Senator for Queensland Corinne Mulholland recently joined Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli on a regional tour, placing a spotlight on major priorities ahead of the 2026-27 Federal Budget.
Community sport infrastructure, housing and homelessness support, transport upgrades and coastal protection projects are all front and centre as local and federal leaders discuss the future needs of the growing region.
Mayor Natoli says now is the critical moment to secure funding for infrastructure and services that will shape the Sunshine Coast’s long-term liveability and prosperity.
“The Sunshine Coast is entering a transformative decade, and we need the right infrastructure in place to support our residents, attract investment and also prepare for the opportunities of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Mayor Natoli says.
She says Sunshine Coast Council’s immediate priorities remain focused on improving roads and public transport, delivering essential community infrastructure, helping address the housing crisis and driving economic opportunities across education, industry and tourism.
“We are also deeply committed to protecting our coastline and community assets from the very real impacts of weather and climate change,” Mayor Natoli says.
“But we cannot do this alone.
“We need a strong partnership with the Australian government, and restoring Financial Assistance Grants to at least 1 per cent of federal taxation revenue would be an excellent first step.”
Key priorities outlined in the submission include:
- a $162 million regional indoor community sports centre to meet soaring demand for indoor sports
- funding for stages 2 and 3 of The Wave public transport system and a business case to upgrade the Bruce Highway to six lanes between Steve Irwin Way and Caloundra Road
- investment in social, affordable and supportive housing, allocating $160 million for community housing providers and $120 million for crisis and transitional accommodation
- major coastal resilience upgrades, including the Diamond Head Seawall and Bradman Avenue Revetment Wall
- $8 million for the Nambour (Namba) Streetscape Improvement Project, supporting the town’s
ongoing revitalisation.
With more than 518,000 people expected to call the Sunshine Coast home by 2041, Mayor Natoli says the federal partnership is essential.
Senator Mulholland says the visit provides valuable insight into how the Albanese government’s $3.4 billion Olympic infrastructure investment will benefit the region.
“My priority is understanding how these projects will benefit locals into the future, to ensure there’s a legacy infrastructure benefit for Sunshine Coast communities for generations to come,” she says.
