Good afternoon Members
We have previously advised we would keep you up to date with progress on the Sunshine Coast Marathon that is planned to come through Twin Waters on Sunday 3rd August 2025. TWRA attended a meeting this week facilitated by Division 8 Councillor Taylor Bunnag, at Council with the event organisers and other stakeholders and can provide a summary from the meeting.
Sunshine Coast Council supports major events because of the economic benefit that this type of event brings to all the coast. While Council is involved in the approval process, Queensland Police and the Department of Transport and Main Roads have the major part in approvals and how the event is actually managed and run.
The overall event will comprise a full marathon (42km) plus a half marathon and shorter distance races as well. Only the full marathon is planned to come along Ocean Drive with the turn around point near the end of Mudjimba Esplanade. Twin Waters and Mudjimba will each have water stations for the runners and porta loo type toilets for runners and workers.
It is expected the grass area in front of the Twin Waters shops will be a vantage point for viewing the runners …. Bring a blanket or chair to enjoy your take away food and coffee in a picnic style.
The marathon is scheduled to start at Alexandra Headland at 6 am and with Twin Waters being around the halfway mark, the first runners are likely to be in our area around 7am as they head towards Mudjimba. We will also see the runners on their return leg. It is expected about 5,000 runners will tackle the full marathon event.
There will be some disruption to residents as outlined in the TW Newsletter. Ocean Drive will be closed to all traffic from 5.30am till about 10.45am. All intersections will be manned by police or traffic controllers. The road needs to be closed at 5.30 to facilitate set up of some barriers, and to bring in water stations, additional toilets etc.
There will be no vehicular access from the streets on the northern side of Ocean Drive (Barcoola, Prestwick/Tralee area; Lytham Court, Magnolia Lane; Armeen Circuit). The golf club will be closed because there will be no access.
There will be very limited opportunity for vehicles to leave Twin Waters from the areas on the southern side of Ocean Drive including Wattlebird, Waterside and surrounding streets; Moorings Circuit area, Stillwater and Lake View and side streets, with traffic movement along Twin Waters Drive to the Ocean Drive roundabout where a rigid barrier will allow cars to travel on the wrong side of Ocean Drive to Baywater Drive, then travel along Baywater to Nojoor Rd. The only way out of Twin Waters for vehicles will be through the police-controlled intersection of Nojoor Rd and Ocean Drive. Exit here will be restricted as runners will have priority.
Once a vehicle has crossed Ocean Drive at the Nojoor Rd intersection it is highly likely there will be no opportunity to return until after the road is re-opened about 10.45am.
There will be some on-going discussions to facilitate routine staff changes at Estia and to manage access for support workers for aged care and invalid residents in places like Living Choice.
Emergency vehicles, including police, ambulances and fire trucks, will have priority at all times if required.
There is continuing discussion on access to the Twin Waters shopping area to allow pedestrian and pushbike access to cross Ocean Drive. At this stage, Cock & Hen and Foodworks are planning on being open for normal Sunday trade but it is likely the car park at the TW shops will not be accessible by any vehicles during the time Ocean Drive is closed.
The organisers of the Sunshine Coast Marathon, Atlas Events, have been invited to attend the TWRA General Meeting on Monday 9th June at 7pm at the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort where some time is being made available on the Agenda for a presentation by Atlas Events and an opportunity for residents to ask questions.
Cr Bunnag is developing ways that will provide benefit to Twin Waters residents to offset some of the inconvenience.
Kind Regards
Sophie Lever
Immediate Past President
