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Click here to send to our news team A former lifesaver who helped a man out of a rip last month has asked how many incidents it will take before a lifeguard is reinstated at the unpatrolled beach Adam Ellis had gone down to Wurtulla beach at lunchtime on a Saturday to cool off after mowing his lawn when he saw a couple get into trouble in the water “I was sitting on the deck and I saw these people go down the beach and drop their clothes and I thought there was no way they were going to go in there – there’s a rip straight in front of them,” he said “It was basically the worst place they could have gone in who did 10 years with the Kawana Waters Surf Life Saving Club watched as the woman managed to get to shore but the man who was trying to swim directly against the rip Help us deliver more news by registering for our FREE daily news feed All it requires is your email at the bottom of this article “I swam out and swam him back to the sand,” he said Mr Ellis said he was aware of one and possibly two other rescues carried out by locals at the beach and another involving a lifeguard on a roving patrol who pulled a man and boy out of the water He said the rescues pointed to a need for a lifeguard to be returned to Wurtulla beach, which lost its lifeguard service in May “We’ve had four rescues in a two-month period where they’ve needed the public or someone passing by to save the lives of people,” Mr Elllis said “It will be when someone does drown there and a death does happen it will be what locals were saying was right A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said funding for the Wurtulla lifeguard was reallocated to Bokarina Beach “The decision to reallocate this service was made in partnership with SLSQ and was in response to changing demands and coastal risks most notably due to growth in attendances at Bokarina,” the spokesperson said “Since lifeguard services started at Bokarina Beach in September 2020 there has been steady growth in beach attendances while current data suggest attendances at Wurtulla have decreased during this time.” The spokesperson said a trailer with a camera and emergency call button was deployed at Wurtulla until a camera and emergency call button both connecting to Surf Life Saving Queensland’s state operations communications centre The spokesperson said Bokarina was patrolled seven days a week from the September school holidays to May plus weekends and school and public holidays during winter “No matter how confident you think you are in the water it doesn’t take much to walk that beautiful beach an extra 500m to swim in a patrolled area,” the spokesperson said Local resident Trevor Heard said a lot of people continued to use Wurtulla and would continue to do so particularly given the shortage of parking at Bokarina Beach Mr Heard said Wurtulla warranted a lifeguard even if only on weekends during summer because of the “high risk” Website Feedback OnlyPlease leave your website feedback comments below kindly provide the steps you took so we can replicate the issue For general council inquiries, please see Council Contact page You can use CTR+V to paste a screenshot from your clipboard directly into the textarea above Otherwise you can upload a file from your computer below Sixteen-year-old Flynn Taylor from Wurtulla has won Sunshine Coast Council's Create a Book Cover competition and will be rewarded with his artwork being featured on a bookmark for all the community to admire Community Programs Portfolio Jenny McKay said as part of the nation-wide Library and Information Week celebrations Sunshine Coast Libraries held a range of activities incorporating the annual theme of “imagine” “One of those activities was the Create a Book Cover competition for which we received 23 entries using ‘imagine’,” Cr McKay said “I had the privilege of selecting the winner from four shortlisted entries I am pleased to announce Flynn Taylor as the winner and was captivated by his creative drawing of a tree filled with a range of interesting items “Flynn’s entry will be proudly displayed on a bookmark for all the community to enjoy.” Flynn said he was amazed he was selected as the winner out of all the entries received “The Create a Book Cover competition has given me an opportunity to do what I love doing – drawing,” Flynn said “Now others can enjoy my artwork when using the finalised bookmark.” Flynn said he has always loved drawing trees “I thought it would be interesting to see a tree filled with a range of items relating to the theme ‘imagine’,” Flynn said “I included drawings of a paint tray for those who dream of being an artist a tie for visualising a career in marketing and a camera for sharing and treasuring memories.” Flynn studies online at Unilearn which allows him to complete Year 11 and 12 subjects in one year Flynn has enrolled in a course for a Certificate III of Applied Photography and aims to continue his studies with a Certificate IV and Diploma of Applied Photography Flynn is working on a game idea and is designing the concept and characters with the possibility of turning this into a book Experience Sunshine Coast Living and community Environment Business Development Council Pay and apply © Sunshine Coast Regional Council 2008–2025 A Sunshine Coast man has been hit with nearly ten charges after a devastating house and car fire destroyed the possessions of a mother and her young daughter Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535 Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) This is probably not the page