Sunshine Coast MPs have expressed their dismay after the region’s major projects were shunned in the federal budget, while the local council has vowed to keep pushing for infrastructure funding that the community “needs and deserves”.
Federal LNP MPs Andrew Wallace and Ted O’Brien have expressed their disappointment with the lack of national support for key schemes including The Wave – a planned multibillion-dollar train and metro vehicle route – and the Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade.
The federal government announced a raft of measures for Australians, including tax relief for workers and a clampdown on property investment that is expected to help first home buyers. Public transport initiatives in several cities were also revealed.
But there appears to be nothing in this year’s budget for the big infrastructure projects that are expected to cater for rapid growth on the Sunshine Coast and were scheduled to be completed by the 2032 Games.
Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace, said the region was “being overlooked and left behind”.
“The Sunshine Coast is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, yet there is not a single dollar specifically committed to the critical projects our community desperately needs,” he said.
“These are essential projects for a rapidly growing region preparing for the 2032 Olympics and trying to keep up with population growth and pressure on local infrastructure and services.”
Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien also voiced his criticism.
“This budget is a dud for the Sunshine Coast with no funding for local projects,” he said.
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Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the local council had hoped for funding for significant projects.
“Council advocated hard for some key infrastructure, including funding for stages two and three of The Wave public transport system, support for a business case to upgrade the Bruce Highway to six lanes between Steve Irwin Way and Caloundra Road, as well as a regional indoor community sports centre,” she said.
She said the council “would have liked a stronger commitment to our priority projects”.
“We will continue to champion our region and seek the infrastructure our growing community needs, and deserves,” she said.
“This, of course, requires a strong partnership with our federal and state governments.”
But mayor Natoli said the budget did have some benefits for the region.
“The focus on housing affordability, is welcomed as we know many people are finding it difficult to buy a home,” she said.
She was also optimistic the region will benefit from nationwide funding for enabling infrastructure for housing developments, and said an extra $2 million for the Steve Irwin Way and Caloundra Street intersection upgrade at Landsborough was “good news”.
The federal government in 2024 matched the state government’s $2.75 billion commitment to build Stage 1 of The Wave: a rail line between Beerwah and Caloundra.
But it is not yet clear how stage two (a rail line between Caloundra and Birtinya) and stage three (a metro vehicle network between Birtinya and Sunshine Coast Airport), will become reality, although the former is included is included in Infrastructure Australia’s Priority List.
The state government has not received support for the MRIU from Canberra and the project was excluded from Infrastructure Australia’s Priority List.
Preliminary works are underway for both initiatives.
The Australian Department of Infrastructure confirmed there has been no change to the funding status of The Wave and the MRIU.
But a departmental spokesperson said the federal government was investing in the region, including $2.75m for Stage 1 of the Wave, $3.4 billion for highway projects between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane and $616.7 million for the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade.
“The 2026-27 Federal Budget includes $812 million in new funding for the Bruce Highway – Gateway Motorway to Dohles Rocks Road (Stage 2). This project will benefit people on the Sunshine Coast by increasing capacity of the Bruce Highway at a key choke point currently affecting drivers travelling from the Sunshine Coast into Brisbane.”
“Our Games venue investment includes a joint funding commitment with the Queensland Government towards the Sunshine Coast Stadium and Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre.
‘The Sunshine Coast will have the opportunity to benefit from potential future applications under new rounds of the Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs program, which received new funding of $750 million in the 2026-27 Federal Budget.”
Sunshine Coast News has asked the Treasury why there is no money in the budget for the two major transport projects and is awaiting a response.
SCN has also reached out to Queensland Deputy Premier and Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie and Minister for Transport and Member for Buderim Brent Mickelberg.
