The federal government will soon determine if a state government–proposed interchange upgrade requires further scrutiny, after it was revealed the project could significantly impact two threatened species and a threatened habitat.
The Australian Department of Environment will make a ‘referral decision’ regarding the planned Caloundra Road, Kawana Way Link Road and Bells Creek Arterial Road intersection, after a public consultation period ended on February 2.
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads stated that the planned works are likely to have direct impacts on some threatened species but the detailed design for the upgrade is not finished, and mitigation measures could be implemented to reduce impacts on native vegetation and habitat.
The intersection carries more than 60,000 vehicles a day.
A TMR spokesperson detailed the importance of the “major” upgrade and said it would “improve safety, ease congestion and support the Sunshine Coast’s growing transport demands”.
“The project is part of the broader Caloundra Congestion Busting Plan to improve the road network and traffic flow.”
“The upgrade includes a new north-south overpass interchange, with bridges over Caloundra Road providing a direct connection between Kawana Way Link Road and Bells Creek Arterial Road. Additional lanes will be added at ramp intersections, along with improved active transport facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
“Once complete, the interchange will separate traffic movements, reduce conflict points and improve travel time reliability, delivering a more efficient network for commuters, freight operators and visitors.”
TMR outlined some of the impacts in its report, submitted to the Department of Environment.
“The project footprint includes a variety of habitats for a range of species, including some listed under the EPBC (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act),” the group stated.
“The removal of habitat may displace native fauna into adjacent habitats and place some species at risk of direct project-related impacts and potential mortality.
“The project will slightly increase the fragmentation of wildlife corridors already created by Caloundra Road, Bells Creek Arterial Road and Kawana Way Link Road, and may further reduce the level of connectivity by making the existing barrier created by the roads wider.”
The TMR report stated that there could be significant impacts to koalas, wallum sedge frogs and coastal swamp sclerophyll forest.
The group said the project could affect southern-eastern glossy black cockatoos, white-throated needletails, Mt Emu she-oaks, acacia attenuates, southern swamp orchids, wallum leek orchids and banished stink bushes, but not significantly.
TMR stated that some impacts were unavoidable due to constraints.
“Design of the road is restricted by the existing placement of the roads, with widening works unable to avoid direct impacts to coastal swamp sclerophyll forest, which was fragmented as part of the Bells Creek Arterial Road construction.”
“Further loss of the coastal swamp sclerophyll forest habitat cannot be avoided through the design.”
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The design contract was awarded late last year but site investigations and technical studies are ongoing. TMR also stated that it would do what it could to avoid or lessen impacts or compensate for impacts.
“Detailed design of the project has not yet commenced, with this (initial) assessment being completed using the concept design from the business case, with a buffer of 10m applied to give an upper limit of potential impacts to MNES (matters of national environmental significance).”
“Through the detailed design, measures to avoid and minimise impacts to native vegetation/habitats as far as feasible will occur.
“Where impacts cannot be avoided or minimised, offset conditions will be imposed to compensate for residual impacts.”
The federal Department of Environment told Sunshine Coast News that there has been minimal community feedback on the project. Public comments are not yet available.
The department will soon decide whether the proposal will require a more thorough environmental assessment, before a final decision will be made.
Geotechnical work on the upgrade is expected to start within months, subject to approvals and site access. Early works are anticipated from late 2027 or early 2028.
Cost estimates are continuing to be refined. Concept designs and visual impressions are being finalised and would be released after the necessary approvals.
Stage 1 of the project is set to include a traffic signal upgrade. The proposed Stage 2 would feature overpasses.
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.
