Ben Bennett Bushland: Family of Caloundra icon not directly notified by Sunshine Coast Council of bushland impact

The family of Caloundra icon Ben Bennett has said they weren’t notified by council of the upcoming impact their multimillion dollar road project will have on his eponymous bushland.

The family of Caloundra icon Ben Bennett has revealed they weren’t notified his eponymous bushland would be impacted by the upcoming Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade project.

Thousands of signatures have been gathered to support the conservation of Ben Bennett Bushland which will be affected by the $37.4m road project.

The upgrade spanning 1.6km aims to reduce congestion in Caloundra by four-laning Oval Ave and connecting that road with Omrah Ave.

It will also extend Third Ave to create a new intersection at Nicklin Way.

Ben Bennett’s son Ian has, however, revealed Sunshine Coast Council didn’t notify his family about the project’s impact on the bushland and its ecosystem.

Caloundra's Ben Bennett. Picture: Contributed

“We haven’t heard anything,” he said.

“To at least have been acknowledged and for them to have reached out would’ve been a nice gesture.”

The parkland was named after Ian’s dad for efforts of nature conservation during his years as a Landsborough Shire councillor from 1964—1970.

Mr Bennett said it was also due to his commitments in the community in the Caloundra Rotary Club, the surf club, and the Caloundra Ambulance Committee.

He said his father would be disappointed to see the park harmed as he had dedicated parts of his life to bush conservation.

Plans for the Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade.

“When you take out a nice piece of bushland like that, you can’t put it back,” he said.

“That beautiful space there should be there to stay, a nice park in the middle of suburbia for animals and nature.

“It was something that was to be there forever.

“The last thing we want to do is have a nice park in the middle of town pulled to pieces.”

Residents and conservationists have banded together in the past several weeks to have their say on the multimillion project.

Sunshine Coast Council has set a proposal to clear Ben Bennett Bushland for a four-lane road, Caloundra. Jasmyne Case is pictured with local residents who opposed the planning. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Jasmyne Case has already gathered nearly 5000 signatures for her petition against the development.

Mr Bennett said if his dad, who passed away in 1987, was alive he would be front and centre fighting to protect it.

“He’d be in there most definitely,” he said.

“Dad was very vocal and community minded and he was well known in town for fighting for what he believed in.”

Sunshine Coast Council has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Ben Bennett Bushland: Family of Caloundra icon not directly notified by Sunshine Coast Council of bushland impact