Road T-intersection at Buderim was particularly dubious.
It had six serious crashes, resulting in nine people being hospitalised.
It is a busy connection point between commercial hubs in Maroochydore and Buderim, and is well-used by locals from nearby residential areas.
The intersection of Caloundra Street and Forestry Road along Steve Irwin Way at Landsborough had four serious crashes with five hospitalisations.
That’s despite a relatively low traffic count of less than 7900 vehicles each day.
It was earmarked for upgrades and works were ongoing.
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Intersections along Nicklin Way were prominent on the list, including at Peregrine Drive in Wurtulla; Point Cartwright Drive at Buddina; Caloundra Road at Caloundra; and Kawana Island Boulevard at Warana.
A thoroughfare linking Mooloolaba and Caloundra, Nicklin Way is one of the busiest roads in the region. About 57,000 vehicles go through the Point Cartwright Drive traffic lights each day.
A spokesperson said the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) was committed to addressing road safety in the region through targeted road safety upgrades.
“TMR monitors and investigates emerging crash locations, determines feasible treatments and then makes a funding submission under the Queensland Government Targeted Road Safety Program (TRSP),” they said.
“Project priorities and funding needs are reviewed and re-evaluated regularly to ensure that as many positive road outcomes as possible are obtained within a finite budget.
“Through the TRSP, the Queensland Government is committed to innovative and cost-effective road safety initiatives to improve the safety of our transport network.
“The TRSP is primarily funded from the Camera Detected Offence Program and significantly improves safety on the state’s road network.
“The Queensland Government is investing record funding in safety projects to reduce the impact of road trauma for all road users through high-benefit road safety infrastructure interventions.”
Intersections with the highest number of serious crashes from mid-2021 to mid-2024
- Maroochy Boulevard and Wises Road, Buderim (4 serious crashes, 6 hospitalised)
- Caloundra Street and Forestry Road, Landsborough (4, 5)
- Nicklin Way and Peregrine Drive, Wurtulla (4, 5)
- Mons Road and Parsons Road, Forest Glen (4, 4)
- Nicklin Way and Point Cartwright Drive, Buddina (3, 9)
- Bald Knob Road and Landsborough-Maleny Road, Bald Knob (3, 5)
- Alexandra Parade and Mayfield Street, Alexandra Headland (3, 3)
- Caloundra Road and Nicklin Way, Caloundra West (3, 3)
- Nicklin Way and Kawana Island Boulevard, Warana (3, 3)
- Maroochy Boulevard and Sunshine Motorway, Buderim (3, 3)
- Chevallum Road and Bruce Highway, Chevallum (3, 3)
- David Low Way and Taylor Street, Marcoola (3, 3)
- Kawana Way and Sunshine Motorway, Mountain Creek (3, 3)
- Mountain Creek Road and Sunshine Motorway (3, 3)
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.