you’re looking for The whale carcass was buried on the Sunshine Coast's Wurtulla Beach on Sunday Link copiedShareShare articleThe remains of a whale buried on a Sunshine Coast beach appear to be bubbling to the surface just days after the carcass was buried in a hole in sand dunes The whale was buried in a hole more than 3 metres deep on Wurtulla Beach after it washed ashore on Sunday The burial site is in front of a residential development and about 200 metres north of a patrolled beach The Windansea Boardriders group and the community are concerned the carcass will attract sharks to the popular beach It has been buried 30 metres above the high tide mark but group president Terry Landsberg has serious concerns "It's not a very stable environment Mr Landsberg said lifeguards had reported "a fair bit of activity" from sharks when the carcass washed ashore at the weekend The Windansea Boardriders launched a petition on Monday to have the remains exhumed and removed from Wurtulla Beach More than 4,000 people have signed it so far who called the burial "ludicrous" Ms Rogers said her husband and son surfed for hours each day between Moffat Beach and Kawana "If they or anyone else we know in the surfing fraternity loses their life due to a shark attack I will be blaming the Sunshine Coast Council unfortunately," she said "I was there when the excavator was digging the hole on Sunday A video was posted to social media on Monday night showing what appeared to be whale remains spewing out of a hole in the sand Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie said the council should remove the carcass tow it out to the ocean and let nature take its course "Surf riders particularly have got safety concerns about the potential of the whale carcass to attract sharks but also we're a tourist destination and we don't want tourists not to come to Wurtulla Beach," he said "It was a lazy decision by Sunshine Coast Council to bury the whale carcass here." We asked how you thought dead whales should be disposed of. Read the discussion in the comments. The Sunshine Coast Council says it will continue to monitor the site where the whale carcass has been buried The Sunshine Coast Council has today told the ABC that officers have inspected the site and will continue to monitor it over coming days "There are some physical signs that the whale is decomposing is cordoned off to the public," the council said in a statement "The current rate of decomposition suggests that the whale may have been deceased for more than three days before washing ashore on Sunday." The Sunshine Coast Council has set up an exclusion zone around the site The council sought advice and approval from the State Government's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) to remove the whale carcass on Sunday "EHP discussed three options regarding the carcass disposal and advised that apart from dangerous conditions due to the state of deterioration of the whale towing the whale out to sea would have attracted more sharks and the whale was likely to break up during the towing process," the council said The council concluded that burying the carcass more than 30 metres above the high tide mark was most effective The EHP said it gave permission for the council to dispose of the carcass but "did not direct council on the disposal method to be used" The whale washed up on Wurtulla Beach on the Sunshine Coast It is the third whale carcass to wash ashore on the east coast in as many weeks Mr Landsberg has called for a national solution. "Council has got to follow what rules are set in place so obviously this is maybe a state issue, but it would be good to see a national policy on this," he said. "We're not trying to ruffle feathers here … but we want to see a good outcome for everybody." The whale is buried on Wurtulla Beach on the Sunshine Coast. (Facebook: Glen Bowden) However, whether a whale carcass buried on a beach could attract sharks remains a contentious issue. Southern Cross University PhD student James Tucker is undertaking a world-first study on the topic, with funding from the New South Wales Government. "We do know that whales commonly scavenge whale carcasses that are floating out to sea, but whether that applies to buried whales, we just don't know," Mr Tucker has previously told the ABC. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) The Sunshine Coast Coastal Pathway is 73km long and stretches from Bells Creek in the south to Coolum in the north It takes advantage of the spectacular coastline that is hugely enjoyed by residents and visitors People can explore the coastline by walking jogging or cycling on a combination of on and off road networks Whether you're looking for a half day cycling adventure or just a beachside stroll Check out the Coastal Pathway guide or get a copy from your local bike shop visitor information centre or council office Coolum is a hilly but scenic section of the coastal pathway and is a tourist hotspot with beachside fun right across the road from shopping and dining Pick up some lunch and take a short ride to the lookouts at Point Perry or Point Arkwright Don't forget your binoculars - you might even spot some turtles or whales Marcoola to Mudjimba is a family favourite - flat and shady and suitable for inexperienced riders Dive into nature as you explore this peaceful stretch of coastline on the wide shady path The pathway moves away from the coast from Mudjimba before reaching the vast Maroochy River where you an enjoy river views all the way to Picnic Point Explore the natural beauty of Chambers Island or stop at