Queensland sugarcane growers have voiced apprehension about the $35 million Blue Heart project.

Blue Heart Sunshine Coast, a local, state, and federal government-backed initiative aims to enhance flood storage capacity over a 5,000-hectare area in response to rising sea levels.

Farmers and landowners in the Maroochy River Farmers and Landowners Association, argue that the project could transform productive agricultural land into a swamp-like environment, raising concerns about salinity intrusion into crops, land devaluation, and increased health risks due to mosquito-borne diseases. 

The association has been speaking out about their concerns through posters and pamphlets at public forums, accusing the Sunshine Coast Council of “greenwashing” and inadequate community consultation. 

The Blue Heart project, despite controversy, has received backing from the SEQ City Deal - a partnership between various levels of government and the private sector. It aims to transition public land to estuarine wetland, removing tidal gates which, according to some, could exacerbate environmental and public health issues.

State and federal MPs have acknowledged the farmers' concerns. Ninderry MP Dan Purdie has sought clarity from Planning Minister Meaghan Scanlon regarding the project's implications, with a response pending.

Meanwhile, the Sunshine Coast Environment Council is backing the project as a necessary adaptation to climate change, maintaining flood plains for the future.

As attention on the project continues, the newly elected Sunshine Coast council, post-March 16 elections, is expected to receive a comprehensive briefing on the Blue Heart project. Community division is expected to remain a significant challenge to securing a social licence for its implementation.