A woman has been found dead on Mount Tibrogargan in the Sunshine Coast hinterland after calls for help were heard from the mountain, prompting an emergency response in the region.
The incident unfolded on Mount Tibrogargan, within the Glass House Mountains, where a person hiking in the area reported hearing a woman calling out for help. Emergency services were alerted at approximately 8:40 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, leading to a ground search at the base of the mountain.
Search efforts were carried out on foot across the terrain. After several hours, responders located the woman at about 10:30 a.m., where she was confirmed deceased.
Police indicated the woman was suspected to have been walking alone at the time of the incident. It is believed she may have fallen, although the circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.
Mount Tibrogargan rises to 364 metres and forms part of the Glass House Mountains National Park, north of Brisbane. The mountain features both a lower walking circuit of about four kilometres and a more demanding summit route.
The upper sections of the climb include steep inclines reaching up to 60 degrees, along with areas identified as high-risk for rockfall. These conditions contribute to the technical difficulty of the ascent.
The site is a well-known destination for hikers and bushwalkers, attracting visitors from across Australia and overseas.
Recent Fatal Incidents In The Glass House Mountains
The discovery follows a separate fatal incident at nearby Mount Beerwah, where two 18-year-olds died after falling from the summit track weeks earlier. One died at the scene, while the other was taken to hospital in a critical condition and later died from injuries.
Both Mount Beerwah and Mount Tibrogargan are known for hazardous summit routes, particularly in sections involving steep climbs and unstable terrain.
A report will be prepared for the coroner to determine the cause of death. Further details, including the woman’s identity and age, have not been released.
The incident highlights the challenging conditions present on popular hiking routes within the Glass House Mountains, where steep gradients and natural hazards can pose significant risks.
A Buderim home resale has highlighted how one over-50s couple achieved a significant gain within a land lease community before moving to another development in the region.
A Sunshine Coast couple who purchased a home at B by Halcyon in Buderim in December 2023 later sold the property and reported an increase of about 35 per cent.
The resale was completed within six weeks, allowing them to transition to a different community at Halcyon Coves in Aura. The move enabled them to take up a slightly larger home while retaining the uplift from the sale.
Photo Credit: Supplied
How The Housing Model Works
The Buderim transaction reflects the structure of land lease communities, where residents own their home but lease the land beneath it.
Under this model, homeowners retain capital gains when they sell. The arrangement outlined in the release also states that there are no deferred management or exit fees, which can apply in traditional retirement villages and reduce final returns.
This difference in structure has been identified as a factor in resale outcomes for some homeowners in the over-50s sector.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Repeat Moves Within The Same Sector
The couple’s move from Buderim to another Halcyon community aligns with a broader pattern of repeat buying within similar developments.
Some homeowners are selling in established communities and purchasing again in newer locations, using resale outcomes to upgrade their homes or adjust their living arrangements.
This behaviour reflects how certain buyers are approaching over-50s housing with both lifestyle and financial considerations in mind.
Market Conditions Behind The Resale
Conditions across South East Queensland have also been linked to resale outcomes in this segment.
Housing supply in the region continues to lag behind demand, supporting price growth across different parts of the market. Within land lease communities, the limited number of homes available for resale has also been identified as a factor influencing value.
As resale activity increases, there is growing attention on how these transactions are tracked compared to traditional housing sales.
Photo Credit: Supplied
What The Buderim Example Shows
The Buderim resale highlights how some over-50s homeowners are navigating housing decisions within land lease communities.
The ability to sell, retain gains, and move into another property within the same sector is emerging as a pathway for those seeking flexibility in later-life housing.
Residents near Buderim are expected to benefit from expanded cancer treatment services following the introduction of new medical technology at Sunshine Coast University Hospital in Birtinya.
Cancer care services on the Sunshine Coast have expanded with the rollout of new imaging technology designed to support specialised treatment at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, located in Birtinya near Buderim.
The upgrade forms part of a $2.3 million investment that includes the introduction of a portable Cone Beam CT scanner designed for brachytherapy procedures.
Sunshine Coast University Hospital, located at 6 Doherty Street, Birtinya, is a tertiary level teaching hospital providing health services to communities across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions.
The new imaging system enables clinicians to perform real-time imaging during brachytherapy procedures while a patient remains under anaesthetic.
This approach allows applicator insertion and radiation delivery to occur within the same procedure, removing the need for patients to be moved through the hospital for separate imaging during treatment.
