Planning and facilitating workshops with a Business Activation Group and Stakeholder Interest Group about delivery of a foreshore upgrade in a popular beach centre.
Situation Explained
Sunshine Coast Council is investing in the future of Mooloolaba with a major foreshore revitalisation project to create more beachfront parkland, new community facilities, improve access to the beach and foreshore and enhance coastal protection for the benefit of residents, visitors and businesses.
The Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project is an outcome of the 2015 Master Plan. Stage 1 of the project was completed in 2022, upgrading the northern foreshore parkland.
When the project was ready to move into delivery of Stage 2 of construction, Council engaged LPC to work with Council to plan and facilitate meetings to update the Mooloolaba community and business community about the construction process. A key objective of the Business Activation Group was to work with Council and a placemaking consultant to develop a Business Activation Plan that would support activate the precinct and support businesses during construction.
Our Approach
We worked with Council to establish the Business Activation Group and Stakeholder Interest Group.
The Business Activation Group brought together 14 local business stakeholders to provide advice on how the project could provide place-based benefits for businesses and mitigate impacts during construction. Outcomes from these sessions informed the development of a Business Activation Plan. The Business Activation Plan was approved and published in late 2024.
The Stakeholder Interest Group brought together community members with a range of different interests, passions and memberships to local community groups. The Group provided an opportunity for community members to discuss specific matters with the project team, and for the project team to understand how community members travel and spend time in the precinct.
We worked with Council to set up and maintain a welcoming and productive environment where stakeholders and community members can share diverse and, often, conflicting opinions.
Results
Major works on Stage 2 of the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation started in mid-July 2025. Construction work will be staged through to the project’s estimated completion date of late 2026 or early 2027.
