Mooloolaba to University (M2U) Active Transport Corridor

Put simply, active transport incorporates people walking, riding, pushing prams, using mobility aids, wheelchairs and scootering, using e-bikes and other physically active ways of travelling that can be undertaken alone or combined with public transport.

All members of our community deserve to feel safe and welcome on our streets. An active transport corridor will ensure that more people can get around safely whether for recreation or commuting. Active transport will play a key role in Council creating a transport system that enables everyone in our community to access and enjoy our streets, while also supporting a healthy and sustainable future for our region.

Why is active transport important for the Sunshine Coast?

Council recognises the importance of making our streets safe and accessible for everyone. We know that our community love to go for a walk or a bike ride with family and friends, yet it is not always safe or possible to do so. Constructing an active transport corridor will help improve safety, accessibility and connectivity for people walking, riding, pushing prams, using mobility aids, wheelchairs and scootering through this popular neighbourhood. It will also support our community to enjoy healthy, sustainable and inclusive transport options.

This will also help us respond to the pressure of growth, support the liveability of the region, provide connectivity to important public transport hubs and achieve legacy outcomes from being a co-host city for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Indicative timing (subject to weather and site conditions):

• Stage 1: Mooloolaba Foreshore to Palm Drive - Construction to start early 2027.
• Stage 2: Molakai Drive (Lady Musgrave Drive to Karawatha Drive intersection) - Construction to start late 2026.  
• Stage 3: Karawatha Drive (Molokai Drive intersection to Golf Links Drive roundabout) - Construction to start late 2026.  

The Mooloolaba to University (M2U) Active Transport Corridor will provide a safer, more connected route for people walking, riding, pushing prams, using mobility aids, wheelchairs and scootering between Mooloolaba, Mountain Creek, Sippy Downs and the UniSC precinct. 

The project addresses missing links in the active transport network and improves safety and connectivity for people who use active transport to travel to schools, shopping centres, community facilities, future public transport infrastructure including the proposed WAVE Mountain Creek station, UniSC and TAFE Queensland Sunshine Coast.  

A shared path is an off-road path designed to provide a safe option for people to walk, ride, push prams, use mobility aids, wheelchairs and scooters, that is separated from vehicle traffic. 

All path users share the same space. New shared paths should generally be at least 3 metres (m) wide, with 2.5m as the absolute minimum standard. In some locations, site constraints such as power poles can require the width to be reduced to 2m.  

• Karawatha Drive: approximately 3m wide. 
• Molakai Drive: approximately 2.5m wide. 

Following community feedback for Molakai Drive, we reassessed the original proposal of a 3m shared path on the southern side of the road against alternative path widths. Options considered included, retaining the existing 1.8m path as well as path widths of 2.25m, 2.4m and 2.5m.  

A 2.5m shared path was selected for the following reasons:  

• this width meets minimum standards for a shared path.  
• provides additional space for path users to pass safely. Although path users have priority, this width assists the users to respond to vehicles entering or exiting a driveway 
• this width met the minimum sightline standard at driveways for path users and vehicle drivers when calculated in accordance with State published guidelines 
• supports school students and parents travelling together  
• improves accessibility and is more inclusive of people using wheelchairs, mobility aids and pushing prams. 

The existing 1.8 m path was constructed to meet the needs of the local area at that time. 

The M2U Active Transport Corridor will create connectivity to schools, shopping centres, community facilities, future public transport infrastructure including the proposed WAVE Mountain Creek station, UniSC and TAFE Queensland Sunshine Coast. 

Council is also planning for the future and the path is expected to be used by more people in the coming years.  

The minimum distance from the property boundary to the edge of the new shared path will be:  

• Molakai Drive: approximately 1m.  
• Karawatha Drive: along Karawatha Drive, widening works have largely been accommodated within the road reserve while retaining most on-street parking. This has allowed the existing distance from the edge of the new path to the property boundary to remain approximately the same.  

Council prefers to provide a minimum 1m distance from the roadside face of the kerb to the roadside edge of the path. This space provides:  

• increased safety between people using the path and people getting in and out of vehicles 
• support for shade trees to be planted 
• a place for bins to be located on collection day.  

