A long-term vision for a safe walking and cycling link that will between Mapleton and Flaxton, and that will attract tourists, was presented to the community at the Mapleton and District Community Association’s (MADCA) general meeting on Wednesday night (5th August), outlining what supporters hope could become the first stage of a connected active transport network across the Blackall Range.
Developed by MADCA and the Blackall Range Lions Club, the proposal looks beyond providing a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists. It also explores opportunities to strengthen links between hinterland villages, encourage healthier lifestyles, support local businesses and celebrate the region’s First Nations heritage.
Presenters emphasised the concept remains a vision for what could be, rather than an approved project or detailed design, with any construction likely to be years away.
A Long-Term Vision
Introducing the proposal on behalf of MADCA and the Blackall Range Lions Club, George Kachaniwsky said the group had been working to develop a broader vision that would provide a compelling case for future government funding.
He told the meeting that discussions with Sunshine Coast Councillor David Law had been encouraging, with support expressed for seeking funding for preliminary engineering work that would give a clearer understanding of the project’s scope and cost. Any construction would ultimately require significant support from State and Federal governments.
The presentation that followed challenged those in the room to think beyond a simple pathway.
“We can’t just say we want a path,” MADCA president Peter Gamgee told the meeting. “What is it?”
Instead, the proposal imagines the Mapleton to Flaxton section becoming part of a broader network linking villages across the Blackall Range through safe walking and cycling connections.
Building On Council’s Vision
The proposal aligns with Sunshine Coast Council’s draft Active Transport Plan, which sets out an aim of creating safer, more connected walking and cycling networks across the region.
While the council plan provides the strategic framework, the Mapleton to Flaxton proposal is a community-led initiative being championed by MADCA and the Blackall Range Lions Club. Supporters hope a clear long-term vision will strengthen future applications for government funding, though the project is not currently listed as a funded council priority.
More Than A Pathway
The proposal seeks to address a long-recognised gap in safe pedestrian and cycling infrastructure between Mapleton and Flaxton.
Rather than simply creating a path beside the road, the vision considers how the route could become a destination in its own right, complementing the Blackall Range’s national parks, scenic lookouts and existing walking trails, including the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk.
An accompanying presentation, Deepening the Vision, explored possibilities for incorporating First Nations cultural interpretation through landscape design, public art, storytelling, dual-language signage and digital experiences developed in partnership with Traditional Custodians. Presenters stressed these concepts were examples of what could be explored in future rather than final designs, and that further consultation with Traditional Owners would be required.
The Next Step
While the vision is ambitious, supporters acknowledged the proposal remains in its early stages.
The immediate priority is to secure funding for engineering, geotechnical investigations and detailed design work, which would establish the project’s feasibility and refine construction costs before any application for larger State and Federal funding.
If successful, the Mapleton to Flaxton section could become the first stage of a longer-term vision to improve active transport connections throughout the Blackall Range.
Whether the vision eventually becomes reality will depend on years of planning, community support and government investment. For those at Wednesday night’s meeting, however, the conversation was less about what can be built tomorrow than what future generations of Hinterland residents might one day inherit.
MADCA Connected Blackall Range project page
Sunshine Coast Regional Council Active Transport Plan page
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