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23/03/2026

That might save a trip to Chermside for Lego lovers.

14/03/2026

Construction has officially begun on long-awaited public amenities at the base of Mount Coolum National Park, promising much-needed comfort for the thousands of locals and visitors who tackle the summit each month. Click through for more details.

Construction has officially begun on long-awaited public amenities at the base of Mount Coolum National Park, promising much-needed comfort for the thousands of locals and visitors who tackle the summit each month. Division 8 Councillor Taylor Bunnag confirmed that work on the new modular amenities....

13/03/2026

The week that's been: 𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡.

The Sunshine Coast has had a busy week, with significant movements in infrastructure, local development, and community safety. Here are the top stories from the past seven days (March 6–13, 2026).

𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 & 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

The Queensland Government has marked several milestones this week under the "get the Sunshine Coast moving" banner:

- "The Wave" Progress: Premier David Crisafulli visited Caloundra on March 9 to confirm progress on the region's massive rail and metro project. Stage 2 (Beerwah to Birtinya) is advancing alongside the Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade, which is currently in its early works phase.

- Caloundra Transport Corridor: Work is ramping up on this critical link to alleviate gridlock in the southern end of the Coast.

- New Waterways Authority: Legislation was introduced on March 6 to establish the Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority, scheduled to take over management of local marine assets by July 1, 2026.

𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴

-$60M Waterpark Approved: On March 6, the Sunshine Coast Council gave the green light to Aussie World’s major expansion. The new waterpark in Palmview is expected to cater to 1,800 people daily and will feature native-themed architecture and landscaping.

- Aura Town Centre: Construction officially began this week on the first stage of the Aura Town Centre. The 16,300-square-metre precinct will include two major supermarkets and is slated to open by late 2027.

- Gagalba Land Release: Stockland announced the first land release for Gagalba, the final suburb in the Aura development, which is set to eventually add 6,000 new homes to the region.

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 & 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆

- "Adult Crime, Adult Time": New laws were introduced to Parliament this week expanding this policy to 45 youth crime offences. This follows the Community Cabinet meeting held in Caloundra, where local crime and safety were high on the agenda.

- Metal Theft Crackdown: New legislation introduced on March 4 (advancing through committees this week) aims to curb metal theft on the Coast by imposing stricter ID checks and heavier penalties for scrap-metal dealers.

𝗪𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

- Marine Warning: As of today, March 13, the Bureau of Meteorology has a Strong Wind Warning in place for Sunshine Coast waters. Local boaties and swimmers are urged to exercise caution.

- Beach Tragedy: Sadly, police confirmed the discovery of a deceased swimmer at Buddina Beach on March 6 following an intensive search and rescue operation.

- Stormwater Upgrades: Council began an 8-week project on March 8 to upgrade the region's stormwater network, with specific remediation works currently underway at Khancoban Drive Park in Buderim.

12/03/2026

Construction has officially commenced on the first stage of the Aura Town Centre, a 16,300-square-metre retail and entertainment precinct designed to serve the southern Sunshine Coast. Located within Stockland’s Aura masterplanned community, the project is expected to be fully operational and open to the public by late 2027.

Aura - City of Colour

09/03/2026

Much of Queensland is experiencing unpredictable weather and in the interests of putting safety first, schools may make local decisions about closures over the next 72 hours.

Please keep checking closures.qld.edu.au for real time updates. This site is updated regularly. Schools will also contact families directly if anything changes.

Stay safe: avoid flooded roads, follow advice from emergency services, and keep an eye on local updates.

06/03/2026

✅ Bruce Highway update – Ilkley Road Overpass (southbound), Tanawha

Good news for Sunshine Coast road users!

The southbound speed limit on the Bruce Highway at the Ilkley Road Overpass has been reinstated to 110 km/h, following the bridge strike on Friday 6 February 2026.

This change comes after temporary works were completed and monitoring equipment was installed on the Ilkley Road Overpass to help us keep a close eye on conditions.

Since the incident, the southbound lanes have operated under a reduced speed limit while we regularly reassessed safety and traffic conditions, with the goal of returning to 110 km/h as soon as it was safe to do so.

🔧 What’s next?
Investigations into permanent treatment options for the overpass are continuing. We’ll share updates as more information becomes available.

Safety remains our priority as we work to keep the Bruce Highway moving and minimise disruption for the community.
We appreciate your patience while these important works were completed.

06/03/2026

Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the discovery of a missing swimmer from Buddina Beach this evening, 6 March.

Following search and rescue efforts, the 18-year-old man was located deceased about 6pm.

https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2026/03/06/update-search-and-rescue-sunshine-coast/

06/03/2026

The State Government has introduced legislation to create the Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority, starting July 1, 2026. This new body will take the lead on everything from dredging to fixing boat ramps across the Coast and Noosa. Click through for all the details and the Government's announcement.

Queensland Government Brent Mickelberg MP

The Queensland Government has introduced legislation to establish the Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority (SCWA) by July 1, 2026. This new statutory body will take over the long-term management, dredging, and infrastructure maintenance of local waterways from the Noosa River down to Pumicestone Passa...

25/02/2026

25/02/2026

Detectives from Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch have charged a man who allegedly harassed and sexually assaulted multiple women. It will be