The shared path will be constructed to continue through driveways and provide a clear, legible and accessible route. A continuous path surface helps to create driver awareness that they are crossing a shared path and that people using the shared path have priority. 

This design is consistent with nearby sections of the M2U corridor, including Goonawarra Drive. During construction, there will be a short period when the driveway and path will not be accessible by vehicles. 

Residents will be contacted in advance and we will work to minimise disruption wherever possible.  

Throughout the design process, we heard strong community feedback about the importance of retaining on-street parking and we have refined the design to keep as much parking as possible in the final plans. 

As a result, the majority of existing on-street parking will remain. Some parking restrictions are required near raised pedestrian crossings to maintain safe sightlines and allow vehicles and path users to move safely through these areas. Parking will be retained wherever it can be safely included, with any changes shown in attached design layouts. 

We have made every effort to balance improved safety outcomes with the need to retain local parking while recognising the strategic importance of this active transport corridor.

Yes. A wider path provides a safer, more inclusive and accessible transport option for people of all ages, genders and abilities and make it easier for:  

• wheelchair users  
• mobility aid users  
• people with prams  
• people travelling together  
• people travelling in opposite directions.  

On all shared paths, e-bikes must keep to the signed speed limit (12km/h) and slow down to 12km/h when riding past a pedestrian. 

From 1 July 2026, new speed limits apply to e-bikes and e-mobility devices traveling on footpaths and shared paths. Residents may contact the Queensland Police Service if there are speeding concerns.  

Current path user numbers are only one factor considered when planning transport infrastructure. Experience across Australia shows that walking and riding demand is often influenced by the quality, safety and connectivity of available infrastructure. 

Where facilities are narrow, disconnected or perceived as unsafe, many people choose not to use them. Council plans active transport projects to meet both current and future needs and to provide complete network connections.  

Yes. The M2U corridor will provide a safer, more connected route for people walking, riding, pushing prams, using mobility aids and scootering to this proposed future public transport infrastructure and other key destinations.  

The project design has evolved and been shaped by community feedback. We concluded that a shared path, combined with raised pedestrian crossing treatments, provides the best balance between safety, connectivity, local community considerations and the opportunity to retain parking along the corridor.  

Yes. Traffic counts and user surveys are one of many tools used to inform planning and design decisions. However, infrastructure investment decisions are also influenced by broader factors including:  

• network connectivity  
• safety outcomes  
• future growth  
• school access  
• public transport integration  
• accessibility requirements. 

 Counts alone do not determine whether a project proceeds.  

Raised pedestrian crossings encourage drivers to slow down where the shared path crosses the road. Lower vehicle speeds improve visibility, reinforce path user priority at designated crossings and reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions, creating a safer environment for people using the shared path.  

Will the raised pedestrian crossings have lighting?  

Yes. The raised pedestrian crossings will be positioned within the street-lighting network, and lighting levels will be assessed to ensure the raised pedestrian crossings and their users are adequately visible at night. Where needed, shields will be used on the lights to reduce light spill into nearby residential properties. Additional lighting upgrades will also occur along parts of Karawatha Drive where existing lighting does not meet current standards.  

Will the raised pedestrian crossing be noisy?  

Raised pedestrian crossings may create an increase in vehicle noise as tyres travel over the ramps. The raised pedestrian crossings in this project will be designed with lower heights and smoother ramps to minimise noise impacts whilst encouraging lower speeds and creating a safer environment for path users.  

The shared path will provide a safer and more comfortable route for people travelling to and from school. School-age path users and parents often walk and ride to and from school together in groups. 

A wider shared path allows these users to travel more safely and provides more inclusive active travel choices for families and students.  

The shared path has been located within the road corridor of Karawatha Drive and Molakai Drive because it provides a safer, more direct and more accessible route. 

A path beside the road benefits from better visibility, passive surveillance from passing road users and nearby residents, and easier access to homes, crossings and local destinations. It also allows users to conveniently access the path from multiple points along the street, rather than only at limited entry locations. 

Locating the path within the Energex easement behind properties would create a more isolated environment, reduce visibility and personal security, limit future maintenance and emergency access, and could be affected by ongoing utility access requirements. 

A path adjacent to the roadway is also generally easier for users to find, access and navigate, resulting in a safer and more attractive facility for the community. 

Project News - 11 September 2026