Youi’s global headquarters joins university town

Youi’s global headquarters at Sippy Downs will join a string of new developments at the master-planned ‘university town’ at Sippy Downs. The insurance company has today announced more than 900 staff will continue to call the region ‘home’ and Youi’s staff numbers will grow as the company expands its operations on the Sunshine Coast.

Youi will construct a purpose-built global headquarters at the master-planned university town which is fast becoming a community where residents can learn, earn, live and play.

Sunshine Coast Division 6 Councillor Christian Dickson said the Youi project would create hundreds of jobs and inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy.

“Our unique university town vision for Sippy Downs is now being realised and the area is making a name for itself outside the Sunshine Coast,”  Cr Dickson said.

“Sippy Downs is becoming a vibrant and active town centre.

“I’m pleased to see so much action in the precinct with approvals for a shopping complex, child care centre and additional residential developments poised to join the already completed residential apartments, medical centre and road upgrade.

“Just last week we celebrated the sod turning at Habitat Development Group’s Central apartments which marked an important milestone for the Sippy Downs Town Centre, complementing the expanding university and surrounding education precinct,” Cr Dickson said.

“The combination of planned residential, commercial and civic developments that will help maximise round-the-clock vibrancy and usability of the town centre.”

Habitat Development Group Managing Director Cleighton Clark said he was delighted to have Youi joining the Sippy Downs Town Centre and becoming the newest neighbour to the $31 million Central residential development, which started construction last week.

“We always knew the Sippy Downs Town Centre was going to be a significant economic driver for the Sunshine Coast region, but the addition of such a high-profile business like Youi elevates the appeal and calibre of the area to a whole new level,” Mr Clark said.

“This town centre is a great example of how developers, businesses and local government can work together to deliver a burgeoning educational and retail hub that delivers affordable accommodation and meets the needs of the growing local community.”

In late 2014, Sunshine Coast Council approved a shopping complex which includes a Coles supermarket, specialty retail and commercial space and student-style residential accommodation at the core of the Sippy Downs Town Centre.

A Super GP Clinic opened in early 2014, a 305-apartment Atrium residential complex has recently been completed and a child care centre is under construction.

Sunshine Coast Council has also recently completed the $4 million Sippy Downs Drive project.

These commercial and residential developments have contributed to Sunshine Coast Council’s latest positive development activity figures.

Development on the Sunshine Coast continues to show a strong upward trend with $1.07 billion in building applications approved by Sunshine Coast Council in 2014.

Cr Dickson said the report confirmed the growing optimism of this industry sector with the value of building approvals increasing by 35% compared to approvals issued in 2013.

“This is the highest value of building approvals since amalgamation of the Maroochy and Caloundra councils,” Cr Dickson said.

Of the $1.07 billion in building approvals during 2014, $537 million was for approved new dwellings, representing a 64% increase on 2013 figures.

Council recorded an 80% increase in lots created through the plan sealing process, with 2200 lots created in 2014 compared to 1219 lots created in 2013.