The long-anticipated connection between Aura Business Park and Racecourse Road via Edison Crescent is set to open soon, with the Graf Drive linkage to come later in 2025, but locals fear it will simply shift existing traffic problems.
Ongoing congestion at the Caloundra Road, Kawana Way Link Road, and Bells Creek Arterial roundabout has residents questioning the logic behind current infrastructure changes.
Aura resident Michael Groves believes the upgrades are being implemented in the wrong order.
“The Aura Boulevard/Graf Drive lights are so congested you can barely get into the Aura Business Park,” Mr Groves said.
“Even if you do, Caloundra Road will still be a carpark because the roundabout at Bells Creek Arterial hasn’t been addressed.
“I believe Stockland is doing what they can by opening up a third exit point – but it’s not going to help as the Federal and State Government haven’t got Caloundra Road moving, they should have done that before we all moved in here.”
The Edison Crescent link offers an alternative route to Racecourse Road, but raises concerns about drivers making illegal turns onto Pierce Avenue to avoid congestion.
This hazardous shortcut has previously led to incidents where vehicles struck horses near Corbould Park Racecourse and poses a risk of gridlocking a Little Mountain neighbourhood as traffic mounts.
Little Mountain resident Lyn Scott believes the plan is ill-conceived.
“We can barely get out of this estate now, and the roundabout out of Aura onto Caloundra Rd is already a nightmare,” Ms Scott said.
“Overpasses are needed to stop congestion, but it’ll never happen because the people in charge don’t make sensible decisions.”
Stockland is obligated to construct the connection from the Aura Business Park to Corbould Park and Graf Drive to Racecourse Road under the Local Government Infrastructure Agreement (LGIA).
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson noted there were “no additional works proposed at this time for Pierce Avenue or its intersection with Racecourse Road.”
“This is due, in part, to traffic calming infrastructure already existing adjacent to the racecourse,” the spokesperson said.
Sunshine Coast Turf Club CEO John Miller fears traffic calming measures on Pierce Avenue won’t be sufficient.
Each day, over 200 horses and trainers cross the road, and despite the Turf Club recently funding a new crossing, near misses with frustrated motorists continue to rise.
“The increasing traffic in Pierce Avenue is a concern when we have horses and riders crossing this road most days,” Mr Miller said.
“We are hopeful that the newly installed crossing area will improve safety for our participants, however we are acutely aware that over time this road will get busier and it is going to cause ongoing issues.
“It is important that drivers are aware of the conditions when using this road and are respectful to the rules and operations in place.”
