09/07/2026
Well here is the Mayor’s response to the weeks happenings. 🥴
Another meeting was held this afternoon, I couldn’t attend but will let you know what came out of that meeting 🤯
Thursday, July 9
Doonella Bridge update
Dear community members
It’s Day Three of Doonella Bridge works and traffic is currently flowing eastbound only across the bridge’s single open lane.
On Day One, Tuesday, there was widespread congestion from midday as motorists, including many unaware of the changes, had to adjust to detours.
Although the works had been flagged since May using multiple media and signs, it is normal that not everyone is aware of changes until encountered.
There was a meeting on Tuesday night to give Tewantin Business owners more information and the answers they rightfully deserve about the traffic choices made.
Many at the meeting were understandably angry and distressed after a highly disrupted first day of changes and poor trade.
They insisted on council reversing the flow from eastward to westward on the bridge, escalating nightworks and showing leniency with parking among the solutions.
Yesterday, on Day Two, a letter was sent to Business Owners advising that the option of reversing traffic flow from East to West and instigating the two-way signal system were being seriously reconsidered.
It was said that to minimise community confusion and traffic data to be collected the new arrangement needed to remain for a week until schools return and impacts are understood.
Why East bound?
Traffic modelling indicated there is more daily traffic heading east from the Hinterland and Tewantin than westward from the eastern communities during peak times.
The traffic modelling also showed there would be slightly less congestion on Noosa Eumundi Road and Beckmans Road with an Eastbound flow on the bridge.
This is why the traffic management plan favoured east bound flow on the bridge instead of westward.
A two-way option using signals on the bridge was also modelled.
This was shown to create peak period traffic queues stretching three kilometres from the bridge back to Weyba Road in the east and west past the Tewantin Noosa Golf Club.
Engineers also explained the idea of a temporary bridge had been considered.
They advised there is no space either side of Doonella bridge to allow landing points for this sort of structure, as there’s river on one side and lake on the other.
It was asked if cars could use the pedestrian bridge that runs parallel to the road bridge?
The advice was the bridge’s load bearing capacity was rated for pedestrians and cyclists only. Driving vehicles on this pathway would be highly dangerous, it was said.
All traffic options regarding this critical link bridge create congestion and inconvenience on Noosa's small road network.
Which one is the safest, fairest, inconveniences the least number of people and causes least damage to our small businesses are the critical questions.
After a second meeting with Traders, it was decided on Day four (Friday) that rather than reversing the direction of traffic flow on the bridge, a compromise of timed two way flow would be trialled from Saturday.
Thank you everyone for your patience. There are absolutely no easy options here.
