Saturday, 30 July, 2011
My Weekly Preview Article
This time last year MPP took a look at new developments slated for the Maroochydore CBD, including the proposed relocation of Horton Park Golf Course and the new Maroochydore Homemaker Centre. Over the past 12 months there has been plenty of activity in the area, with new businesses and residents now calling Maroochydore home.
In early 2013 Reed Property group was putting the finishing touches on stage one of its Emporio mixed use development. The nine building precinct was launched early last year with a commercial property at 2 Emporio Plane, and PRG sales executive Nick Criss says office and retail space was quickly snapped up by tenants eager to capitalise on the developments central location.
“A number of highly regarded companies including Travel Associates, Parsons Brinckerhoff, KPMG, Ferguson Cannon Lawyers and VDM Consulting have recognised the opportunities presented by the building’s prime CBD location and have chosen to do business from Emporio”, Criss says. “We’re now excited to welcome the Houston Espresso Café, which will be opening at the end of the month, and expect this will bring a whole new dimension to the Emporio atmosphere”.
A caffeine fix will also be appreciated by the precinct’s first residential tenants, who moved in last year. Criss says PG’s focus is now on developing stage two, which will feature 82 residential apartments over seven levels.
“Affordable new housing as long been (scarce) on the Sunshine Coast; however we’ve recognised the need for quality housing under $500,000 and are offering apartments that average just $382,000, with prices starting as low as $267,500” he says.
“With more than $7 billion being spent on local infrastructure in the surrounding area and at least 33,000 permanent jobs expected to be generated in the Sunshine Coast region over the next 10 years, we’ve also recognised that we need to cater to the growing workforce, particularly with Emporio being located in the heart of the region’s principal activity centre”.
Just down the road is Chardan’s Sunshine Cove development, which also experienced strong demand in 2012. The precinct’s first waterfront land release Sarina, has only two blocks remaining, with many homes already completed; while the Brighton release (featuring larger, north-facing waterfront blocks) is mostly constructed and features two new display homes by Ryan Designer Homes, which are set for completion in March.
Penny Service from Sunshine Cove Realty says these homes highlight the area’s point of difference: it’s in the heart of Maroochydore’s urban precinct; the buy buyers aren’t limited to units but can build freestanding homes to their own specifications, with backyards – or water views – to boot.
“These homes are wonderful examples of the many benefits of living at Sunshine Cove – two-storey design, large kitchen and entertaining areas, both with pools and complete with large timber decks,” Service says.
Plans for 2013 include the Savannah precinct, with more terrace and laneway home sites and an exclusive waterfront range, and a new selection of home designs within the Sarina precinct.
“A range of new urban styles will be available and those active quickly enough will secure the opportunity to be involved in colour sections and those personal touches that make a house a true home of your own,” Service says.
Work will also continue on the development’s hared outdoor spaces, which includes 25 hectares of picturesque lakes and landscaped gardens.
“Within Sunshine Cove, impressive timber boardwalks will line the lake, in part, dotted with covered jetties brining over eight kilometres of bikeways and pathways once the development is complete,” Service says.
“An array of community facilities will also include the soon-to-commence adventure playground and landscaped parklands including barbecue facilities, toilets and car parking.
“Walking along the boardwalk at night or early in the morning, you would never guess that you were in the heart of Maroochydore.”
The much-publicised opening of the Maroochydore Homemaker Centre in mid-November also gave the surrounding developments a boost. The huge centre launched with 16 stores, including the Sunshine Coast’s flagship Harvey Norman and Joyce Mayne retailers, Domayne, Oz Design, Global Living and Nick Scali Furniture, and authorised Apple re-seller Next Byte.
The centre is also home to a brand-new Goodlife Health Club, the head office of contact centre provider Stellar BPO and 900 car parks. Sunshine Coast Mazda also opened a multimillion dollar showroom on Maroochydore Boulevard in 2012, alongside Garry Crick Prestige and Lexus, who launched in 2011.
The multimillion dollar Maroochydore transit centre is yet to come to fruition, with the latest reports indicating it won’t be completed until at least mid-2013. And while the battle between Sunshine Coast Council and Horton Park Golf Club over land in the centre of the PAC was resolved back in early 2012 (and the golf club has already begun construction of its new home course at Bli Bli) the question of exactly what will take over the space in mid-2014 is yet to be resolved.
The council’s PAC plan covers 205 hectares and full redevelopment of that area won’t commence until next year. This time last year, there was discussions that it could be used for a regional performing arts centre – something the Sunshine Coast area has long been lacking.
Last year local lobby group ACE launched a public campaign calling for a centre to be built, but Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson told MWP in November that although the finalised Maroochydore master plan will definitely include some kind of arts of exhibition centre, what that looks like – and who will pay for it – are yet to be determined.
“The Maroochydore city centre is an obvious place for it, but roads and infrastructure need to be in place first,” Jamieson said. “The planning is moving along well; the master plan will try to promote flexibility to attract development. The challenge is funding and looking at the development options”.
Tags: business, CBD, coast, designed, family, future, living, Maroochydore, master plan, opportunity, retail, waterfront
Posted in Press Clippings