Ocean Street for your choice of cafes and restaurants Cotton Tree is famous for its vast treelined park This family friendly pathway hugs the water all the way to Mooloolaba with plenty of spots to relax among the way Stroll to Mooloolaba Spit and take in the spectacular view while you enjoy some local fish and chips This section includes a separated cycleway from Mooloolaba to Tuckers Creek Bridge with some great spots along the way for a picnic or some fishing There are some traffic lights and driveway crossings on this inland connection that are best suited to more confident riders Buddina Beach is the gateway to a scenic loop to discover the natural wonders of Point Cartwright Check out our video this pathway hugs the coastline through tree-lined dunes with the sound of the ocean at every turn try the new playground at Bokarina Beach or explore the calm waters of Currimundi Lake Mostly flat with some driveway crossings around Warana The peaceful natural beauty of this section of pathway will bring you back time and time again explore the shady coastal bushland reserve and boardwalk heading south Dicky Beach is a perfect stop for a casual bite to eat and a swim Caloundra is famous for its beautiful beaches Stop for coffee at one of the many beachside cafes or a swim The pathway follows the cliffs so you can spot turtles Sheltered from the ocean swell by Bribie Island the calm Pumicestone Passage is perfect for a family ride with lots of places to relax The Golden Beach foreshore boasts picnic areas playgrounds and is a popular fishing and boating spot The Sunshine Coast Coastal Pathway supports the Sunshine Coast community to achieve a healthy Council will continue to upgrade the coastal pathway to improve access to our iconic coastline For more information on future development of the network, visit Coastal Pathway Linear Open Space Master Plan The price of one of the rarest blocks of land in an emerging beachside suburb has jumped an astonishing 1200% per cent in a sign the sizzling property market is not cooling off sold at auction for $1.325 million and was the last block located on the “dry” side of the prized street it hadn’t been built on since the estate was first carved up as part of the Kawana Waters development in the 1980s Every time the site has changed hands it has netted a considerable profit for the vendor It last sold for $95,000 in the year 2000 to the current vendor who held onto the block for 22 years with the intention of one day constructing a home The landholder’s decision to take his asset to market rather than build has scored him a $1.23 million profit it sold for $77,000 in 1993 and for $49,000 in 1989 Ray White agent Adam Budd said there had been other interested buyers over the past two decades “it’s time” because of a change of direction in his life and asked Mr Budd to take it to market After some strong bidding between six registered buyers it sold to a local family from Little Mountain who intend to build their “dream home” A huge crowd of onlookers watched the tense spectacle which spilled onto the street Many of the Coast’s beachside suburbs have undergone seismic shifts over the past two years but Wurtulla’s property market transformation has been particularly astonishing Known as a ‘working class’ area its house-and-land packages were considered affordable with a mix of average-priced “dry” blocks and premium sections of canal and beachfront But the opening of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital new housing developments at Birtinya and Bokarina Beach and a burgeoning retail and entertainment scene nearby have changed the dynamic Now properties that have not been updated since the 80s and 90s have been fetching upwards of $1 million Mr Budd said the Bokarina Beach estate nearby had “put the southern end of Kawana Waters on the map more” and changed the perception of the area “Previously people thought Buddina and Minyama were the place to be for lifestyle and waterfront,” he said Fifty years ago, the Kawana or Kawana Waters area, now known as Buddina, Birtinya, Bokarina,  Warana and Wurtulla, was considered remote bushland and swamp. were not so much a lifestyle choice as an effective way to drain the swamp In the ensuing decades the area became popular with surfers and fishermen but it certainly did not command the prices of other beachside postcodes Mr Budd said the price fetched on the weekend showed there was still big demand among today’s buyers to live by the beach “The desirability for quality beachside is still out there and based on the number of people there on the day the interest is higher in particular with locals,” he said the opportunity could be just around the corner Did you know the Sunshine Coast is home to 55 exercise parks If you want to get fitter and stronger for free while soaking up some of the best vistas in the region Whether you would like to do some resistance training there’s something for everyone – and a venue could be closer than you think how about hitting one of the Coast’s many exercise parks Part of the natural and unique Kings Beach Park and Community Precinct, this exercise park has more to offer than a great work out. With a view of the ocean and connecting to the Coastal Pathway network you’ll enjoy a workout with stunning ocean views Bring the kids along to play in the park nearby while you enjoy a strength-based workout Man exercising at Kings Beach exercise Park Moondara Park has two exercise stations offering a variety of workout options for strength Enjoy the canal views as you work out and then extend your exercise