Businesses fear B2N could hit trade as truck bays replace village parking
By Sonia Isaacs
BEERBURRUM business owners have raised serious concerns over proposed parking and pedestrian changes linked to the Beerburrum to Nambour (B2N) rail upgrade, saying the plans could hurt trade and accessibility in the small township.
Café Phillies owner Tracey Heilig said the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR)’s latest design could see up to a dozen customer car parks lost to a truck parking bay, a pedestrian refuge, and two pedestrian crossings positioned less than 20 metres apart.
“If these plans go ahead as they are, we could lose almost all convenient parking for our customers,” Ms Heilig said. “It’s hard enough running a small business – take away our access and you’ll take away our trade.”
She said the community had not been properly informed about the scope or details of the proposed changes. “Only four locals attended the recent business owner consultation session. People don’t even know these changes are happening. The first we heard of it was through a small community meeting. Not everyone got a say.”
She said that several aspects of the proposed layout made little sense for the town’s needs. “We hardly see any trucks in town, so why put in a truck bay? And why have two pedestrian crossings less than 20 metres apart when there’s already a school crossing nearby that could be upgraded?”
Local businesses had attempted to offer alternative solutions, but Ms Heilig said their proposals were dismissed without explanation. “We’re not against progress. We just want fair consultation and a plan that works for locals – not one that drives customers away.”
“Beerburrum is a small, tight-knit community. We need upgrades that support growth, not changes that shut shopfronts,” she added.
Jess Roberts, co-owner of the Beerburrum Post Office, shared similar concerns, saying the proposed changes would drastically reduce available parking for residents, customers, and nearby traders. “We’ve got approximately eight parks out the front, and about 10 more angle parking spots on the other side. They’re planning to take all that out for a truck bay, and then we’ll be left with just eight parks for the whole community to get their mail or visit the café,” she said.
A TMR spokesperson said the project team would continue to actively engage and consult with stakeholders and community members. “In conjunction with Sunshine Coast Council, TMR is continuing to investigate the possibility of an alternative parking arrangement in the location of the long-vehicle parking bay, in line with feedback received from community consultation,” the spokesperson said.
Regarding the parking design near local shops, the spokesperson stated: “It can be confirmed that the current design shows no loss of formal car parking spaces. A new additional formalised pedestrian crossing point with refuge provisions will connect the area near the post office to Parrot Park. This will provide a direct connection for shared path users crossing Beerburrum Road, while ensuring safe sightlines.”
The plan also includes additional pedestrian changes that locals feel are unnecessary. “They think people will dash from the café to the park toilets or from the post office to the park, so they’re putting in a pedestrian chicane to stop people in the middle of the road,” Ms Roberts said.
“But that’s a bit silly because you already have a crossing near the school. Why not make that an official pedestrian crossing? That would actually give us more space and make sense for pedestrians.”
She said the additional crossings proposed across from the post office would be less than 20 metres apart from existing crossings. “They came back and asked where trucks would park, and we said, well, trucks don’t come here.”
Parking issues already affect residents and customers daily, Ms Roberts said. “People don’t get street mail in Beerburrum, so they have to come to the post office. And there’s not a day that goes by where someone doesn’t complain about parking. This is a really big deal for our community.”
While both business owners support the broader rail duplication project, they reiterate the importance of genuine consultation. “I agree with the rail duplication. It’s the right thing to do,” Ms Roberts said. “But if you’re going into a small community like this, you really need to talk to the community and fully understand their concerns, rather than just deciding to do whatever you see fit.”
Despite reassurances from TMR, local business owners remain sceptical. They argue that small details such as the positioning of pedestrian crossings, removal of informal parking, and inclusion of truck bays could fundamentally alter the way the town functions.
“We’re not saying don’t upgrade the town, we’re saying do it in a way that makes sense for the people who live and work here,” Ms Heilig said.
“Beerburrum is a community that thrives on accessibility and friendliness. We just want plans that support that, not make it harder for people to visit our shops and post office.”
The $1b (B2N) 20km rail from Beerburrum to Landsborough will cut travel times and increase rail services, with completion due in 2027.
