Sunshine Coast,
You are ignoring history if your aim is ‘Not to become like the Gold Coast’.

Gold Coast was designed to be a car-centric city and strongly resisted public transport and light rail.
(Literally ripping up tram and train rails.)
The light rail was one of the best things to occur for commuters and tourists, minimising road congestion.

‘Trackless’ public transport would not work, due to the lack of ‘right of way’. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-20/public-transport-rapid-bus-over-light-rail-sunshine-coast/103247084
#QldPol #SouthEastQueensland