1 October 2021
Community opposition to the proposed Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade is growing as Sunshine Coast residents become aware of the scale of the proposed road and its environmental impact.
The 1.6 km Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade (CTCU) is aimed at improving connectivity between Caloundra’s CBD and Omrah Avenue to Nicklin Way, north of the Caloundra Road roundabout, but community and environmental groups believe it comes with significant social and environmental impacts.
‘We hope many of our members will contact our local politicians and the Sunshine Coast Council officers and CTCU team to express their concerns about this road project before the end of October,’ states Jude Crighton from Wildlife Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Branch. ‘This is a massive road that is proposed to run from Nicklin Way across the southern part of the park, and it will undoubtedly damage the natural values of Ben Bennett Bushland Park, impacting areas of mature vegetation, including lowland rainforest and wet heath and adversely affecting the resident wildlife.’
Caloundra Community Expresses Concerns
Members of the nearby Blue Care and Bolton Clark/RSL Aged care are also wary of loss of connection to the park, and disruption and damage to the RSL memorial garden. The road upgrade will require the resumption of 20 properties on Third Ave and Oval Ave and would bisect Caloundra’s quiet, residential and small business community and impact Bicentennial Park before it reaches Omrah Ave.