First Avenue Maroochydore - major streetscape upgrade
A new attractive streetscape will soon transform First Avenue, Maroochydore into a vibrant, shady and inclusive CBD, providing businesses, residents and visitors a more inviting space to live, work and play.
This major streetscape upgrade is being delivered as part of the Streetscape Capital Works Program.
The design will connect the established northern section of First Avenue and the newly expanded Maroochydore Central Business District (CBD), Aerodrome Road and surrounds, including The Esplanade and Duporth Avenue.
The upgrade will provide an attractive and safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists, improve and increase spaces for local businesses, help calm local traffic and will create cool, shady and green streets for all to enjoy.
A concept plan was developed in consultation with the community in 2018. Since then, council has completed the final design.
Council has been successful in securing partial construction funding for the project. The Queensland Government has contributed $2 million under the 2021-24 South East Queensland (SEQ) Community Stimulus Program in partnership with council’s contribution.
A construction schedule will be finalised, following the appointment of a construction contractor.
Project scope
With construction of the newly expanded Maroochydore CBD in progress council is focusing on the surrounding areas to deliver improved streetscape outcomes that benefit residents, visitors and local businesses:-
This includes the streetscape upgrade of the old section of First Avenue (from Aerodrome Road to The Esplanade and Duporth Avenue bridge).
The design includes practical improvements to help First Avenue operate more safely and efficiently. It also significantly enhances the look and experience of the area to help maintain and build upon Maroochydore’s already strong economy.
The upgrade aims to:
- provide a safer and more attractive environment for pedestrians and cyclists with wider footpaths, shared spaces, improved crossings and connections to existing and future pedestrian and cycling pathways
- be a catalyst for maintaining and attracting new business including providing more space for potential outdoor dining and night-time trade
- transform First Avenue into a shady, green and people-friendly CBD street with large trees, plants and street furniture
- help to calm traffic
- encourage more sustainable transport options including improved access to current and future planned public transport
- incorporate smart city technology, using information and communication technologies to connect people and processes
- upgrade and relocate existing services.
Design elements
A key goal is to provide safer pedestrian, cyclist and motorist movements including:
- improving pedestrian crossings:
- two raised pedestrian crossings along First Avenue; a raised pedestrian crossing along Cornmeal Parade, Memorial Avenue and George Street. As well as, a scramble crossing at the intersection of First Avenue, Duporth Avenue and The Esplanade
- a scramble crossing is a traffic signal movement that temporarily stops all vehicle traffic allowing pedestrians to cross an intersection in every direction at the same time.
- upgrading footpaths and driveways
- improving access for people with disabilities, prams, motorised scooters and other non-motorised forms of transport
- fixing footpath level variations where possible
- providing on-street car parking on the eastern side of First Avenue.
- transforming the eastern side of First Avenue including extending kerbing and landscaped areas and new street furniture
- transforming the western side of First Avenue into a 6-metre-wide, shared path for pedestrians and cyclists with a continuous, centralised planting strip. On-street parking to be removed and consolidated into more suitable, nearby areas
- relocating the two bus stops along First Avenue to The Esplanade and upgrading them to minimise conflict with other First Avenue street users
- extensively landscaping the area including planting approximately 60 new trees and 1500 new plants. Installation of street furniture to provide a welcoming, green environment for residents and visitors
- incorporating a loading zone.
Parking - Maroochydore precinct
The proposed First Avenue Major Upgrade parking plan design includes:
- retaining on-street parking on the eastern side of First Avenue
- removing all on-street car parking from the western side of First Avenue to accommodate the shared path for pedestrians and bicycles
- retaining three disabled parking bays in the area
- retaining one loading zone in First Avenue
- relocating the existing two bus stops to The Esplanade
- the Cornmeal Place car park was reconfigured in 2018, with new line marking delivered an additional 29 standard parking bays to the car park
- the combination of the proposed First Avenue Major Upgrade and Cornmeal Place car park reconfiguration will deliver an additional 12 standard parking bays to the local area.
Project timeline
- April 2018 – Consultation with businesses and traders on the concept design
- May 2022 – Final design introduced to community
- July 2022 – Design information night
- TBC – *Construction commences
- TBC – *New streetscape completed
*Some elements of construction may be staged or altered as funding and resources dictate. All works will be weather and site conditions permitting.
Where to from here
A Design Information Night was held on 27 July 2022 where the design for First Avenue Streetscape was explained in detail. Council thanks those who attended.
Council will keep our community informed of the future construction schedule, following the appointment of a construction contractor.
Contacts
Subscribing to receive project updates and information on construction works is a convenient way to keep up to date with the project. To subscribe or contact the First Avenue project team please email, [email protected]
Community updates
- Newsletter Update April 2018 (PDF, 1491KB)
- Newsletter Update September 2019 (PDF, 445KB)