How much does a concrete driveway cost on the Sunshine Coast in 2026?

A standard single driveway of around 40 to 50 m² typically costs between $4,000 and $9,000 depending on finish, site conditions, excavation required and access. Plain broom-finish driveways sit at the lower end; exposed aggregate or decorative finishes push toward the top. These are indicative ranges only. Get a written quote for your specific job.

Is exposed aggregate worth the extra cost on the Sunshine Coast?

For many homeowners, yes. Exposed aggregate handles Queensland UV better than plain concrete, provides a non-slip texture that is useful year-round, and suits the coastal aesthetic common across suburbs like Mooloolaba, Peregian Beach and Noosa. It costs roughly $100 to $150 per m² versus $65 to $90 for plain concrete, so on a 45 m² driveway that could be an extra $1,500 to $2,700. Factor in periodic resealing every few years as an ongoing cost.

Do I need a council permit for a concrete driveway on the Sunshine Coast?

You will almost certainly need Sunshine Coast Council approval for any work at or across the kerb and nature strip, known as the crossover. Requirements vary by street type and location. Check directly with Sunshine Coast Council before any work begins. Your concreter should be familiar with local requirements, but the permit responsibility ultimately sits with the property owner.

How long does a concrete driveway take to pour and cure?

The actual pour on a standard residential driveway usually takes one day. Concrete reaches walking strength within 24 to 48 hours, but should not have vehicle traffic for at least seven days, and ideally 28 days for full strength. Your concreter will advise based on the specific mix used and weather conditions at the time of the pour.

Does slope affect the cost of a driveway on the Sunshine Coast?

Yes, significantly. Sloped blocks in suburbs like Buderim, Montville and parts of Noosa hinterland require more formwork, sometimes a thicker slab, and extra care with finishing to ensure water drains correctly. Access for concrete trucks can also be more complex, which may mean pump hire. Expect sloped-site jobs to sit toward the higher end of price ranges, and sometimes beyond them.

Should I seal a new concrete driveway near the Sunshine Coast?

Yes. Concrete is porous and Queensland UV, plus salt air in beachside locations, accelerates surface wear. Sealing shortly after the concrete has cured protects the surface and can improve appearance. It adds roughly $15 to $30 per m² to the job. Resealing every three to five years is typical maintenance, more frequently for hinterland properties with heavy leaf fall and moisture.

How do I check a Sunshine Coast concreter's licence?

Queensland concreters working on residential projects must hold a current QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission) licence. You can search and verify any licence number for free at the QBCC website. Do this before signing any contract or paying a deposit.

Concrete Driveway Cost Sunshine Coast 2026 Guide

Sunshine Coast Concrete Driveway Costs at a Glance

A concrete driveway on the Sunshine Coast typically costs between $4,000 and $9,000 for a standard single driveway of around 40 to 50 m². Plain broom-finish concrete sits at the lower end, while exposed aggregate or decorative finishes push toward the top. These are honest indicative ranges. A written quote from a local concreter is the only reliable figure for your specific job.

Sunshine Coast has 39 concreters listed in our directory, covering areas from Caloundra and Kawana through to Noosa Heads, Peregian Beach, and the hinterland townships like Maleny and Montville. Competition is solid, but demand can spike during the building season, and some coastal and hinterland locations add travel and access costs that a Maroochydore or Sippy Downs job might not.

Prices per square metre generally fall in these bands for supplied and laid concrete:

Plain broom or trowel finish: $65 to $90 per m²
Reinforced structural slab: $80 to $110 per m²
Exposed aggregate: $100 to $150 per m²
Coloured, stencilled or stamped decorative: $100 to $150 per m²

Those rates are a starting point, not a fixed menu. What sits beneath the slab, how the block is accessed, and which finish you choose all shift the final number considerably.

What Drives Costs Up (or Down) on the Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast's terrain varies more than people expect. Coastal suburbs like Mooloolaba, Bokarina and Dicky Beach tend to have sandy, workable soil that concreters can excavate quickly. Move inland toward Buderim, Eudlo or Montville and you often hit clay or rocky ground that needs more preparation time and sometimes a bobcat. Both increase cost.

Site Access

Concrete trucks need room to pour. Narrow side entries common in older Caloundra or Nambour streets, steeply sloped blocks in Buderim and Maleny, or long driveway runs in rural Peregian Springs can all mean extra labour, pump hire, or multiple pours. Pump hire alone typically adds $500 to $1,200 to a job.

Excavation and Subbase Preparation

A driveway that looks flat rarely sits on flat ground. Excavation, fill compaction and formwork setup are non-negotiable steps, and on a challenging site they can add several thousand dollars before a single litre of concrete is poured.

Reinforcement

Standard residential driveways use steel mesh. If you have heavy vehicles, a boat trailer stored on the slab, or a steep slope requiring a thicker pour, engineers may specify steel rebar instead. That lifts the rate into the $80 to $110 per m² structural range.

Thickness

A typical driveway is 100 mm thick. Going to 125 mm or 150 mm for heavy loads adds material cost directly. It is not something to cut corners on, especially if you are parking a dual-cab ute and a boat on the slab regularly.

Council Crossover Requirements

Sunshine Coast Council has specific requirements for the section of driveway crossing the kerb and nature strip. You may need a separate crossover permit and, in some areas, a concrete crossover that matches council specifications. Factor this in early. Your concreter should flag it, but confirm directly with council before work starts.

