Northern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy
The department is working towards an improved public transport system for the Sunshine Coast.
The Sunshine Coast's transport needs are growing and placing pressure on the road networks and public transport system. In response, we are planning and implementing solutions to ensure safe and efficient movement of people and goods.
Public transport is an important part of improving the transport network on the Sunshine Coast. By delivering the right services between key areas, people will have better access to employment, education, social services and recreational opportunities. This will drive economic growth, supporting businesses and ensure the Sunshine Coast remains an attractive place to live, work and visit.
We are working with Noosa Shire and Sunshine Coast Councils to develop the Northern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy. The strategy will set out a vision for the future of public transport in the northern Sunshine Coast region over the next 25 years. It will complement the Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy, providing a goal for all levels of government to work towards.
The strategy will guide improvements to public transport connectivity within and through the region and to major destinations in the southern Sunshine Coast, Gympie, and beyond.
The strategy will include identification of key public transport connections and how people can best get to and from public transport.
Benefits
- Accessibility
- Better active transport
- Contributes to regional growth
- Contributes to economy
- Improves network efficiency
- Improves network reliability
- Improves safety
- Reduces peak hour congestion
- Reduces travel time
Key features
- Improved access to employment, education, social services, and recreational opportunities.
- Better integration of bus and train services.
- Improved connections within Noosa and the northern Sunshine Coast, and onward to the southern Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.
- A more resilient, reliable, flexible, and accessible transport network.
Funding
This project is fully funded by the Queensland Government.
- Total investment
- $400,000
- Queensland Government
- $400,000
Current status
Planning is underway. The department and our planning partners are considering the feedback we received from the community. Your feedback is helping us identify a vision for the future public transport network, along with issues that are a priority for the community to be considered.
Study focus area
The study focus area covers parts of the Sunshine Coast and Noosa local government areas, following the coastline north from Maroochydore and the North Coast rail line north from Nambour.
The strategy will identify opportunities to improve connectivity, to, within and through the northern Sunshine Coast area including to major regional destinations such as the Sunshine Coast Airport, Noosa Junction, Nambour, Birtinya and Maroochydore CBD.
In response to feedback, the focus area has been broadened to include more rail villages and hinterland communities in the north-west of the Noosa local government area.
The focus area overlaps with the Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy to the south around Maroochydore and Nambour to illustrate that connections to regionally important destinations such as Maroochydore CBD, Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Sunshine Coast University will be considered.
While the focus of this strategy is further east, the needs of Blackall Range communities west of the Sunshine Coast rail line will also be addressed. They will be considered as part of other work being undertaken with Sunshine Coast Regional Council and communities.
Project location map
Community engagement
Initial community engagement was held between November 2023 and January 2024 to inform early development of the strategy. We heard from the community about the area's challenges and opportunities, as well as ideas and priorities for the future public transport system.
The project received 305 responses across the interactive map and 93 pieces of feedback via the comment box.
Download the summary of community feedback.
Feedback is being used to ground the strategy in the issues that matter to the community.
