Developer AVID pauses progress on the Sunshine Coast ‘Harmony’ estate

“There are many upset purchasers who have been waiting to access blocks since May 2024 and now they are told March 2025.”

Developing Queensland - Avid Property Group. Harmony community.

First-time home buyers have been left in the lurch after a major developer announced it will pause the sale of land in a fast-growing Sunshine Coast housing estate.

AVID Property Group announced it had paused the sale of lots in stage 25 and 27 of the Harmony estate in Palmview due to “recent challenges” with development approval processes.

The delays have caused financial strain and distress to those with existing contracts on the blocks due to ongoing deferrals and unknown completion dates, according to a letter written to AVID by the Sunshine Coast Mayor, Rosanna Natoli.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli.

Councillor Christian Dickson said he welcomed the decision by AVID to pause the release of land in the Harmony estate.

“I am very glad to see a pause as there have been constant delays and commitment extensions by the developer to purchasers,” Mr Dickson said.

“It is great to see some accountability and acceptance that they must not continue as they have. There are many upset purchasers who have been waiting to access blocks since May 2024 and now they are told March 2025.”

Mr Dickson said the situation was going to impact first-home buyers the most given the increase in building costs.

“This is disappointing, and many first homeowners will see building price increases due to the one year land access delay by the developer,” he said.

“Many first homeowner grants will be lost and absorbed into building price increases. In some cases, people have had to refinance or exit their contracts I am told.”

Mr Dickson confirmed the council issued AVID with a stop work order in May this year due to “unauthorised construction activities”.

AVID Property Group’s Harmony project on the Sunshine Coast.

An AVID Property Group spokeswoman said the contracts for the lots indicated the sites still required development approvals, as per the requirements of the Land Sales Act.

“The contracts for Stages 25 and 27 disclosed that AVID required development approvals and allowed the buyers to terminate the contract, and have their refundable deposit returned if we had not obtained the approvals within 12 months,” she said.

“AVID has not unilaterally cancelled any buyer contracts and we have made a commitment to not invoke the sunset clause in these contracts. Of course, should any buyer no longer wish to proceed, we will work with them to exit the contract and enable their purchase elsewhere.”

The spokeswoman said the revised forecast date to March 2025 subject to council approval.