with a walk or run along the nearby Coastal Pathway Moondara Park offers plenty of natural shade open grassed area and a children’s playground There is nothing little about Little Mountain Common Park as this district park has so much more to offer than the strength and cardio exercise equipment Bring the family along and enjoy a game of basketball on the half court Bring your furry friend and enjoy the large fenced off-leash dog exercise park Exercise Park and Equipment at Little Mountain Common Park No excuses to skip your workout when you’re at Harmony Boulevard Park With easy-to-follow instructions and demonstrations available by scanning the QR code as well as offering a variety of exercises to build strength and improve balance for all fitness levels Also include link to Harmony Boulevard Park (this is where the exercise equipment node is located) Nestled within a short walk from the heart of Mapleton come and enjoy a secluded workout on specialist aerobic workout equipment Your workout will fly by surrounded by beautiful gardens natural shade whilst overlooking the picturesque ponds After your workout enjoy the scenery of the Lily Ponds by taking a stroll around the connecting pathways through the park and spot the plentiful birdlife Another great park to bring the whole family as you will also find a playground barbecue facilities and a large grassed area Mapleton Lilyponds Park exercise equipment Discover more of the Coast’s exercise parks by searching for “exercise equipment” via the Beaches and Parks Directory. *Classes range from $10 General fee or $5 with a Health Care/Pensioner card A sign warning tourists to stay away from a popular surf beach has divided locals The handwritten sign instructs tourists to 'respect the locals' when visiting Wurtulla Beach, just north of Brisbane including: 'Remember locals have first pick of waves.' saying: 'If you can't follow the above rules Cleaning up after dogs and putting rubbish in the bin are another two of the six rules laid out on the sign Some believed commenting on a Facebook post about the sign said the rules it imposes are overdue and make sense while others believe it is hostile and feel the coast can be shared by all Local Amy O'Carroll agreed with these rules, telling the Sunshine Coast Daily she thought they were fair. 'Some of them were definitely acceptable,' she said. 'It's a real local beach, you don't really get many tourists here, so the locals just want to really protect it.' However others disagreed with her, saying that the beach was for everyone to enjoy, not just locals. 'First in best dressed - nobody owns the surf, local or not,' one person commented on Facebook. Another commenter wondered how the rules could be enforced. 'Do you have to have your license on you to prove you're a local?' asked another. One reader pointed out that the author's grammar could use a bit of work due to the liberal use of unnecessary apostrophes. It is unknown how long the handwritten sign had been up, but it was torn down after a photo of it was posted to Facebook on Wednesday. Following speculation that the Sunshine Coast council was to blame for the removal, a spokesperson for that body told the Sunshine Coast Daily that they were not involved.  The sign came months after global attention was drawn to the beach in October, when a 20-tonne whale washed up on its shore.  Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... How Meghan's biggest cheerleader brokered Harry's disastrous BBC interview - three months after... Woman dead and three others including a child injured after car ploughed into pedestrians: Man, 49,... 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Controversial sign at entrance to a popular beach warns tourists awayCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Some long-time Sunshine Coast residents are calling it the new-era “golden triangle” of real estate A major weekend media report anointed it as a candidate for “the next Noosa” the Birtinya/Bokarina/Wurtulla area is hot right now and demand for properties in those areas isn’t expected to cool down any time soon The coveted Alexandra Headland “golden triangle” – covering a range of streets including Buderim Avenue Alexandra Parade and Pacific Terrace – has been in demand for decades some agents have expanded the triangle to surrounding suburbs families and upwardly mobile professionals who want to live work and play in a suburb offering an enviable beach lifestyle with a stroll to eateries The new southern trio of neighbouring suburbs offers all that and more – at a cheaper price Birtinya’s multimillion-dollar healthcare precinct includes the Sunshine Coast University Hospital that saw its first patients in March 2017 and the new Vitality Village health and wellbeing hub that has now attracted ENTAG’s expertise in technology and digital health The area has hassle-free access to the Bruce Highway via the Kawana Way Link Road not to mention the Sunshine Coast Airport via the Sunshine Motorway Bokarina Beach – one of the last parcels of land available on the eastern seaboard – is now home to luxurious homes contemporary-style high-rise developments that are being constructed with the golden sands of the open surf beach at their doorstep Get them direct to your inbox by subscribing to our free daily news feed As has occurred in Noosa and other sought-after coastal suburbs Wurtulla Beach has seen many of the homes built in the 1980-90s bulldozed to make way for designer mansions that are welcoming new families and professionals relocating from southern states Major renovations and