Palmwoods growth, roads and supermarket concerns raised with councillor at PCBA meeting

PCBA members Frazer Austin and Paul Brandenburg with Cr Winston Johnston, centre.  

Traffic, growth and ageing infrastructure dominated discussion when Sunshine Coast Council Division 5 Councillor Winston Johnston addressed a packed Palmwoods community meeting on Wednesday night (May 13).

Speaking at Palmwoods Memorial Hall at a forum organised by the Palmwoods Community and Business Association, Cr Johnston gave residents an update on local projects, the town plan review and the new supermarket development.

One of the strongest concerns raised by residents centred on truck access to the approved supermarket west of the railway line.

Cr Johnston said he had repeatedly warned about the issue. “I’ve been saying that all along,” he said. “I’ve been saying that more than anything is one of the biggest problems associated with having a major supermarket west of the railway.”

He explained that large delivery trucks could not travel under local railway bridges and would instead need to access the site via Blackall Range Road and local streets.

Residents questioned whether the existing intersections could safely cope with the additional traffic.

Cr Johnston also outlined a long list of local infrastructure projects completed or planned across Division 5, including upgrades to sporting facilities, footpaths, playgrounds and community buildings.

He said a lift would soon be installed near the stairs at the corner of Little Main and Margaret streets to improve accessibility for residents using mobility aids, wheelchairs or prams.

Council was also gradually replacing older footpaths built to outdated narrow widths.

“We’re trying very hard to make it a lot easier for people that have got some form of disability or impaired walking ability to be able to get around,” he said.

Residents raised concerns about pedestrian safety in Palmwoods village, including calls for improved crossings near the Heritage Bank and railway bridge areas.

Cr Johnston said many of the key roads through Palmwoods remained under state government control, limiting what council could directly deliver.

Parents at the meeting said Palmwoods playgrounds were outdated and lacked facilities suitable for younger children. One resident said children under five were poorly catered for and argued more family-focused recreational spaces were needed.

Cr Johnston acknowledged many facilities were ageing. “It’s a hangover from the past,” he said.

He said council officers and councillors had been pushing for more age-appropriate playground equipment and upgrades.

Federation Park is expected to receive a major playground upgrade in coming years, with design and planning work under way.

Town plan review

Cr Johnston also discussed the ongoing review of the Sunshine Coast town plan, saying population growth targets imposed by the state government were driving increased density across the region.

He said about 4000 submissions had been lodged during public consultation.

While Palmwoods was not facing dramatic zoning changes, he said some areas would shift from low-density to medium-low-density housing.

The councillor said growth pressures were particularly evident across Division 5, which he described as one of the fastest-growing parts of the Sunshine Coast.

Cr Johnston said Division 5 stretched from Palmwoods and Woombye west through the hinterland and contained a large proportion of the region’s gravel roads.

He said escalating construction costs had become a major challenge. “When I first came on council six years ago, it was $1.1 million to about $1.8 million per kilometre,” he said of gravel road sealing. “It’s now between $2 million and $3.5 million per kilometre. That’s how much costs have increased. It’s amazing.”

Despite the challenges, Cr Johnston said roads, parks, footpaths and public facilities across the division were now “a much better standard today than they were”.

The PCBA said the session was part of a more structured approach to government engagement, aimed at helping the community better understand which level of government was responsible for different issues.

The association is planning further forums later in the year, with Queensland State Government representatives Andrew Powell MP and Marty Hunt MP expected to be involved in July, followed by a Federal Government session with Ted O’Brien MP and Andrew Wallace MP in August.

PCBA co-vice president Paul Brandenburg said the process was being facilitated and coordinated by the association to support residents and businesses, help prepare submissions, navigate government processes and achieve outcomes.

The forum also formed part of a busy 2026 program for the PCBA, which included Havana Nights, a car rally, the return of the bush dance and a Christmas community event.