IN previous editions we explored the importance of well-planned infrastructure and housing options to ensure sustainable connectivity and liveability into the future. This edition, we asked our panel to consider ‘a gaze into their crystal balls’ to suggest what future they envisage for our Sunshine Coast and Hinterland residents over the coming decades with the following question:
Q: What vision can Hinterland based residents look forward to in 10, 20 years and beyond?
Jenny Broderick, Business Owner, and President Glasshouse Country Chamber of Commerce
A: Wouldn’t it be great to see our stunning surroundings maintained, whilst also having the ability to cater for the employment needs of our locals, their children, and grandchildren? I would love to see a place where local industry has an opportunity to grow sustainably, our agricultural and retail businesses are thriving, and where everyone has affordable access to the whole Coast.
A place where visitors continue to come and can access the entire Coast with ease, exploring our incredible Hinterland, mountains, and rural lifestyle – and experience and enjoy the best of both land and sea. I look forward to transport infrastructure in place that allows access to the greater Sunshine Coast without having to battle constantly busy roads filled with traffic. A transport network that is viable, efficient and that the residents and tourists can have confidence in. We want to see our Hinterland thrive in all areas, both work and play.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor, Mark Jamieson
A: By 2041, more than 500,000 people will call the Sunshine Coast home. Looking ahead to our transport vision for this time includes fast, right of way, passenger rail to connect Beerwah and Maroochydore that would also extend to the international airport. All major centres would be linked by high-frequency public transport corridors with services running at least every 15 minutes, autonomous ride share vehicles would extensively roam suburbs, shared travel and electric vehicles would be the norm, while the popularity of walking and cycling increases. Ten years from now, the entire Sunshine Coast will be cheering on many local, national, and international athletes and para-athletes competing in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Games will also showcase our beautiful Sunshine Coast locations including the Hinterland to a global audience. Through careful planning, we can protect the places we love, preserve our natural environment, maintain the lifestyle we enjoy and shape the built environment to support our vision for the region’s future.
Andrew Powell MP Member for Glass House
A: I believe the Hinterland, with the possible exception of the potential Beerwah East development, will not look too much different from what it does today if we are clever how we accommodate population growth and deliver infrastructure. Our unique townships do not need to grow too much further out, and definitely do not need to merge with each other, if we consider ‘going up’ instead – but think European village rather than Gold Coast skyscraper.
In the next two decades Steve Irwin Way will be upgraded, the Bruce Highway Western Alternative will be built, our rail to Maroochydore and the Brisbane CBD will be up and running and taking cars off our roads.
But ‘into the beyond’ could look vastly different, especially when it comes to transport. Think the possibility of autonomous cars and buses, maybe even drone-like helicopters. How we live might not look much different into the future, but how we move about certainly will. Exciting times!
Spencer Shaw, Business Owner and President Maleny Chamber of Commerce
A: Personally, working in a business that has a focus on working with and restoring our natural ecosystems, I think we need to consider taking in an even longer picture ahead, and plan for centuries forward, as well as decades, but I remain optimistic that the Hinterland will remain an outstanding place to live and visit.
If the natural beauty and nature of the hinterland remains at the heart of the Hinterland, this will continue to grow us as creative, enterprising, and adaptive communities.
Dr Nicholas Stevens, Program Coordinator, Urban Design and Town Planning, School of Law and Society University of the Sunshine Coast
A: Hinterland residents could expect to see better connectivity between their communities, via short and perhaps autonomous public transport loop trips. They can look forward to having better sub-regional public transport connections, going west east and vice versa; and can expect improved active transport infrastructure within their local centres allowing many short trips to be made safely and comfortably without a car.
The Hinterland communities are unique on the Sunshine Coast, in that they often have very strong community identities, both socially, but also in a design sense- in that they have a main street, with shops and many community infrastructures and services. There are many more places in the coastal corridor that lack such uniqueness and identity. Therefore it will be important to ensure that Hinterland communities reinforce that ‘sense of place’ but do it in a way that allows everyone in the community access to all opportunities, and that you don’t need to rely on a car, and when visitors do drive to these communities, the main street is not dominated by them, but instead remains an important meeting place for all people.
