Consolidated Properties Group sells Kelly Slater wave pool land for $6m
A developer’s dream of a Kelly Slater wave pool on the Sunshine Coast is officially over as the Sunshine Coast council reveals more details about the $6m site sale and future uses.
Sunshine Coast
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Sunshine Coast land that was earmarked for a controversial Kelly Slater surf ranch has been sold to the Sunshine Coast Council for $6m.
Consolidated Properties Group announced the sale Friday, December 8, of a 120ha site at Coolum Beach.
The council will restore the site to wetland as part of the Blue Heart Sunshine Coast initiative.
In February this year, the state government declared Consolidated Properties Group had walked away from its plan to build a Kelly Slater surf ranch and housing development on 510ha of former cane land and flood plain west of the Sunshine Mwy.
In a press release, Consolidated Properties Group wrote that it understood the council was incorporating the land into its Blue Heart Sunshine Coast initiative.
Blue Heart Sunshine Coast is a partnership project committed to sustainable and adaptive flood plain management in the Maroochy River catchment.
Consolidated Properties Group chairman and chief executive Don O’Rorke said “we are obviously disappointed” not to deliver the Kelly Slater Wave Pool and associated resort.
“But we do understand Sunshine Coast Council’s strong desire to protect flood plain capacity and maintain these lands in public hands in perpetuity,” he said.
“Consolidated Properties Group for over 40 years has been developing projects respecting community wishes and has always worked to have a constructive relationship with councils so as a believer in climate change we support SCRC’s initiative.”
Community groups opposed the development, raising concerns about flooding and urban sprawl.
Councillor Maria Suarez said the land sale was good news for the community and confirmed it was for Blue Heart Sunshine Coast.
“I think the community will be pleased with this purchase because it will give some assurity the land won’t be developed in the future,” she said.
“It’s a great purchase because it’s a significant parcel of land in terms of size and we need an amalgamation of land to make the blue carbon project work, so having that piece of land will help with the blue carbon credit scheme project.”
She also said the remainder of the surf ranch site not bought by the council was privately owned.
In a press release, the council stated the site would be restored to natural wetland.
Blue carbon farming involves measuring and earning credits for carbon stored in healthy marine and coastal ecosystems.
The press release stated the land was bought through the SEQ City Deal, a long-term partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Council of Mayors (SEQ) that allocated $35.3 million to the Blue Heart initiative.
The Blue Heart partnership exists among the council, the state government’s Department of Environment and Science and Unitywater.
The sale comes as council is set to vote on Stockland’s Twin Waters West development application on December 14.
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