Early planning for Stage 4 of the Bruce Highway Western Alternative (BHWA) between Beerburrum and Moodlu started in May 2023 and is ongoing.

TMR sought feedback on possible corridor options for Stage 4 between Beerburrum and Moodlu from 30 November 2023 to 9 February 2024. All feedback received will be carefully considered and will help inform next steps, timelines and further technical investigations needed. This includes consideration of suggestions for alternate corridor alignments.

Once the preferred corridor alignment for Stage 4 has been identified, engagement with potentially impacted property owners will be prioritised alongside broader community consultation.

Given the scope of feedback received on the Stage 4 corridor options, the timeframe for determining a preferred alignment is currently unknown. It is important for TMR to continue investigations, consultation activities, and complete due diligence, before identifying a preferred alignment.

TMR will keep the community informed and provide updated timelines when feedback has been considered.

The Stage 4 study area contains established communities, areas of rural living, important agricultural land, a state forest, national parks, and the Elimbah Potential Future Growth Area (PFGA).

Investigations carefully considered environmental, and property impacts and how the corridor could complement existing transport networks (road and rail).

Initial investigations into viable corridor options considered:

• property impacts
• areas of productive and valuable agricultural land
• areas of environmental and cultural heritage value
• social and amenity impacts
• early feedback from the community, government agencies and the City of Moreton Bay
• the ability to meet growing transport demand
• existing and planned infrastructure such as utilities, power easements, rail, community, recreation, commercial and education facilities
• flood plains, catchments, and water bodies
• other transport planning initiatives and connections with existing networks
• capacity to support public and active transport
• engineering constraints and cost of future construction.

The corridor options were split into northern and southern sections for the purpose of community consultation. View details in the tabs below.

The corridor options shown will be refined in response to ongoing technical investigations and following consideration of community feedback. Potential property impacts will not be known until a preferred alignment has been identified.

Northern section

East of Old Gympie Road, 2 viable corridor options are shown on the map.

Option 1 is west of the North Coast rail line and Elimbah township, crossing the rail line north of McDougall Road in the Beerburrum State Forest. The corridor option provides opportunities for a connection to the proposed Elimbah PFGA. This option maintains local connectivity for residents and businesses by providing overpasses at Whittington, Markwell, Alcock, Old Gympie, Twin View, McDougall, and Beerburrum roads.

Option 2 crosses the North Coast rail line south of the Elimbah township and Six Mile Creek, and travels east of the rail line. This alignment provides greater flexibility to facilitate connections to the proposed Elimbah PFGA. The option maintains local connectivity by providing overpasses at Whittington, Markwell, Alcock, Old Gympie, Smiths, Beerburrum and Bartholomew roads and Jacks Lane.

Both options share a common alignment on the southern approach to Steve Irwin Way near Beerburrum.

Southern section

The Stage 4 corridor continues from Stage 1 at the D’Aguilar Highway, Moodlu. The corridor options follow a common alignment through Moodlu, crossing Old Gympie Road north of Alcock Road.

Where possible, this section will closely follow the existing power easement.

Other options southeast of this alignment, between the D’Aguilar Highway and Old Gympie Road, were not progressed as they impact a large number of residential properties.

Options further west were ruled out as they had more impacts to the environment and important agricultural land.