Brachytherapy delivers radiation directly to the cancer site, which allows highly targeted treatment while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
Expanded Treatment Capability
The service expansion allows the hospital to provide brachytherapy treatment for cancers including gynaecological and prostate cancers, among others.
The development increases access to specialised cancer treatment for patients across the Sunshine Coast, reducing the need for some patients to travel to Brisbane for certain procedures.
The program is expected to initially treat between 40 and 80 patients each year, with demand anticipated to increase as more patients from north of the Sunshine Coast choose to receive treatment in the region.
The imaging technology supports a treatment process that enables real-time applicator insertion and radiation delivery during the same procedure.
The service has been described as the first and only one in the Southern Hemisphere capable of providing this type of integrated treatment and imaging during a single procedure.
The upgrade also supports training opportunities and the continued development of cancer treatment services within the Sunshine Coast health system.
Local Access To Treatment
For communities near Buderim, the expanded service provides additional options for specialised cancer treatment within the Sunshine Coast region.
The addition of new imaging capability is expected to strengthen local treatment capacity while allowing more patients to receive care closer to where they live.
Outlook
The rollout of the new imaging technology expands the capability of Sunshine Coast University Hospital to deliver specialised cancer treatment locally.
With patient demand expected to grow, the service aims to support more people across the region through increased access to targeted cancer treatment and imaging services.
A young Sunshine Coast woman has died following a tragic ski lift accident at a Japanese resort, with her family travelling to be by her side during her final moments.
Ella Day Brooke, 22, was critically injured on Friday morning at Tsugaike Mountain Resort in the Hakuba Valley when her backpack became entangled in a chairlift as she attempted to disembark.
According to statements from Nagano Omachi Police and resort operator Tsugaike Gondola Lift Company, the waist buckle of Ms Brooke’s backpack became caught on the lift chair around 9:15am. Because the chest strap of her backpack remained fastened, the pack could not detach from her body, causing her to be dragged along the snow before being suspended in mid-air as the lift continued moving.
A lift attendant immediately pressed the emergency stop button and first aid was administered at the scene. Ms Brooke went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital by ambulance, but tragically died on Sunday morning with her parents, Deanne and Warren Day, at her side.
In a statement released through Australian media, the family confirmed they were with their daughter when she passed peacefully. They expressed gratitude to the friends who stayed with Ms Brooke until they arrived in Japan, as well as to staff at Omachi General Hospital.
The family described Ms Brooke as an experienced and advanced snowboarder who had been participating in winter sports since she was 11 years old and was in her fourth extended snow season in Japan. She had recently completed a three-day avalanche safety course and had used that training to help rescue four people in dangerous situations in the weeks prior to the accident.
Tragically, it was an avalanche rescue backpack that Ms Brooke was wearing for safety that became caught in the lift mechanism.
Tsugaike Gondola Lift Company CEO Tsuneo Kubo released a formal statement expressing the company’s deepest condolences to the bereaved family and confirmed that operations of the Tsuga No. 2 Pair Lift have been suspended indefinitely while investigations continue.
The resort, which features 18 lifts servicing approximately 18 kilometres of trails, is a popular destination for international skiers and snowboarders during the northern hemisphere winter.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Ms Brooke’s family and extended deepest condolences.
The incident has cast a shadow over what has become peak season for Australian snow sports enthusiasts in Japan. According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, more than one million Australians and New Zealanders visited Japan in 2025, representing a 15 per cent increase on the previous year, with many drawn by the country’s renowned powder snow, favourable exchange rates and cultural appeal.
Ms Brooke’s death is the latest in a series of incidents involving Australian tourists at Japanese ski resorts this season. Earlier in January, a 17-year-old Australian died while skiing in Niseko, and another Australian man in his 20s died during a ski trip in Hokkaido just days after Ms Brooke’s accident.
While ski-related fatalities in Japan remain statistically rare, with research indicating an average of 10 to 14 deaths annually across the country’s resorts, the recent incidents have prompted renewed calls for visitors to familiarise themselves with safety protocols and remain within designated resort boundaries.
Sunshine Coast residents are among a small group of Australians recognised this year, with a former Wallabies coach, a heritage architect and a long-serving surf lifesaver named in the national Australia Day Honours, highlighting the region’s impact well beyond its coastline.
Former Wallabies coach John Connolly, who now lives on the Sunshine Coast, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his long service to rugby union as a coach and mentor.
