Coast developer looks to prime real estate's future

HIGH-profile Sunshine Coast developer Graeme Juniper is once again considering what to do with the prime piece of real estate he's held on to for 15 years.

MANY OPTIONS: Sunshine Coast developer Graeme Juniper is considering what to do with a prime piece of real estate he owns on Radical Bay on Magnetic Island, near Townsville. Picture: Kathy Sundstrom

HIGH-profile Sunshine Coast developer Graeme Juniper is once again considering what to do with the prime piece of real estate he's been holding on to for 15 years.

Mr Juniper, whose company Juniper Group was behind 18 different high-rise developments across the Sunshine Coast, has been considering his options for a piece of World Environment Heritage-listed land called Radical Bay on Magnetic Island, near Townsville.

Mr Juniper bought the 7.4ha Radical Bay site for $1.34 million from the Trinity Group in 2001.

Initial plans included 12 four-bedroom beach houses and 100 apartments four storeys high.

But after significant protest, these $60 million plans were downscaled to a smaller, 23-lot subdivision in a gated community.

However, the Townsville City Council rejected the application for a gated community in 2010 because of erosion concerns.

Mr Juniper appealed and in 2013 he received the necessary State Government and Townsville City Council approvals to go ahead.

He was given interim approval for six years until 2019.

However it might not take that long before Mr Juniper investigates his options again.

And the possibility of building a resort hasn't been excluded.

Mr Juniper told the Daily he had "approval for the subdivision and we are always looking what we can do with our developments".

He said Radical Bay was a "very special piece of dirt" which was why his development company had bided its time in deciding what to build on it.

"It is one of the best spots in the world," he said.

"Mooloolaba is in my heart, but sometimes you find a special place. Radical Bay is one of them.

"I have no immediate plans, but all options are open. It depends what the market dictates.

"It could be a resort, it might be a land subdivision. It is the perfect spot for a resort.

"We have undertaken lots of studies to ensure what ever plans we follow through with on this environmentally sensitive piece of land are done correctly.

"The standard Juniper approach is high-quality development.

"This is what our name is renowned for."