Bridge traffic diversions 'final straw', Noosa businesses say

Noosa locals, businesses outraged by Doonella Lake Bridge traffic diversions Thu 9 Jul 2026 at 8:33am In short: The Doonella Lake Bridge upgrade between Tewantin and Noosa began on Tuesday this week. Noosa locals and businesses are outraged by council's decision to divert thousands of motorists away from businesses as congestion turns five-minute commutes into 40-minute trips. What's next? The council will review its plan after meeting with affected businesses on Tuesday evening. Noosa locals and businesses are outraged by council's decision to divert thousands of motorists daily for six months to repair a 58-year-old bridge. Noosa Shire Council gave less than two weeks' notice that upgrade to the Doonella Lake Bridge, over which 20,000 vehicles a day travel between Tewantin and Noosaville, would begin on July 7. Many motorists, including Tewantin resident Sam Lloyd, said the usual five-minute commute took more than 40 minutes. "If this is the next six months … I can't see how this can work," she said. "It is just bonkers." Ms Lloyd accepted that the bridge required repairs but pleaded with council to reconsider. "The most condescending message on the council phone says, 'Take public transport or ride your bike,'" she said. "Would love to see all the tradies with their push bikes, with all their tools." During the roadworks, the bridge will operate as a one-way, eastbound-only route for traffic travelling from Tewantin to Noosa. With the other lane closed, traffic from Noosa to Tewantin is diverted via Beckmans Road and Cooroy-Noosa Road. A day after roadworks began, Noosa motorists reported intense congestion, with half the bridge's traffic diverted to already busy roads. Businesses say they weren't consulted Noosa Marina general manager Warren Smith said the closure would have a "devastating impact on all businesses". "The fact people can't travel from Noosaville towards Tewantin … it's mind-boggling." Mr Smith said businesses were only given 10 days' notice from council. "It's going to make Tewantin a desert zone," he said. Mr Smith said affected business managers and owners voiced their "shock and horror" at an impromptu meeting with council on Tuesday evening. "They didn't present any solutions, but said they'll go away overnight and come back with an answer," he said. Mr Smith said the diversions created delays of about 45 minutes, which would increase once school resumed next week. "Don't forget we're in school holidays, so there's no school traffic," he said. School holidays are usually the businesses busiest season, but not this week. Kim Visser, manager of the Marina Bar at Tewantin, said the disruption was "going to kill the businesses". "It's quiet. The parking is empty. There's hardly any people walking around. We're scared for the business," she said. "In an economy where we're already struggling with an economical crisis … this is going to be the final straw,. "They didn't consider us at all." Council says motorists need to plan better Council infrastructure services director Shaun Walsh admitted the congestion was "challenging" and worse than council had anticipated. "It does take a couple of days for people to realise that they do need to actually start thinking about planning ahead," he said. "We've got officers out every day monitoring the conditions. We will be undertaking continuous improvements to the traffic network." Night works was being carried out, but Mr Walsh said it was unsafe for divers to work in the dark. In an online statement Noosa Councillor Amelia Lorentson said council was reviewing the traffic diversions in place and a decision would be communicated to business owners "as soon as possible". "Businesses told us they were upset that this decision was made without them being consulted, and they asked for solutions: reversing the direction to westbound, investigating a Bailey bridge or night works, removing parking restrictions, a resilience program, a dedicated liaison officer, pausing works until a support plan is in place, better signage, shuttle buses, and more," the statement said. "The bridge work needs to happen — that's not in question. "But how we manage the disruption is something we need to get right, and residents and local businesses need to come first." Additional reporting by Alex Easton and Samuel Audas-Ryan.