His career has spanned elite professional teams and grassroots development, with a strong focus on guiding players and staff over decades in the game. According to the official Australia Day Honours list published by the Governor-General of Australia, the recognition reflects sustained contribution rather than short-term success.
Sunshine Coast-based architect David Gole was also appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, recognised for his contribution to architecture and heritage conservation.
Gole is known for specialist work in the assessment and protection of historically significant buildings, combining professional practice with education. His role as an adjunct professor at The University of Queensland reflects a broader commitment to passing on conservation skills to future architects. His involvement in major heritage projects and leadership within conservation-focused practices.
Surf lifesaver John Ellis Western was honoured for his service to lifesaving, with national surf organisations recognising his long-standing commitment to community safety.
Surf Life Saving Australia has highlighted members whose work has strengthened training, patrol standards, and volunteer support over many years. Western’s recognition places the Sunshine Coast within a national picture of coastal communities shaped by volunteer service and public safety leadership.
National honours, local impact
The Australia Day Honours list includes Australians from all states and territories and recognises service across community life, professional fields and public safety. While the awards are national, the contributions of Connolly, Gole and Western reflect work carried out largely at a local and regional level, reinforcing the Sunshine Coast’s role in shaping leaders whose influence extends well beyond the region.
The 2026 Australia Day Honours were announced on January 26, with recipients formally recognised across the country for service in their respective fields.
A major new tourist park featuring 150 accommodation sites is set to transform a 43-hectare site at Coochin Creek, near Caloundra, following official approval this month. The development promises to deliver new jobs and tourism opportunities for the Sunshine Coast region, though the decision has sparked debate among environmental advocates and community groups.
The Comiskey Group project received final approval on 8 January after a comprehensive assessment process that included expert advice and community consultation. The development will offer families and tourists a range of accommodation options and recreational facilities in a natural bushland setting.
A Destination Designed for Families
Site layout plan (Photo credit: MCU21/0348)
The tourist park will feature 150 accommodation sites spread across the expansive property, catering to different visitor preferences. The development aims to provide a holiday destination where visitors can enjoy outdoor recreation in a natural setting.
The Comiskey Group, which operates the popular Sandstone Point Holiday Resort, has emphasised that Coochin Creek Tourist Park will be thoughtfully designed for its natural setting. Director David Comiskey described the approval as the culmination of a five-year planning process, noting the park would be a unique destination in its own right.
The company’s experience in developing and operating award-winning tourism venues has been highlighted by local business leaders as a positive indicator for the project’s quality and potential success.
Economic Benefits for the Region
Photo credit: Comiskey Group
Tourism industry representatives have welcomed the development as an important addition to the Sunshine Coast’s accommodation offerings. Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel described the announcement as a huge win for the tourism industry, noting the park would deliver much-needed new accommodation while strengthening the region’s reputation as a leading eco-tourism destination.
Sunshine Coast Business Council Chair Sandy Zubrinich said tourism was a key sector supporting the regional economy, and the development would add diversity and choice to attract more tourists to the area.
Member for Caloundra Kendall Morton said the project would create jobs, support local businesses, and drive growth across sectors. She noted it would give the region the opportunity to boost ecotourism offerings and showcase natural assets, attracting visitors who want an authentic experience.
The development is expected to create employment opportunities during construction and provide ongoing jobs once operational. Local businesses are anticipated to benefit from increased visitor numbers and tourism spending in the broader Caloundra area.
Environmental Concerns Remain
Despite the approval, the project has faced significant opposition from environmental groups and residents concerned about its impact on the sensitive coastal area.
The site sits within the Northern Inter-Urban Break, a protected green belt between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast designed to prevent urban sprawl and preserve natural landscapes. The State Assessment and Referral Agency had recommended refusing the application, noting there was no overriding public interest need for the development and no significant adverse impact if it did not proceed.
A coalition of ten community organisations, including the Sunshine Coast Environment Council, Wildlife Queensland, and the Bribie Island Environmental Protection Association, campaigned against the proposal during a public consultation period. Their concerns centred on potential impacts to the nearby Pumicestone Passage, a Ramsar-listed wetland of international significance that provides critical habitat for protected migratory shorebirds.
Additional concerns raised by community groups included bushfire risks in what is classified as a high-intensity bushfire zone, traffic safety issues with access via the narrow, single-lane Roys Road, and questions about whether such a large-scale development was appropriate for the environmentally sensitive location.
Environmental advocates argued that genuine eco-tourism should focus on low-impact, nature-based recreation that protects natural assets rather than introducing substantial infrastructure and accommodation facilities.
