The Wave Sunshine Coast: What Property Owners Need to Know About Land Resumption and Compensation
Practical information for Sunshine Coast property owners.
Start with what the proposal means for your property.
A line on an infrastructure map can raise immediate questions about your home, business or investment. Is the whole property needed? Only part of it? Will access change? And what should you do before responding to an authority?
For owners concerned about The Wave on the Sunshine Coast, the useful starting point is the current project information and any correspondence directed to your property. The next step is understanding the proposal in the context of your land, not assuming every property near a corridor is affected in the same way.
The Wave: the current project picture
TMR describes The Wave as a heavy passenger rail connection from Beerwah to Birtinya, linked to a metro-style service towards the Sunshine Coast Airport via Maroochydore. The Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade is also part of the wider programme.
The rail project information identifies Stage 1 between Beerwah and Caloundra and Stage 2 between Caloundra and Birtinya. It provides corridor maps, station planning information and construction updates. TMR states that preliminary investigations and utility works have started, and that Stage 2 remains subject to funding approval.
Project information checked 8 September 2026. Plans, funding and timeframes may change. See TMR’s The Wave overview and the current rail project page.
A map is a starting point, not a property-specific answer
Keep a copy of any letter, plan or notice you receive. Identify the property boundaries, the area marked for the project and the interest the authority is discussing. Ask for clarification where the material is not clear.
A proposal may involve a whole-property acquisition, part of a lot or an easement. Those situations can have different practical effects. If the correspondence is about your property, advice should address that proposal and the supporting documents.
Received a Notice of Intention to Resume?
A Notice of Intention to Resume is a formal document with an objection deadline. Under the Acquisition of Land Act 1967, the notice must allow at least 30 days from its date for a written objection. The amount of compensation is not itself a ground of objection.
Do not treat a project consultation deadline as a substitute for the date in your own notice. Ask for advice promptly so the actual notice, the proposed taking and any appropriate grounds can be considered.
See the Acquisition of Land Act 1967 and our guide to notices and objections.
Look beyond the strip of land being acquired
The effect of a partial acquisition may extend beyond its physical footprint. Consider how the remaining property would function if the proposal went ahead.
- Would driveway access, parking or vehicle movements change?
- Could the remaining lot’s shape or size affect development plans?
- Would business, farming or other operations need to change?
- Are improvements, landscaping or screening affected?
These questions help explain why a compensation claim may need input from a valuer, planner, surveyor or other expert. Our land resumption page explains the different components that may be relevant.
An offer to buy by agreement still deserves advice
An authority may approach an owner about a negotiated acquisition rather than beginning with a formal resumption notice. TMR explains that some early acquisitions are handled through contract-of-sale negotiations.
Before signing, consider exactly what is being acquired, the effect on land you retain, the proposed terms and timing, and the rights the agreement may affect. The offered price is only one part of the discussion.
Source: TMR property information.
What to gather before speaking with us
- Letters, notices and plans received from the authority.
- Details of any response deadline or proposed possession date.
- Title documents and information about leases or other interests.
- Photographs and notes about access, improvements and how the property is used.
- Any valuation, compensation offer or draft agreement.
You do not need to solve every question before asking for help. A clear record of what has been proposed gives the conversation a useful starting point.
Get advice about your property, not just the project
Good Law QLD assists Sunshine Coast owners with proposed acquisitions, notices, compensation and the effect on their remaining land. We can help you understand the correspondence, identify what needs to be investigated and consider the next step.
Read our full guide to Land Acquisition & Resumption
Information on this page is general information only and is not legal advice. The appropriate advice and next steps depend on your circumstances.
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