Clive Palmer reveals plans for vintage car museum at Yaroomba resort

A “unique” tourist attraction has been proposed for Clive Palmer’s Sunshine Coast resort with almost 900 car displays, but it has drawn criticism from a key resident group.

Sunshine Coast Regional Council has been asked to consider a proposal for a six-storey automotive museum at Palmer Coolum Resort.

A vintage automotive museum with more than 1200 displays has been proposed for Clive Palmer’s Palmer Coolum Resort which is undergoing a $100m refurbishment.

Development application documents state the six-storey, 22m tall museum would be a unique tourist attraction and attract up to 189,000 visitors annually.

But the proposal has been blasted by resident groups including Development Watch who described it as “not needed”.

Development Watch said it was proposed in the resort’s Precinct 5B which was slated for residential with a height limit of 8.5m.

President Lynette Saxton said the group was “very disappointed” Mr Palmer did not consult with residents before lodging the application which was ”well outside” the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme.

A development application have been lodged for a car museum with almost 900 vehicles at Palmer Coolum Resort at Yaroomba.

“This type of attraction should be a stand alone tourist attraction situated somewhere on a large parcel of land perhaps near the Ginger Factory, the Big Pineapple or the Bruce Hwy,” Ms Saxton said.

The application, subject to Sunshine Coast Regional Council approval, is the latest glimpse inside what could become of the resort as a $100m refurbishment continues.

Adams and Sparkes Town Planning lodged the documents on behalf of Coeur De Lion Investments, which state the museum will feature 879 car display bays and 363 motorcycle display bays.

“The museum will collect, research, preserve, and display some of the rarest working vintage cars from around the world and represents an exciting new tourist attraction that will be unique for the Sunshine Coast,” it says.

Hyatt Regency Coolum opened in 1988 and was a widely celebrated luxury resort.

Mr Palmer purchased it in 2011 and it was closed in 2015, resulting in the loss of more than 600 jobs.

An artist’s impression of the entry to the proposed automotive museum at Palmer Coolum resort, Yaroomba.

Development Watch urged council to “stand by its community” and ensure any development was in line with the resort‘s master plan.

“Our message to Clive is simple,” Ms Saxton said.

“This development does not fit within the parameters of the Master Plan for the Resort or the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme.

“A car museum is not needed to attract tourists to the Resort.

“A resort that is restored to its former glory is all that is needed.”

The group invited Mr Palmer to climb Mt Coolum with them to “view the beauty of the area”.

Plans for the car museum were initially submitted in August 2022 but the council said information was missing such as town planning and engineering reports.

The new application was impact assessable and would be subject to a formal public consultation period.

A spokesman for Mr Palmer did not respond to Development Watch’s concerns, but said they would “wait and see” what the council decided.