Moving Forward
The approval includes conditions aimed at protecting the area’s environmental values and ensuring visitor safety. As this was a ministerial call-in decision, the approval cannot be appealed through the Planning and Environment Court.
The Comiskey Group already holds approval for a smaller 100-site eco-park on the same land, granted by the Planning and Environment Court in 2023. The company has indicated it is pleased to move into the construction phase, with work expected to begin soon.
The development represents a significant investment in Sunshine Coast tourism infrastructure and will test whether large-scale eco-tourism facilities can successfully balance economic benefits with environmental protection in sensitive coastal areas.
A safety warning in Buderim has intensified community concern after authorities linked two recent deaths to illegal high powered e-bikes and a growing number of risky devices used by young riders.
In late October, 8 year old Zeke Hondow died after a head on crash with a 15 year old rider on a bike path at Mountain Creek near Buderim. Police said the older boy’s e-bike did not meet public use standards and reached speeds far beyond legal limits.
Two days later, a separate crash on the Gold Coast claimed the life of another 15 year old whose electric dirt bike reached about ninety five kilometres per hour. Both incidents raised questions about how many young riders use powerful bikes that fall outside current rules.
Government Response Focused On Safety
Queensland’s Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg spoke in Buderim and urged parents to think carefully before buying expensive e-bikes or e-scooters that do not meet legal requirements. He said police already face challenges enforcing current laws because many riders ignore them, and he stressed the need for clearer rules that officers can enforce.
He also pointed to a parliamentary inquiry into e mobility safety, which is due to deliver findings by March 2026. He said the state will not rush new regulations before the inquiry reports and added that enforcement of existing laws will continue through summer.
Legal Action Following Mountain Creek Crash
Police charged the 15 year old involved in the Mountain Creek crash with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, unlicensed driving and operating an unregistered and uninsured vehicle. Detectives said this is the first known case where the dangerous operation charge has been applied to an e mobility device.
Investigators noted that Zeke was riding a far less powerful bike under supervision and confirmed that the older teen’s device did not comply with legal public use limits. They also pointed to rising injury numbers among young riders on the Sunshine Coast.
Schools And Agencies Introduce New Measures
Several Sunshine Coast schools have decided to ban e-bikes and e-scooters next year because of ongoing safety concerns. The Queensland Police Service launched Operation X ray Surety to check bikes for compliance with motor wattage and speed cut out rules.
The Office of Fair Trading also advised suppliers to follow their legal obligations and sell only devices that meet Australian standards. Local cycling groups supported these steps and encouraged families across the region to stay informed about the rules for public use.
Work has commenced on the long-awaited upgrade of the Sugar Road and Mooloolaba Road intersection in Buderim. The project spans the section between Syd Lingard Drive and Tantula Road West, an area known for congestion and a high crash rate.
Earlier plans for improvements at this intersection did not proceed, with the current works moving forward as part of broader efforts to support the Sunshine Coast’s growing transport needs ahead of the 2032 Games. Early works, including vegetation clearing, have already started and will continue over the coming months. The full project is expected to be completed next year.
Photo Credit: BrentMickelbergMP/Facebook
Scope Of Works And Planned Improvements
The upgrade includes several design changes intended to improve traffic flow and safety. Road widening will provide additional westbound capacity from Sugar Road, while modified right-turn lanes will be constructed eastbound on the Mooloolaba Road overpass. Two dedicated left-turn lanes from Sugar Road to Mooloolaba Road are also planned.
Further improvements include realigning the slip lane at the motorway’s southbound exit ramp, providing new on-road bike lanes, constructing off-road paths, adding signalised pedestrian crossings, and installing upgraded lighting.
Photo Credit: BrentMickelbergMP/Facebook
Community Sentiment And Local Impact
The intersection is widely regarded as a bottleneck, particularly during morning and afternoon peak periods. With about 20,000 daily vehicle movements, the upgrade is expected to improve travel reliability and safety for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians throughout Buderim and nearby suburbs.
Construction activity will continue across the area as works progress into next year. Once completed, the upgrade is expected to reduce congestion, increase traffic capacity, and strengthen connections to key destinations on the Sunshine Coast.
A major digital infrastructure milestone has been reached near Buderim with the Tabua subsea cable landing at Maroochydore, delivering a new international connection that links Queensland through the Pacific and the United States.
