Eumundi’s main street, Memorial Drive, is set to receive a new streetscape.

The iconic Queensland town draws thousands to its famous markets, is a mecca for those who love creative arts and has a rich farming heritage dating back to 1831. Council’s vision will reflect the character of the township with more tranquil outdoor seating experiences, leafy shade areas, safer pedestrian crossings, and art and heritage interpretation to keep history alive. 

Sunshine Coast Council Division 10 Councillor David Law said the final design was being completed after a workshop last month.

“Passionate community groups, including Save the Memorial Drive Campaign, businesses and key stakeholders joined Council to deliver a shared outcome,” Cr Law said.

“Memorial Drive Streetscape project has been in the spotlight since community engagement kicked off in 2020 with some community groups challenging aspects of the design.

“Now this final step of exploring the project gave community representatives a stronger sense of connection with the design. People had the opportunity to share perspectives on aspects including heritage, pedestrian, movement, traffic and parking.”

Locals wanted to ensure Eumundi’s important heritage places were protected and brought to life by being ‘built in’ to the infrastructure through interpretation and signage.

They also sought the incorporation of important place and heritage themes to be reflected in elements such as engraved timber seating, lighting and lantern design in the streetscape.

Town wayfinding signage was also discussed for pedestrians and for car parking.

Councillor Law said Council also took on board the suggestion of community and business-led initiatives to further beautify and activate the street. “The workshop was a way to reach a shared understanding and recognised the extensive community feedback and submissions received,” Cr Law said.

“I want to make sure we are on the same page when I say this workshop was the final session of community engagement for this project and was arranged to listen and communicate the process, purpose and extent of the project. Thank you to the community groups, businesses and residents who have been on this journey with Council and attended this final session to shape the future of Eumundi’s main street.”

Following the workshop a detailed design will be completed and construction of the Eumundi streetscape upgrade will commence late 2023.

More information about the placemaking project can be found on the Have Your Say website: haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/eumundi-placemaking.

But not everyone’s happy. ‘Battle not over,” says Memorial Drive petitioner

Over 1300 petitioners have been largely ignored by Sunshine Coast Council in relation to the Eumundi Streetscape Plan, according to the initiator and former organiser of the Save Memorial Drive Campaign. 

Dr Sue Campin launched the campaign against Council’s Eumundi Memorial Drive Streetscape Concept Plan. The campaign ran over 12 months and included street demonstrations, legal investigations, detailed research, surveys and consultation with the State Government. 

“The Council eventually agreed to collaboratively review their plan but, instead, they ran a highly staged, expensive lecture-dominated workshop event that included a minority of campaign members and the Council’s chosen community representatives. 

“As can be seen from the Council’s website, they still intend to narrow Memorial Drive, block historic vistas and remove 18 car-parking spaces.”

Dr Campin said petitioners would hold Council to account for commitments noted by those who attended the workshop. 

These commitments included promises to work with the community, ensure public space was not commercially leased and to remove the pedestrian crossings if necessary when traffic and pedestrian problems emerged. 

“I asked the Council months ago to replace short-term, commodified thinking with a renewed focus on developing a ‘10-Year Eumundi Heritage Plan’. I am now working with others to look to the future,” said Dr Campin.