Maroochydore property development site set for retirement resort

A prime site less than 300m from one of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular beaches could be transformed into a seven-storey ‘retirement resort’. See the plans here:

A new multimillion-dollar high-rise retirement resort could soon dot the Maroochydore skyline with a prominent developer lodging blueprints for his next project.

Plantation Maroochydore Pty Ltd – directed by long-time Sunshine Coast developer Mal Pratt along with fellow locals Dale Massie and Leanne Jones – plans to build a 54-unit, multistorey retirement village close to one of the region’s most popular stretches of beach.

Plans were formally submitted with Sunshine Coast Council by consultants on Thursday, November 25.

The project site was within the high density residential zone and the existing units would make way for the proposed seven-storey development if approved.

Prominent Sunshine Coast developer Mal Pratt and co-directors Dale Massie and Leanne Jones have lodged plans for a 54-unit retirement resort in Maroochydore.

A live-in manager’s residence was also proposed as part of the wheelchair-friendly facility.

The facility was proposed to comprise of 21 two-bedroom units and 34 three-bedroom units.

Planning documents submitted as part of the code-assessable application state the development would provide a “valuable community facility that will service the needs of the Sunshine Coast region”.

Mr Pratt said the 19-23 Parker St project, situated about 200m from Maroochydore Beach, was being led by Mr Massie.

Prominent Sunshine Coast developer Mal Pratt and co-directors Dale Massie and Leanne Jones have lodged plans for a 54-unit retirement resort in Maroochydore.

Mr Pratt and Mr Massie had worked together developing retirement villages for more than three decades.

The long-time Maroochydore developer and surf lifesaver amassed much of his fortune – understood to be a net worth north of $1bn – through developing retirement villages, having started out in 1988.

Mr Pratt told the Daily in December, 2020, he estimated he’d built about 3000 homes across 14 retirement villages as he outlined his desire to continue to develop high-rise aged living options.

The application is the latest in a series of developments filling out the pipeline in Maroochydore.

Several projects have been proposed for the new Maroochydore CBD while a series of other residential projects have been either approved or in the process of gaining approval in the past six months in the Maroochydore area.