The Tabua subsea cable reached the Sunshine Coast shoreline on 11 November 2025, forming a major part of ongoing digital infrastructure upgrades for the region. The landing supports the wider Australia Connect initiative, designed to improve international data pathways linking Queensland with the Pacific and the United States.
The operation used a specialised vessel offshore, supported by excavators, winches, boats and divers to bring the cable ashore at Maroochydore. This installation aligns with earlier regional digital infrastructure planning and ongoing development of commercial data centres in the Maroochydore City Centre precinct.
Photo Credit: Subsea Cables
Buderim’s Connection to a New International Route
The landing delivers the first direct subsea cable system linking Australia to the United States without routing through Sydney. The system also establishes connections to Sydney, Fiji, Hawaii and the United States, forming part of a broader Pacific network.
The development supports increasing demand for digital capacity and complements new regional data-centre investment designed to strengthen the Sunshine Coast’s digital capability.
Technical Features of the System
The Tabua system contains sixteen fibre pairs engineered to carry approximately 17 terabits per second per pair, creating a total capacity of 272 terabits per second. Its transpacific trunk spans more than 13,000 kilometres between the United States and Australia, with branching pathways to Oahu, Suva, Natadola and Queensland.
The system will operate as part of a larger South Pacific network that includes planned links through Hawaii and onward connections to Japan.
Benefits for Buderim and Surrounding Areas
The increased capacity supports more reliable cloud services, data movement and digital operations, including technologies relying on artificial intelligence. It provides additional bandwidth options for businesses requiring international connectivity and improves pathways for digital exports.
Residents in Buderim and nearby suburbs are expected to benefit from more dependable internet performance for everyday use such as remote work, online study, mapping services and streaming.
The system’s diverse landing points add resilience for Queensland and enhance opportunities for digital investment across the region.
Photo Credit: Subsea Cables
Regional Response and Outlook
Industry organisations involved in the system’s delivery have highlighted its role in strengthening international routes and improving data resilience across the Pacific. The cable links directly into a 50,000-kilometre national fibre network, expanding digital routing options throughout Australia.
With the arrival of the Tabua subsea cable, Buderim gains a direct connection to a wider international digital route. The system is expected to support long-term demand for data capacity, operational stability and future technology growth.
A major development plan at Coochin Creek, just north of Brisbane, would see a 150-site tourist park featuring 75 cabins and 75 campsites pushed through with decision-making taken out of local hands and placed directly with the state minister.
The proposal from Comiskey Group – MBN25/95 – targets Lot 10 SP132272 and Lot 6 SP184133 at 1807 Roys Road in Coochin Creek, within the region protected as the Northern Inter-Urban Break (NIUB) and adjacent to the Ramsar-listed Pumicestone Passage.
The plan allowed initially for a 100-site nature-based tourism proposal (pre-approved), but the current application doubles the number of people permitted on-site to 600, and adds recreation facilities including a 1,000 sqm building, waterslide and fire pits.
In parallel, a separate 150-hectare events site dubbed Coochin Fields has been proposed by the same group to host up to 35,000 visitors per event.
A planning precendent
The outcome could influence planning precedent for green-belt protection, tourism expansion and rural-fringe development across South-East Queensland. If this development is approved in the NIUB, it may open the door to further large-scale tourism or event-based developments in areas previously considered low-impact or rural. The decision-making process, bypassing local council and placing power with the minister, also signals changes in how such developments could be handled elsewhere.
Photo Credit: Cominskey Group
Reactions and feedback
The state planning agency, State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA), reviewed the tourist-park proposal and concluded there is “no overriding need or compelling public interest” to justify placing it within the NIUB, citing non-compliance with key parts of the Queensland Planning Regulation 2017 and the regional plan ShapingSEQ 2023.
The Sunshine Coast Environment Council and nine other community organisations supported SARA’s position, stating that the developments “do not comply with the relevant planning legislation” and that the Pumicestone Passage and NIUB must be safeguarded.
On the other side, the Comiskey Group asserts the region has a tourism accommodation shortfall and that the project will boost overnight stays and visitor expenditure — and that the event site could become a tourism draw.
Photo Credit: Cominskey Group
Next steps and how you can contribute
By invoking his ministerial call-in power, Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie has taken full control of the decision, bypassing the Sunshine Coast Council, meaning the usual third-party appeal rights will not apply.
The public consultation period for the tourist-park proposal opened 24 October and closes 17 November. Residents in nearby and connected communities are encouraged to make submissions via the ministerial call-in page on the Department’s website.
