Sunshine Coast Active Transport Plan

The Active Transport Plan (the Plan) aims to create a more connected, safe, healthy and sustainable region where people of all ages, genders and abilities feel supported to use active transport.

Sunshine Coast Council has a vision to be recognised as “Australia’s most sustainable region. Connected. Liveable. Thriving.” It is a place where getting around is easy, and active transport infrastructure provides local connectivity and integrates with efficient public transport systems. Everyone should feel welcome and confident using our transport networks, which are safe, accessible and inclusive.

For the Plan, active transport is defined as moving from place to place using physical effort by:

walking, including pushing a pram or using a cane for assistance
riding, including a bicycle, scooter or legal e-bike
rolling, including a wheelchair or mobility scooter.

The Plan has been informed by our community’s needs. During early engagement, the community identified that:

increasing connectivity
removing barriers to inclusivity
valuing the needs of all path users
are essential to support more people to use active transport. Many respondents indicated they currently ride for recreation but not yet for transport.

The Plan is also informed by an assessment of the walking and riding networks. This identified that established residential areas have fewer paths, while wider paths and separated cycle tracks are predominantly located in emerging communities.

Global, national, State and local strategies and policies have guided and informed the Plan.

Population growth on the Sunshine Coast, along with major projects and events, highlights the need for an inclusive and accessible active transport network that connects to:

The Wave and other public transport stations and stops
Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues.

Vision

This information shapes the Plan’s vision:

Create a liveable, healthy, safe and connected Sunshine Coast by making walking, riding and rolling an easy choice for everyday trips.

Priority areas for action

To deliver this vision, three priority areas for action have been identified.

Networks and infrastructure
These actions provide the primary layer of improvements to increase connectivity. They will focus on:
Supporting activities
These actions provide a secondary layer of improvements, including shade, end-of-trip facilities and safety upgrades, to make active transport safer, more comfortable and enjoyable. They include:
Promote, influence and encourage
These actions focus on encouraging and supporting people to walk, ride and roll through:

For more information on each priority area, refer to the relevant information sheet (link below).

Aspirational active transport network mapping

To support the vision, the Plan includes aspirational walking and riding network maps.
These maps show existing and planned networks and identify where future connections may be delivered through a ‘one network’ approach involving Council, the state government and private development.

Divisional mapping demonstrates a clear intent to improve local networks and connect people to public transport, schools, activity centres, community facilities and recreation areas.

Community input

The Plan has been informed by two phases of broad community engagement.

Phase 1 gathered insights into local active travel preferences, values and barriers. This information helped shape the Plan.

Phase 2 presented the draft Plan and asked the community: Have we got it right? Feedback was sought on the proposed actions and the draft aspirational network mapping.