Relief for Homeowners as Government Changes Plans for Public Transport Project

ABC Sunshine Coast

Topic: Housing Policy

Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 6:01 am

In short:

The Queensland government has released new maps for stage three of The Wave public transport project, which will affect many homeowners.

Homeowners who were told their properties might be needed for the project have now learned their fate.

What's next?

The construction of the Mooloolah River Interchange has reached a new milestone, which is a critical part of stage three.

After years of uncertainty, Shaun Taylor can finally feel relieved.

The Sunshine Coast resident's home was one of many that might have been taken for a new public transport project.

But new maps from the state government mean Mr. Taylor and his family can stay in their home.

Shaun Taylor is relieved his home has been spared.

He said it was surreal to get a letter from the transport department saying his home was no longer needed.

The government had promised to have trains running directly to Maroochydore by the 2032 Olympics, but now the rail line will end 13 kilometers away.

Then it actually sunk in, and it was a huge relief, Mr. Taylor said.

The Wave train and bus system will bring mass public transport to the coast for the first time.

Stage three will involve express buses running from Birtinya to Maroochydore and the Sunshine Coast Airport, instead of a train line.

About 80 homes and businesses were in the way of stage three, but the final bus corridor avoids the need for those properties.

An artist's impression shows what the new Nicklin Way overpass will look like once complete.

Mr. Taylor has been living in fear of being kicked out since September 2024.

You're basically told, 'This is what's going to happen, there's nothing you can do about it,' he said.

While he and his neighbors would celebrate, Mr. Taylor feels for other residents who were not so lucky.

Serious doubts remain whether the Mooloolah River Interchange will ever go ahead.

Our friends got a letter saying they had to leave, Mr. Taylor said.

They were very upset; they'd been in their family home for almost 15 years.

State and federal governments have jointly funded $5.5 billion for stage one of The Wave for heavy rail from Beerwah to Caloundra.

There is no federal funding for stages two and three, but the Queensland government is proceeding anyway.

Earthworks have begun at the Mooloolah River Interchange site.

A long road

The state government is upgrading the Mooloolah River Interchange as part of The Wave.

McIlwain Civil engineering and SEE Civil will deliver the earthworks and embankment construction.

The works will address the notorious bottleneck on the Sunshine Motorway at Mooloolaba.

More than 80 homes were demolished to make way for stage one of the MRI in 2023, but then the project was stopped.

Land cleared at Mooloolaba forms part of the Mooloolah River Interchange site.

Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg has vowed the state would deliver the MRI.

For far too long, people have been stuck in traffic on the coast due to a lack of investment in rail and public transport.

I think it's incumbent on governments to ensure they do the job and build the required infrastructure.

Brent Mickelberg inspects maps for The Wave stage three.

Critics say The Wave project represents a broken promise and will be sub-standard.

Premier David Crisafulli promised rail to Maroochydore — no ifs, no buts, no shortcuts.

It's been butchered before it's even got underway; if you look into the 2024 business case, it would have cost about the same to get rail to Maroochydore.

It was costed at $12 billion, and now we're paying the same amount for a bus solution, which is not good enough.

Tenants feel 'forgotten'

Tahlia Nosenzo lives in Mountain Creek, in one of the 52 waterfront homes due to be demolished for the MRI upgrade.

Major works are expected to begin within months, and most of her neighbors have already been evicted.

There's only a handful of neighbors left, and it's just a bit eerie.

Dozens of properties will be bulldozed for a huge upgrade to a major Sunshine Coast choke point.

Ms. Nosenzo said she wished there was better communication for people in her situation.

It just feels like we were forgotten about and are just an afterthought.

The state government is still negotiating with a handful of property owners who have not yet agreed to sell their homes.

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Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 6:01 am

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