extensions to existing homes are changing the face of the area in this tightly held property market A four-bedroom canal-front home in Wurtulla sold for $1.22m in March lifestyle and entertainment businesses have mushroomed in Birtinya including the NightQuarter live music and eat street-style venue A stylish four-bedroom waterfront home in a private pocket on Birtinya Island (pictured above) set a suburb record in March at $1.47m and that was recently surpassed with a four-bedroom canal-front home selling in April for $1.665m Ray White Kawana consultant Dan McNamara says Birtinya/Bokarina/Wurtulla may be the new “golden triangle” In the real estate industry for three years after an earlier career in finance and sales Mr McNamara and his wife Sheree moved to the Sunshine Coast from Victoria 10 months ago and couldn’t go past Birtinya as an emerging property star Alex Headland and they (properties) were like the prices you pay in Melbourne “But you get more for your money at Birtinya being so close to  Bokarina and Wurtulla beaches without the dense population and traffic of other more popular beachside suburbs further north The “direct shot right into Brisbane” using Kawana Way Caloundra Road and the Bruce Highway was a bonus “You can still pick up something relatively well-priced and you can still buy something on the water,” he said “I had never been to this region before I moved here “We got everything we needed for a price we could afford.” Mr McNamara believes Birtinya has great potential – an ideal spot to base himself professionally and people like himself who were relocating had recognised its growing appeal he hadn’t yet seen many established local residents across the region buying into Birtinya Some had ruled out the suburb as “just a big hospital” not realising the calibre of homes – especially those fronting Lake Kawana – which he believed rivalled Noosa and Minyama Mr McNamara believes neighbouring Bokarina Beach to be undervalued picnic and barbecue amenities to draw visitors from across the Coast “It will be a community in itself when it takes off,” he said you’re not going to have a reason to travel to Maroochydore or Mooloolaba for those lifestyle things It will be all at arm’s length in the foreseeable future.” The Walter Iezzi Property Group launched Azzure Bokarina Beach in January just around the corner from beachfront Oceanus – his first major development in the area Executive property and office manager Wendy Faithfull said Azzure had achieved just over $30m in sales so far three and four-bedroom apartments over eight levels “The majority of our inquiries are from local buyers but we continue to have strong interest from buyers in Brisbane approximately 70% of buyers are owner-occupiers with 30% looking to purchase for investment “Buyers inquiring cover all demographics – all the way from downsizers families looking to relocate to the Coast and even first-home buyers.” Mr Iezzi secured the second Bokarina Beach site on Bokarina Boulevard just before Christmas and The first was a three-bedroom unit on Level 7 for $1,850,000 “Construction is going well and we are currently working on Levels 2 and 3,” she said there are 101 apartments in Oceanus over the eight levels “The whole Bokarina Beach precinct is just so exciting.” Construction also is under way on The Clark Group’s neighbouring 63 two- and three-bedroom Seanna Residences on the corner of Bokarina Boulevard and Longboard Parade in Stockland’s award-winning Stockland regional development manager Queensland said Birtinya and Bokarina Beach were some of the state’s “most prosperous and highly liveable destinations” “We are constantly fast-tracking the release of land and townhomes to provide more opportunities for people to purchase their own home,” he said “Planning is well progressed for the upcoming releases at Bokarina Beach including a range of brand new beach homes “Designed by award-winning local architects we expect these beautiful new homes to be in high demand.” Mr Allen said the two new communities also brought a wealth of infrastructure and new job opportunities to the Sunshine Coast with both shaping up to be major employment hubs for the region “They are anticipated to generate 8300 full-time construction jobs over a 10 to 15-year period and almost 16,000 additional a local and her father encountered a critically endangered loggerhead turtle about to lay her eggs now named Mib’ir—a Kabi Kabi word for “saltwater turtle”—being equipped with a GPS tracking device by TurtleCare Sunshine Coast volunteers part of a collaboration with the Queensland Government aims to gather data on turtle movements to enhance the understanding and protection of their habitats Mib’ir contributed significantly to this project by laying four additional clutches of eggs over the summer revealing valuable insights into the locations turtles frequent off the coast between nestings shared that nesting turtles can lay three to five clutches in a season without eating The GPS tracker revealed Mib’ir’s preference for Currimundi Reef and identified her as a Noosa local This tracking data is crucial for understanding turtle movements within the Blue Biosphere It aids in mapping these movements and provides scientific evidence to advocate for the protection of turtle habitats both on land and in the ocean Named after a meteor shower occurring at the time Geminid has laid three clutches this season and has begun her northward journey passing notable locations like the Southern Great Barrier Reef and Lady Musgrave Island currently near Hyde Rock Reef north of Yepoon.