Hotel dons race to be next cab off Mooloolaba rank

Two multimillion-dollar major projects are locked in a race to be the next major development to reshape Mooloolaba.

KPAT Property owner Kenneth Wagner, left, and Aria Property Group's 1 The Esplanade development director Michael Hurley are at the helm of major hotel projects that will reshape Mooloolaba.

Two major projects are locked in a race to be next cab off the rank in the reshaping of Mooloolaba.

Aria Property Group's 1 The Esplanade and KPAT Property's Brisbane Rd hotel site loom as two pieces of a complex puzzle which will change the face of the tourist destination.

With the $18 million Brisbane Rd carpark set to open on December 23, attention has now turned to the pipeline of major developments remaining.

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Aria's development director Michael Hurley said pending sales, financing and stable economic conditions, the project was tracking for a 2022 build.

"Everything remains on track to be in position to start the marketing and sales of our residential collection in late-2021, with a view to start construction in early-2022," he said.

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It is understood the award-winning development firm is progressing with its interiors, hotel specialists, rooftop designs, hotel operators and more, in preparation.

KPAT Property owner and founder Kenneth Wagner said his company had a binding development agreement with Sunshine Coast Council which would ultimately lead to the delivery of a 160-room, fully-serviced hotel.

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Mr Wagner said he hoped to lodge a development application before April next year and all going to plan he wanted to see construction start in the second half of 2022.

He anticipated it would be an 18-month to two-year construction program to deliver the hotel on the remaining parcel of land alongside the Brisbane Rd carpark.

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It is understood there will be a retail aspect to the development.

A hotel operator is still to be announced, although Mr Wagner's company has worked previously with Minor Hotels Group, which operates Oaks Hotels and Resorts.

Mooloolaba Chamber of Commerce president Graeme Juniper said he understood the hotel on Brisbane Rd would be "up and running within two years".

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He didn't expect it to be a big issue for the tourist town if both projects were being built simultaneously, given the addition of 700 spaces in the Brisbane Rd carpark.

"The sooner they come online the better," Mr Juniper said.

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