Tony Stewart calls for quick road safety fix as Cooloola Coast population rises

An outspoken campaigner for urgent safety upgrades on the roads linking Gympie, the Fraser Coast and south east Qld to the Cooloola Coast has lampooned the State Govt for ignoring a petition of 11,000 signatures and dragging its feet on the issue. Vote in the poll.

The State Government has admitted that the outcome of a $300,000 study into whether the Tin Can Bay Rd needs more overtaking lanes will not be known for at least a year.

The news comes as an outspoken critic of the road continues to urge a quick fix in the wake of a booming population and tourist market along the Gympie region coastline.

Former Rainbow Beach businessman Tony Stewart is urging the State Government to commit to a quick safety fix on key roads amid the region’s highest population growth in almost a decade.

Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the population of the Cooloola Coast, which includes Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach and Cooloola Cove and reaches inland to Goomboorian and the Noosa Hinterland, experienced its highest yearly population growth in eight years, with a 2.5 per cent jump.

In 2021, the region had an estimated 6792 residents, up from 6623 in 2020.

This was more than double the growth rates recorded over the previous four years, and the highest since 2013.

In the past decade the Cooloola population has grown by more than 14 per cent, with more than 800 new residents moving into the area.

Mr Stewart said this growth did not take into account the region’s surging tourist market, which had bloomed in the wake of Covid restrictions and border closures.

It amounted to a need for safety improvements sooner rather than later.

“We want a quick fix,” Mr Stewart said.

He was disappointed at how long it had taken, given it was now more than nine months since he had tabled a petition bearing more than 11,000 signatures with the State Government.

Mr Stewart said the State Department of Transport and Main Roads was investigating whether overtaking lanes should be installed on Tin Can Bay Rd but questioned “how long is it going to take”?

The population of the Cooloola Coast region, including Tin Can Bay, jumped 2.5 per cent between 2020 and 2021, the largest increase in eight years.

A TMR spokesman said Wednesday said the $300,000 feasibility study was expected to be finished in the 2023-24 financial year.

“The work completed during the planning phase will assist with identifying potential upgrades and cost so any future works can be considered,” the spokesman said.

“Future funding will need to be considered against other priorities.

“We will continue to monitor Tin Can Bay Rd and Rainbow Beach Rd to ensure they remain safe and trafficable.”

Mr Stewart was frustrated with the lack of communication since he lodged the petition, and the slow progress even accepting this year’s floods would have delayed things.

“I’d have thought I’d have heard back from the government by now,” Mr Stewart said.