Full list of major Gympie projects in the works for 2025
From proposed wedding venues to hundred-plus unit retirement estates and major business projects, there is no shortage of developments on the horizon. FULL LIST
Gympie
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The Gympie landscape has shifted significantly the past few years off the back of major developments including the Gympie Bypass, new businesses, growing population and tourist spots.
Developers are still waiting for Gympie Regional Council to make a final decision on a number of major projects, some which will carry price tags of millions of dollars.
Here are the major developments still waiting to have their fates decided:
New Bruce Hwy servo
The first major development along the Gympie Bypass has been revealed with plans to open a multimillion-dollar service centre at the northern end of the 26km stretch which opened in October.
Developer Capital Transactions Pty Ltd unveiled its plans to open the centre in an application lodged with Gympie Regional Council in November.
The company will build the centre at the western side of the Curra interchange, on a 15ha block squeezed between the Old Bruce Highway and the North Coast railway line.
The proposed centre includes the service station, four fast food outlets, and several warehouses and 119 parking spots.
Kandanga wedding venue
A Mary Valley couple who previously proposed turning their 64ha rural block into a camping ground are now seeking instead to transform it into a function and wedding venue with overnight accommodation.
Garry and Natalie Wheeler asked Gympie Regional Council in November 2024 for permission to redevelop their Kandanga Creek block into an event hub able to host up to 70 guests.
The couple had previously proposed turning the block located on Kandanga Creek Rd, about 23km south of Gympie and not far from where the Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Festival is held, into a campground.
Rainbow Beach estate
A new housing estate could be created near Rainbow Shores on the outskirts of Rainbow Beach if Gympie Regional Council approves a development application lodged by Precinct Urban Planning on behalf of private Australian company Tahmer Pty Ltd.
The company sought approval in September, 2024 to subdivide a 1.6ha block on Wyvern Road at Rainbow Beach and build 25 homes and an apartment.
The application said a shed and walking trail that “meanders partially onto the site” are located on one part of the block, and a multistorey building exists at the other.
Traveston wedding venue
The transformation of the gateway to the Mary Valley into a tourism and getaway hub is underway, with new plans unveiled to open a boutique hinterland wedding venue and holiday park at Traveston, east of Noosa and south of Gympie.
Landowners Jy and Tania Paxton lodged development plans with the Gympie Regional Council amid efforts to open the venue on the largely vacant Tandur Traveston Rd block, previously used for grazing cattle.
The 10.9ha block is on the other side of a railway line adjacent to the Dingo Creek Vineyard, and 1.5km south of the Cobb and Co Campground.
The plans include the main weatherboard, pitch-gabled “barn” facility, and four cabins.
Golf course facelift
New townhouses and a mini golf course are among additions planned at Gympie’s golf course as its owners begin work on a radical facelift proposed for the region’s fairways and greens.
The plans were revealed as part of initial overtures by Gympie SC (Land) Pty Ltd to Gympie Regional Council seeking approval to build a series of short- and long-term housing at the Shields St property.
Two applications have so far been lodged with the council’s planning department.
Each development is planned to be built at the course’s southeastern edge along Shields St.
One of proposals is to build 20 short-term residential cabins along side the course, available to guests for short-term stays at the club.
The second application seeks approval to build 36 townhouses on land sitting close to the corner of Shields St and Corella Rd.
The townhouses will be up to three storeys tall, each with three bedrooms. Read more
Southside church expansion
A 150-follower strong Gympie church is planning an expansion at the Southside amid forecasts its congregation will more than double in the next five years.
Gympie Community Church has lodged an application with the council for approval to develop a new place of worship off Gardenia Court.
The plan includes building a single-storey building up to 8.5m high in the centre of the vacant 5.57ha block wedged between Wisteria Lane, Jasmine Ave and Sorensen Rd.
It will include a foyer, 350-seat auditorium, a meeting area capable of hosting 155 guests, conference and board rooms, and a “kids church”.
Old Gympie surgery overhaul
One of Gympie’s most iconic homes is in line for a new lease of life with plans to transform it into a function centre with room for guests or organisers to stay overnight.
