Palmview development plans updated for Bruce Hwy, southern road links

Developers and council have agreed on new timelines for crucial roads in a rapidly growing Sunshine Coast suburb where residents are living on bottle-necked streets.

The Harmony estate at Palmview, pictured in August 2023. Picture: Contributed

A major developer has been given an ultimatum to unlock a “broken” local road network in a major new housing estate or pay up.

Changes to the Palmview Infrastructure Plan have been locked in by the Sunshine Coast Council preventing the release of new home lots until the Bruce Hwy link opens.

Councillor Christian Dickson said the changes were urgent, with residents experiencing bottle-necked streets, “road network failures” and a lack of new infrastructure.

He said under the former plan Palmview development would have “come to a complete standstill”.

Sunshine Coast Council Division 6 councillor Christian Dickson said the new Palmview infrastructure plan was the best the council could deliver.

With the Bruce Highway Connection forecast to be open by the end of the year, this new connection will be recognised as the next road link in council’s planning documents, followed by a southern road link in 2026-27.

“There has been a pressing need for the road network to change to avoid the progress of Palmview coming to a complete standstill with no more development, no more infrastructure and no more homes,” Mr Dickson said.

Residents have long complained that there is only one road into Palmview where there is more than 3200 homes – especially as the bushfire threat heightens.

“It nearly took me an hour to get to (Maroochydore) city hall from Sippy Downs because the local road network is broken,” Mr Dickson said.

AVID Property Group general manager Queensland Anthony Demiris said the Bruce Hwy link would open by the end of the year. Photo Patrick Woods

“Claymore Rd is broken, the Sunshine Mwy is broken, Golf Links Rd is breaking and Mooloolaba Rd is breaking.”

Mr Dickson said the new agreement – two years in the making – would force the developers to pay up if key roads and infrastructure weren’t built on time.

“Five years into the development and people are still driving 12 minutes to Coles at Sippy Downs or to Aldi in Brightwater, because there are no local shops,” he said.

“There are things that haven’t been delivered like local parklands and the Bruce Hwy link – so we’re going to bond the developer which means … they either do the work themselves or pay up and we will do it.”

AVID Property Group general manager Queensland Anthony Demiris said the company was supportive of the changes and the $15m in new funding the developers will put towards the community.

Mr Demiris said it was one of several planning changes being discussed – with further amendments expected next year.

“We are supportive of the changes to the infrastructure plan as they provide greater certainty in the level of investment required by the Palmview landowners,” he said.

“This, now approved, amendment to the road network was the most pressing for the continuity of residential only land supply.”

AVID’s Harmony development has had 2700 land sales with an average of 450 lots per year.

Mr Demiris said the extension of Springhill Dr to northern neighbours was due to be finished in 2028-29.

Originally published as Palmview development plans updated for Bruce Hwy, southern road links