Transport Minister Bart Mellish on Monday locked in a major funding boost to the Tewantin Bypass planning project – tipping in an extra $7.1 million to fast track the important transport project.
Building on an existing $1.4 million committed in the 2024 State Budget to progress planning, this additional funding will now fast-track the business case and detailed designs.
It’s expected that this planning work will unlock a long-term solution to improve safety and traffic flow between Cooroy-Noosa Road and Eumundi-Noosa Road, within the Beckmans Road corridor.
The additional funding will enable in-depth investigations to be completed, confirm project benefits and economic viability, as well as considering staged delivery options.
Independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton welcomed the decision by the Transport Minister to intervene, something she had called for since the budget was handed down in June.
Ms Bolton said in Parliament at the time, “regardless of the reasons for the delays that have led to this, whether on TMR’s end or Noosa Council’s end, I ask the minister to fast-track and fund the requirements to get it back on track.”
This has now been achieved with the announcement by the Minister on Monday committing $7.1 million for detailed design and the business case for both stages two and three.
It builds on an existing $1.4 million committed in the 2024 State Budget making a total of $8.5 million that has been allocated.
The Government completed upgrades at the intersection of Cooroy-Noosa Road and Beckmans Road in 2022, as part of Stage one of the Tewantin Bypass project.
“With Stage one at the intersection of Beckmans Road and Cooroy-Noosa Road already complete, this ‘fast track’ will mean once the detailed designs and business case are completed, we can get to construction funding stage. This is vital as I have raised previously, given not only existing congestion, but as well the projected population increases to the south and the visitations due to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Ms Bolton said.
This funding goes above and beyond the $1.4 million Noosa Council recently requested in their state election priority requests, which Ms Bolton said was inadequate for the pre-construction planning, detailed design and business case required to have the Bypass completed in an acceptable timeframe.
With Labor committing this funding, Ms Bolton is also seeking a firm commitment from the LNP.
“As I said in August, Noosa deserves better than a party line, or candidates saying they will hold the Government to account. I will always fight for our home, not just when it’s convenient for a party agenda. The achievements of being Independent speak for themselves whether it be Six Mile Bridge #7 or Tewantin Bypass stage one as example. The LNP need to state clearly what they will deliver specifically for Noosa should they form Government, with no dangling carrots of disclaimers. The benefit for Noosa being Independent is we can work with, or against when needed, the major parties in a productive way as has been demonstrated,” Ms Bolton said.
Mr Mellish said Labor was delivering for Sunshine Coast locals.
“This funding will now fast-track the completion of the business case, to consider critical upgrades that boost capacity, address growing traffic demands and future proof the road network,” he said.
“The LNP refuse to say how they will fund their big spending but have committed to less debt. That can only mean one thing – cuts.
Further details on the Tewantin bypass can be found at tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/tewantin-bypass-beckmans-road-planning
