Major Sunshine Coast Olympics announcement missing transport, accommodation details

Almost $300m worth of Sunshine Coast sporting venue upgrades have gone to tender as plans surrounding the region’s accommodation and transport infrastructure remain hazy.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli speaking at the Sunshine Coast Stadium on May 17, 2024.

Almost $300m worth of Sunshine Coast sporting venue upgrades have gone to tender as plans surrounding the region’s accommodation and transport infrastructure remain hazy.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli joined state infrastructure minister Grace Grace at the Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday morning to announce three sporting venues in the region had been given the green light to go to tender.

Almost $300m in combined funding by the state and federal governments is set to complete a $148m expansion to the Sunshine Coast Stadium, a $142m indoor sports centre at Kawana and a $14m mountain bike centre in Parklands.

All three projects are expected to be completed by 2027, ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics, with the Sunshine Coast Council chipping a total of $17m.

However, few details were provided on how the region’s transport infrastructure and accommodation services will meet the needs of Olympics crowds travelling to the Sunshine Coast.

Infrastructure minister Grace Grace at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday, May 17, 2024.

When asked how visitors to the region would travel to events beyond Caloundra, Ms Grace said it was likely buses would be used.

“The brief I’ve got is that transport minister is working on bus transportation to take us to that (Caloundra) station,” Ms Grace said.

Ms Natoli said expanding accommodation services on the Sunshine Coast before 2032 was another area where a “lot of work” was needed.

“There is a lot of work happening across all of the different departments at council, and of course with the state and federal governments as well, to make sure we are ready, whether that is accommodation, whether that is transport,” Ms Natoli said.

“Of course the facilities will be ready many years in advance.”

Originally published as Major Sunshine Coast Olympics announcement missing transport, accommodation details