Coast development hot spots mapped

Illustrating the continued strong growth of building activity across the Sunshine Coast, council has released a heat map showing the locations of three financial years of building approvals.

Planning Portfolio Councillor Christian Dickson said with building development approvals in excess of $1 billion over the past three years, it was valuable to see the "hot spots" of activity on a regional map.

“Plotting the low, medium, and high areas of residential, commercial and industrial building approvals based on the number of applications, the map excludes low value applications such as swimming pools, demolitions or temporary structures,” Cr Dickson said.

“The map identifies high levels of activity within the ‘Sunshine Coast Enterprise Corridor’ that stretches from Sunshine Coast Airport to Caloundra South.

“The Enterprise Corridor represents the key location for expected commercial and residential growth over the next 20 years.

“The corridor is likely to accommodate around 70% of the region’s projected population growth and a substantial level of new business investment in the region’s high-value industries.

“The Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 supports ongoing development of the Enterprise Corridor and is designed to encourage investment in infrastructure to underpin identified commercial, industrial and residential precincts.”

Cr Dickson said the planning scheme provided the right conditions for investment to prosper in the right locations to shape future growth on the Sunshine Coast.

“Within the enterprise corridor there are three areas that show as dark red on the map, highlighting the location of high volumes of building approvals recorded between 2012 and 2015—these are Maroochydore, Mooloolaba and Birtinya,” Cr Dickson said.

“However, development activity is evident across the entire Sunshine Coast region with Caloundra CBD, Caloundra West and Golden Beach in the south, Bli Bli in the central area and Coolum, Yaroomba and Peregian Springs in the north of the region also seeing developments of significance.

“The broad spread of development activity across the region is contributing to economic growth and investment opportunities, which are helping to position the region as a leading economic and urban centre in Australia."

Maroochydore Area

Maroochydore is the Sunshine Coast’s largest urban centre. It is designated as the region’s principal activity centre.

With the establishment of SunCentral Maroochydore Pty Ltd to oversee the design and delivery of the 53 hectare central city land, the outlook for this area remains positive.

Demolition and earthmoving works have now commenced paving the way for future opportunities for the establishment of a new business, community and city living hub in the heart of the Sunshine Coast.

Significant approvals from 2012 include:

• $20m mixed residential/commercial use - Emporio Development at Maroochy Boulevard, Maroochydore
• $19.5m office/retail/medical building at Plaza Parade, Maroochydore
• $12.5m Bunnings Warehouse at Dalton Drive, Maroochydore
• $11m unit development at Sixth Avenue, Maroochydore
• $10m unit development at Douglas Street, Mooloolaba
• $10m aged care building at Dalton Drive, Maroochydore

Mooloolaba and Brightwater

Significant approvals from 2012 include:

• $40m shopping centre extension at Point Cartwright Drive, Buddina
• $18m Sunshine Coast University extension of the Engineering Building, Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
• $15.5m unit development at Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
• $13m unit development at Stringybark Road, Buderim

Birtinya

Significant approvals from 2012 include:

• $1,800m Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital at Kawana Way, Birtinya
• $29m electrical substation at Kawana Way, Birtinya
• $13m Pulse medical building at Eccles Boulevard, Birtinya
• $13m eight multi-storey carpark and commercial use development at Bright Place, Birtinya
• $9.5m Best Western Motel, Conference and Restaurant at Florey Boulevard, Birtinya

Caloundra Area

At the southern end of the Enterprise Corridor several major developments have been approved and constructed within the Caloundra area, including:

• $12.4m unit development at Canberra Terrace, Kings Beach
• $10.3m aged Care Facility at Lacebark Street, Meridan Plains
• $10m unit development at Greensboro Place, Little Mountain
• $8.4m shopping Centre at Parklands Boulevard, Meridan Plains
• $3.3m industrial Building at Ron Parkenson Crescent, Bells Creek

View the Sunshine Coast Development Activity Hot Spot map and explanatory notes on Council’s website at www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au along with the quarterly Development Indicator Reports.

Further information about individual Development Applications can be viewed via PD Online and Open Data.