20 year vision for Mooloolaba focuses on four iconic precincts

A new masterplan for Mooloolaba outlines a long-term vision, which includes bringing four key precincts together to revitalise the iconic area – the foreshore and esplanade, the Mooloolaba Heart, the wharf and the Southern Gateway.

Through implementation of the masterplan, Mooloolaba will become a world class beach destination with outstanding natural beauty and a healthy active lifestyle, where you can immerse yourself in, on and under the water.

It will also be a vibrant place with exciting parks and entertainment areas, better pedestrian access, cycle links and car parking, and a stimulated local economy.

Sunshine Coast Council worked closely with the community to shape the Place Making Mooloolaba Master Plan, which includes short, medium and long-term improvements for the area.

Division 4 Councillor Chris Thompson said the master plan would retain the natural aspects of Mooloolaba and increase beachfront public parkland.

“The master plan will help us create better public spaces, including 40% more public parkland, 2.4km of enhanced waterfront pathways, improved spaces for sporting and entertainment event,” Cr Thompson said.

“Mooloolaba is a unique place and we want to retain that.

“The master plan uses best practice urban design to ensure it stays an exciting, attractive and sustainable place to live, work and play.”

Cr Thompson said council undertook a two-stage consultation process to develop the master plan, as well as considering previous feedback.

“More than 80% of people who provided feedback supported the master plan and its initiatives,” he said.

“There were a few things that really stood out in the feedback – parking and relocation of the caravan park sites were hot topics.

“More than 70% of people supported relocation of the northern caravan park sites to allow for a world class oceanfront walk to Alexandra Headland and more than 60% asked for more car parking.

“To address those key issues, the northern caravan park sites will be relocated after the 10-year lease expires in June 2017, and an Expression of Interest to develop the Brisbane Road car park is open now.”

Detailed design of the parkland area is expected to be included in council’s 2016-17 budget.

Council has previously received multiple awards for its Place Making approach and the way in which it engages with the community to deliver quality plans and infrastructure for our region.

These include a Towards Best Practice Award from the Place Leaders Association (PLA) and an Award of Excellence for Planning in Landscape Architecture from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architect (AILA), for its PLACE+ Beerwah initiative.