David Crisafulli announces $400m ‘congestion busting’ plan for Caloundra

The Sunshine Coast Mayor has thrown her support behind Opposition Leader David Crisafulli’s $400m commitment to improving traffic congestion in Caloundra.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has promised big bucks for Caloundra. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Sunshine Coast Mayor has thrown her support behind Opposition Leader David Crisafulli’s $400m commitment to improving traffic congestion in Caloundra.

Mr Crisafulli announced on Thursday morning the LNP would commit to spending $400m on a series of projects to address congestion in Caloundra, if elected next month.

The plan will include building a new Kawana Way Link Rd/Bells Creek Arterial Rd overpass over Caloundra Rd, delivering a new road between Aura Boulevard and Pelican Waters Boulevard as well as completing the Nicklin Way to Third Ave connection.

The $400m will also cover adding traffic lights to the Bellvista Boulevard and Caloundra Rd intersection and commencing the planning for a solution to the Nicklin way and Caloundra Rd roundabout.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said she welcomed any commitment made by the future state government to help ease congestion in the Caloundra area.

“This is exactly what the council and the people of the Sunshine Coast have been crying out for, this is the exactly what the Sunshine Coast Council had in its advocacy document, this kind of funding,” Ms Natoli said.

David Crisafulli, Kendall Morton, Jarrod Bleijie and Rosanna Natoli.

“I have been banging down the door with our advocacy document.”

Ms Natoli said she will support anyone who commits to delivering the road upgrades.

“I will stand beside anyone who is prepared to commit to funding it, whatever side they are on,” Ms Natoli said.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the five projects set to be completed will “future proof” the fast-growing area.

“The LNP will end the Caloundra car park and get traffic moving again with our congestion busting transport plan,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Our plan will not only deliver relief to the gridlock, it will future proof Caloundra for the coming decades.”

The LNP’s candidate for Caloundra, Kendall Morton, who is running against incumbent Labor MP Jason Hunt, said for the local community traffic congestion was their number one concern.

“It is a gamechanger for the thousands of people who have told me over and over again that this is the number one issue for our community,” Ms Morton said.

Transport minister Bart Mellish called the announcement a “sham plan”.

“David Crisafulli’s media release contains no detailed costings apart from an overarching $400 million. Early estimates show this package could cost as much as $1.5 billion – adding more than $1 billion to the LNP budget black hole,” Mr Mellish said.

“Two of the projects are already underway by the Miles Labor Government. The LNP’s only commitment to transport infrastructure before today was to build the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail to Maroochydore at an additional cost of at least $6.65 billion, which experts say simply cannot be done by 2032.

“Adding in today’s announcements, the LNP already have a more than $7.65 billion black hole. And that’s just on the Sunshine Coast.”

Originally published as David Crisafulli announces $400m ‘congestion busting’ plan for Caloundra