New $6.7 million cycleway to link two Coast areas

Cyclists who enjoy the beach view in Alexandra Headland will soon appreciate interruption-free rides thanks to a future upgrade.

Bicycle Queensland advocacy and policy manger Andrew Demack, Sunshine Coast Council mayor Mark Jamieson and Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey meet to announce the next stage of the Mooloolaba to Maroochydore Cycleway. Picture: Eden Boyd

CYCLISTS who enjoy the beach view in Alexandra Headland will soon appreciate interruption-free rides thanks to a future upgrade.

The State Government and Sunshine Coast Council have joined forces to announce a $6.7 million investment into the next stage of the Mooloolaba to Maroochydore Cycleway.

Stage six of the project will see a three-metre shared bike path built along the Alexandra Headland foreshore for six-kilometres, linking from Sixth Ave, Maroochydore to Mary St, Mooloolaba.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said restoring the cuts made to cycling infrastructure across Queensland was a vital step for the Palaszczuk Government.

"One of the most important thing we did, is we restored the program that was there under the previous Labor government, to go 50/50 with the council so we could build cycleways and active transport all over Queensland,” he said.

Cycleways previously built have seen a solid economic return, Mr Bailey said, successful with tourists and locals alike.

"For every dollar we put into these bike paths, we have five dollars back in economic activity. It's fantastic for tourists but also for local residents as well, to be able to access local areas in an active way,” he said.

Bicycle Queensland advocacy and policy manger Andrew Demack said the new upgrade would hopefully see more residents opt to ride their bicycles on the strip.

"Bikes and beaches really go together beautifully and this investment by Sunshine Coast Council and the State Government will help more people get on bikes when they visit the beach,” he said.

"We hope that both the local residents here and the people who come to the Sunshine Coast get a chance to get on their bikes or to walk up and down this beautiful promenade that we'll have.”

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said the council would encourage more cyclist-friendly infrastructure in the new Maroochydore CBD to aid the success of the upgrade.

"We have in the past encouraged investors and developers to consider that,” Cr Jamieson said.

"There will be a couple of multi-deck car parks in the city centre, they should cater for cyclists as well...we will certainly be encouraging that sort of activity.”

Mr Bailey said there would be 12 to 18-months of designing and planning for the M2M Cycleway, with Cr Jamieson adding it is expected to be completed in 2023.

"There's a fair bit of consultation and design work to do that the council will be leading...we're trying to get the whole project right across all the stages done as quickly as we can,” Mr Bailey said.