The proposed overhaul of Dual Avenue between Alexandra Parade and Kawana Way has reached a decisive moment, with Sunshine Coast City Council set to vote next month on a final design that will shape the neighbourhood for the next two decades.
The ambitious $18 million revitalisation project aims to tackle chronic congestion, improve safety outcomes, and create a more vibrant precinct. But residents and business owners are now grappling with a fundamental trade-off: expanded footpaths and dedicated cycling infrastructure, or retention of the 340 on-street parking spaces currently dotted along the 2.4-kilometre stretch.
Council's preliminary assessment suggests a middle-ground option—reducing parking to around 180 spaces while widening footpaths by 1.5 metres and installing a separated bike lane—would cost approximately $16.2 million and take 18 months to complete. A full pedestrian-priority redesign, removing most parking entirely, would exceed budget and face fierce resistance from the Kawana commercial precinct, where retailers report that 62 per cent of customers arrive by car.
Community consultation conducted over April and May revealed a sharp divide. Residents living in nearby Mooloolaba and Birtinya strongly favoured the bike lane and footpath expansion, citing school safety concerns on Alexandra Parade. Meanwhile, traders along the Avenue and managers at the Kawana shopping centre warned that parking removal would drive customers to out-of-town competitors.
The council will deliberate two competing proposals at the July 16 meeting. The decision carries real consequences: transport planners estimate that improved pedestrian infrastructure could increase foot traffic by 18 to 24 per cent, though lost parking could reduce convenience-driven retail visits by up to 14 per cent during the transition phase.
Adding urgency: state government funding for the project expires December 2027, meaning delays could jeopardise the entire grant. Council must also resolve what happens to displaced parking—whether temporary facilities should be built on council-owned land behind the Sunshine Coast Library, or whether merchants should manage their own solutions.
Residents interested in the final design are invited to view concept plans at the Kawana Community Hall on July 9 and 10. The decision, expected by August, will reshape one of the Coast's most important commercial and residential corridors at a critical moment in the city's growth.
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