A significant section of Mooloolaba’s new terraced seawall has opened to the public, giving locals and tourists their first chance to experience the revamped foreshore while construction continues.
The replacement wall features wide terraces that span from the parkland to the beach and double as seating, while better protecting community facilities, parklands, paths and underground services from coastal impacts.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli was pleased to see the first stretch of seawall completed and opened.
“Taking a seat on the terraces or under the pandanus palms is the perfect vantage point to spot whales, relax and soak in the coastal views,” she said.
“Council has opened this section for community use while works continue on the rest of the seawall replacement.
“We are delivering on our promise to progressively open completed areas to our community as soon as it’s safe to do so, rather than waiting for the entire project to be finished.
“This approach reflects our commitment to ‘shrink’ the construction footprint, which has been well received by the community since opening a section of the coastal pathway for the recent school holidays.
“We know how eager our residents and visitors are to enjoy this new section of the foreshore.
“This first section really excites us for the future of Mooloolaba and puts into perspective how the terraced seawall will be the perfect place to watch the waves, or attend major events such as New Year’s Eve celebrations, festivals, the ANZAC Day service and beach sports like volleyball and rugby, all while providing protection for Mooloolaba.”
Like stories that inform, connect and celebrate the Sunshine Coast? So do we. Join an independent local news revolution by subscribing to our FREE daily news feed at the bottom of this article.
The federal government is contributing more than $7.9 million to the project through the Disaster Ready Fund, supporting long-term resilience and helping safeguard the region’s coastal communities against future natural hazards.
Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the seawall would allow Mooloolaba to be more resilient to the impacts of coastal hazards and extreme weather.
“This new seawall demonstrates how investing in mitigation and resilience infrastructure today can help protect community assets, public spaces and essential services into the future,” she said.
“It’s fantastic to see this first section opened for community use, delivering immediate benefits while longer-term works continue across the foreshore.
“The Disaster Ready Fund is about reducing disaster risk before it occurs, ensuring communities are stronger, safer and better prepared for future challenges.”
Senator for Queensland Corinne Mulholland said it was important local infrastructure.
“This is a real win-win in terms of creating both a beautiful and accessible foreshore, as well as protect this important tourism precinct from storm surges and the impacts of a changing climate,” she said.
She said the funding would “help ensure Mooloolaba remains a fantastic place for locals to live, businesses to thrive, and visitors to enjoy for generations to come”.
“It’s also a major investment in the modernisation of one of Queensland’s most popular and iconic coastal destinations, to get this stunning part of the Sunny Coast ready to shine for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The project is technical. The original sand was retained from the outset and was progressively screened, inspected and reinstated.
Once complete, the replacement seawall will also include an all-abilities beach access ramp and four beach access stair locations with handrails.
“Supporting our local businesses throughout this project remains a priority for Council,” Mayor Natoli said.
“That’s why we’re proud to deliver the Business Activation Plan through the Mooloolaba Chamber of Commerce and the ‘Meet Me in Mooloolaba’ campaign, helping showcase everything Mooloolaba has to offer and encouraging people to shop, dine and explore locally.”
Stage 2 is being delivered in phases, with multiple workfronts progressing at the same time to maintain momentum while restoring community access to completed areas.
This month, works have been focused on the continuation of seawall works together with stormwater infrastructure in the park area. It’s hoped the next section of seawall will be open by December, weather conditions permitting.
As works continue, more sections of the foreshore will reopen, including additional seawall terraces with more trees and vegetation for shade access points, and new public amenities.
Stage 2 is expected to be completed in March.
