Days numbered for memorial garden as road upgrade nears

Veterans have vowed to fight to save part of their memorial garden from turning into a road after funding was announced earlier than expected.

Caloundra RSL sub-branch secretary Heather Christie and Geoffrey Gardiner are disappointed their memorial garden may turn into a road. Picture: Warren Lynam

Caloundra veterans were taken by surprise this week when the State Government made an $11 million pledge for the extension of Third Ave to Nicklin Way.

The upgrade would include part of the Caloundra RSL Bob McInness Memorial Garden being resumed by Sunshine Coast Council.

The $18.2 million project is proposed to improve access to Caloundra and take traffic away from the busy Caloundra Rd roundabout.

The announcement startled sub-branch members including Heather Christie who thought the community still had a couple of years to fight the decision.

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"It's taken us a bit by surprise because we were told there was no funding by the State for a couple years and now all of a sudden there is," Ms Christie said.

The council reduced its original plan to resume 7.5m of the memorial garden to about 3m where the RAAF helicopter, flagpole and two Bofor guns stand.

But Ms Christie said the reality that Anzac Day ceremonies may have to move and that veterans' final resting place will be destroyed will come sooner than they'd hoped.

Bob McInnes Memorial Garden at Caloundra RSL.

"We realise they have compromised but it's still desecrating our memorial garden, and people's resting place, whichever way you look at it," Ms Christie said.

"And if we want to hold an event with 20,000 cars going past 1m away from the fence line, it will be very disturbing."

She preferred the extension occur at Arthur St.

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Divisional councillor Terry Landsberg acknowledged the importance of the garden, but said the other alignment options couldn't service the town's forecast growth.

"(They) were indirect routes, which would have also required the upgrade of Oval Ave and Third Ave in any case," Mr Landsberg said.

"The Arthur St option would also require significantly more property resumption."

The fight to save the Caloundra RSL memorial garden continued as the women in service rallied together earlier this year. Picture: Lacee Froeschl

More than 8200 people signed the petition opposing the upgrade in its current form.

The Save the Memorial Garden committee will meet next week to discuss options.

"If there has to be a compromise, the compromise has to be in favour of the veterans," Ms Christie said.

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"It's probably more than likely that we're fighting a losing battle, but we're veterans, we're used to standing up and fighting, and that's what we're going to do."

Mr Landsberg said the council would continue to work with the RSL and other affected property owners with courtesy and respect while delivering the Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade.

The State will contribute $7 million on top of the council's $4.2 million.

A statement said the Federal Government's $7 million share was expected to be confirmed as part of their Budget.

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