Owners Michael and Caroline Arnett have asked for permission to use the historic property, which sits across the road from the St Peter’s Church at the intersection of Amy St and Lady Mary Tce, for a range of events including weddings, wakes, birthday and Christmas parties, team building events, and exhibitions.
In their application to Gympie Regional Council, they say the “versatile facility is designed to host a variety of events” and will operate under the name Proud Mary.
Four double bedrooms would be available for overnight stays.
The plans were left in the lurch by the council in November, 2024 amid concerns over a lack of information from the developers.
Southside over-50s complex
An Australia-wide retirement home developer has its sights on Gympie’s Southside as the future home of its extraordinary plan for a new over 50s complex complete with tennis courts, bowling alleys, a cinema and bar and cafe.
Developer Living Gems is seeking permission to transform the 64.8ha vacant block at Eel Creek Rd into an over 50s retirement complex that more than 1000 residents could call home.
Under the proposal 575 dwellings would be built, along with a range of communal facilities for its residents.
Each home would include two bedrooms and a multipurpose room, an alfresco dining area and rear courtyard.
Amenities include a clubhouse, summer house, health club, tennis court, lawn bowls, pickle ball court and swimming pools.
New retirement village
New plans for an over 55s retirement village would offer more options for ageing Gympie residents to keep living in the region, should it get the go ahead.
Developer Willow Groves Qld has unveiled plans to build the 190-room facility on 7ha of vacant land at Heritage Lane.
Town planners Murray and Associates say in its application on behalf of Willow Grove the proposal will provide “an overwhelming economic, community and planning benefit to the Gympie region”.
The facility will include three types of villas ranging in size from 157sq m to 184sq m.
All three will be single storey with two bedrooms, a kitchen, dining area, bathroom, laundry, and private terrace.
Indoor bowling facilities, a cinema, a games room, a swimming pool, a gym, and a library and wine room would also feature in the development.
Southside housing estate
The growth of Gympie’s Southside continues to speed ahead with new plans revealed to open a 436-lot housing estate on the suburb’s eastern edge.
Developer Southside Residential Estate wants to subdivide 125ha of land between the Southside and Nahrunda, about one kilometre west of the Southside School and Cooloola Christian College, and transform the area into a new estate.
The proposed estate, called Kingsview, would be split by Glastonbury Rd.
Under the plans, the block would be sliced into 436 new lots which would be transformed into 498 new dwellings.
These dwellings include 39 townhouses and 29 duplexes.
New Gympie skin care clinic
The transformation of the area surrounding Gympie Central shopping centre into a healthcare precinct continues with new plans revealed to open another medical clinic near the commercial centre.
Developer Bay Investments Qld has lodged an application with Gympie Regional Council to build the centre on a vacant 1210sq m block at Excelsior Rd.
There are four other health service buildings in the immediate vicinity of the block, the development application says.
These include a newly built centre next door to the land.
The proposed centre would include two tenants, of which one is proposed to be Just Skin which specialises non-invasive skin cancer treatments.
Silly Solly’s plans Gympie return
Silly Solly’s is returning to Gympie decades after closing its Mary St store, which was among the first Silly Solly’s to open in Queensland in the early 1990s.
The discount retail store has lodged plans with the Gympie council to open a warehouse at the Monkland, on the southern outskirts of the city.
EPO Developments has asked Gympie Regional Council for approval to build two new commercial showrooms on a vacant 2823sq m block at Edwin Campion Drive, with the main building housing Silly Solly’s.
The shop is proposed to be open from 8.30am-5.30pm on weekdays except Thursday, when it would open until 6pm.
Saturday hours are proposed to be 8.30am-5pm, and Sunday’s opening hours would be from 9am-4pm.
Auto Masters, a small car repair shop, is proposed as the second tenant on the block.
Flood warning on Mary River after 390mm falls in coast hinterland
A minor flood warning has been issued on the Mary River at Dagun, Gympie and Tiaro after moderate to heavy rainfall was recorded across the river catchment since Sunday morning.
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