Do not skip the council crossover approval step. Pouring without the correct permit can result in fines and an order to remove and replace the concrete at your own cost. Check with Sunshine Coast Council before any work begins at the property boundary.

Sealing

Plain concrete is porous. A penetrating sealer or surface coat protects against Sunshine Coast's UV intensity and the salt air in beachside suburbs. Sealing typically adds $15 to $30 per m² depending on the product. Well worth doing, especially near the coast.

Finish Options and What They Cost

The finish affects both appearance and longevity. Sunshine Coast homes vary widely in style, from timber Queenslanders in Nambour and Landsborough through to contemporary coastal builds in Bokarina and Peregian Beach. The finish you choose should suit the house, but budget is part of that decision.

Finish Type	Typical Cost (per m²)	Best For
Broom finish (plain)	$65 to $90	Functional driveways, workshop access, rear access
Trowel / smooth finish	$65 to $90	Garages, transitional surfaces
Reinforced structural slab	$80 to $110	Heavy vehicles, sloped sites, engineered requirements
Exposed aggregate	$100 to $150	Coastal and contemporary homes, non-slip texture
Coloured / stencilled / stamped	$100 to $150	Decorative appeal, matching paving or landscaping

Exposed aggregate is genuinely popular on the Sunshine Coast, and for good reason. It handles foot traffic in bare feet reasonably well, does not glare in full Queensland sun the way plain concrete can, and suits the outdoor-focused lifestyle common across the region. Several well-reviewed local operators, including SJP Concrete Finishes and Jack Of All Trowels Concreting PTY LTD, are known for decorative and exposed aggregate work, though pricing should always be confirmed directly with any concreter via a written quote.

Exposed aggregate and stencilled concrete need periodic resealing, usually every three to five years depending on exposure and traffic. On the hinterland where leaf debris and moisture are higher, check your sealer more regularly. Budget for maintenance, not just installation.

Typical Total Job Costs for a Sunshine Coast Driveway

It helps to think in whole-job figures rather than just per-metre rates. Here are honest indicative totals for common Sunshine Coast driveway scenarios. These assume reasonably straightforward access and standard subbase conditions. Prices vary, and a quote is essential.

Scenario	Approximate Size	Indicative Total Range
Single broom-finish driveway, flat coastal block	40 to 50 m²	$4,000 to $6,500
Single exposed aggregate driveway, coastal suburb	40 to 50 m²	$5,500 to $9,000
Double driveway, broom finish, flat site	60 to 70 m²	$5,500 to $9,000
Double driveway, exposed aggregate, Buderim slope	60 to 70 m²	$7,500 to $12,000+
Short decorative entry plus turning area, hinterland	80 to 100 m²	$10,000 to $16,000+

Most concreters have a minimum job charge. On the Sunshine Coast, that typically sits around $1,500 to $2,000. If you are only patching a section or pouring a small apron, expect to pay that minimum even if the square metreage does not justify it arithmetically.

Operators like J Willow Concrete, Earth Design Landscaping & Construction and Wilson Concreting Constructions PTY LTD service a broad range of Sunshine Coast suburbs, including areas further from the coast where access or soil conditions can add to base costs. Always confirm service areas and any travel surcharges when requesting quotes.

Removal of an Existing Driveway

If there is an old concrete or asphalt driveway to demolish and remove before the new pour, add that to your budget. Concrete removal on the Sunshine Coast generally runs $30 to $75 per m², and the range widens depending on slab thickness, whether there is reinforcement to cut out, and how far the truck needs to travel for disposal. A heavily reinforced slab can push toward $80 per m² or more.

Some concreters include demolition and disposal as part of a full driveway replacement quote. Others price it separately. Confirm in writing which items are included before signing anything.

How to Get and Compare Quotes on the Sunshine Coast

Getting three quotes is the practical standard. With 39 concreters listed across the Sunshine Coast area, averaging around 4.7 stars on Google, you have genuine choice. That does not mean the cheapest quote is the right one, or that a higher price guarantees better work.

What to Ask Each Concreter

Is the price fully inclusive of excavation, formwork, reinforcement, concrete supply and finishing?
What thickness and reinforcement specification are they quoting to?
Is sealing included, and if so, what product?
Who arranges the council crossover permit, and is that cost included?
What is the payment schedule and what is the approximate pour date?
Do they carry public liability insurance and hold a current Queensland contractor licence?

Check Credentials

In Queensland, concreters working on residential projects must hold a current QBCC licence. You can verify a licence number at the QBCC website in a few seconds. Do this before signing any contract. It is not a bureaucratic box-tick, it is your financial protection if something goes wrong.

Read the Quote Document Carefully

A quote that simply says "concrete driveway, $5,500" is not enough. The document should specify area in square metres, concrete grade (usually 25 MPa or 32 MPa for driveways), thickness, finish type, reinforcement, and any exclusions. Verbal agreements are worth nothing if there is a dispute.

Get at least three written quotes, verify QBCC licences, and make sure every quote covers the same scope so you are comparing equivalent jobs. The per-square-metre rate matters far less than understanding exactly what each concreter is, and is not, including in their price.

How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost in Sunshine Coast? (2026 Guide)