Action on Access to New Hospital

The Palaszczuk Government has committed $22 million in new funding to upgrade four roundabouts on Kawana Way to increase capacity ahead of the opening of the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Roundabouts at the intersections of Kawana Way and Metier Linkway, Premier Circuit, Kawana Island Boulevard and Jamaica Way will be upgraded to include two through lanes for Kawana Way under a package of works announced as part of the Palaszczuk Governments new State Infrastructure Plan released this month.

Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey today visited the intersections and said the upgrades would improve capacity and reliability for traffic accessing the hospital precinct.

“We know the roundabouts on Kawana Way are already a bottleneck during morning and afternoon peak hours – these upgrades will provide additional capacity and keep motorists moving, including emergency vehicles,” Mr Bailey said.

“The upgrade projects have been prioritised for delivery, with detailed design already underway.”

Mr Bailey said the roundabouts would be progressively upgraded with construction expected to start in the north at Jamaica Way later this year.

“The upgrades include additional lanes on approaches to the roundabouts, allowing two lanes to circulate instead of the current single lane – this will increase the amount of traffic that can get through the roundabouts.

“Importantly, the upgrade works are expected to sustain 43 jobs while the improvements are delivered.”

Mr Bailey said he established an interagency Queensland Government taskforce with Health Minister Cameron Dick late last year as part of an ongoing review into access arrangements for the hospital precinct.

“As part of their ongoing review into access arrangements the Sunshine Coast University Hospital taskforce developed this upgrade package, which the Palaszczuk Government has now funded,” he said.

“I would like to thank the Sunshine Coast University Hospital taskforce members for their recommendations and input to date and look forward to hearing further progress updates.

“I will continue to work with my colleague, the Minister for Transport, to consider projects that will keep improving access to the new hospital and surrounding precinct, including public transport initiatives.”

The taskforce is being led by TMR Regional Director Amanda Yeates and members include:

• Mr Kevin Hegarty, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Services and Department of Health
• Mr Warren Bunker, Sunshine Coast Council
• Ms Iona Bealy, University of the Sunshine Coast
• Ms Frances Bottle, Department of State Development
• Mr Tony Riddle, Regional Development Australia
• Mr Garth Nolan, Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
• Mr Andy Meyer, TMR.

Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government had already upgraded signalised intersections along Nicklin Way with Emergency Vehicle Priority (EVP) technology.

“The EVP technology will be switched on once the hospital is open, and will give priority to emergency service vehicles for urgent cases,” he said.

The roundabouts are being upgraded as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $500 million injection to the new State Infrastructure Fund, to build the infrastructure needed to grow the economy and support more than 1,000 jobs for Queenslanders.

This $22 million investment boost is in addition a number of projects to support the growing Sunshine Coast area including $424 million to upgrade the Bruce Highway Upgrade between Cooroy and Curra and $226 million as part of the Caloundra Interchange Upgrade.