culture
The story behind the scene and the people who created it
A collective of Sunshine Coast makers spent eighteen months shaping a new installation that opens next week at two coastal venues.
How we reported this
A team of twelve local creators finished installing a 40-metre sound-and-light work along the Maroochy River boardwalk on 10 July, with the public opening set for 18 July at 6 pm.
The project gained urgency after the Sunshine Coast Council released its 2025-2028 Arts and Culture Strategy in March, which earmarked $480,000 for new permanent works between Caloundra and Noosa. Organisers say the timeline was driven by that funding window rather than any external festival calendar.
Workshops at two sites
Early planning happened inside the Old Ambulance Station in Nambour, where the group held weekly sessions from January 2025. Later fabrication moved to a warehouse near the Mooloolaba Wharf so artists could test weatherproofing on actual waterfront wind conditions. The final piece uses salvaged timber from a 2018 storm-damaged jetty at Cotton Tree and LED strips programmed to match tide times published by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Council figures show 2,140 people attended the three open workshops held at those sites, up from 1,680 recorded for similar programs in 2024. Entry to the workshops cost $12 for adults and $5 for students, with all proceeds covering materials.
Next steps for visitors
The installation runs nightly from 6 pm to 10 pm until 30 September. Free entry is available via the river path between Cotton Tree and Maroochydore; paid parking at the Wharf is $4 for two hours after 5 pm. A second, smaller version of the work will appear at the Caloundra Headland lookout from 1 October.