Sekisui House Yaroomba land sale: Expressions of interest campaign closes

An expressions of interest campaign has wrapped up for Sekisui House’s beachfront parcel where a controversial $900m development is planned.

The company behind a controversial Sunshine Coast beachfront development has stayed quiet on its bid for a major land sale.

An international expressions of interest campaign wrapped up on Thursday, July 7, for the sale of Sekisui House’s 18.5ha Yaroomba parcel where it planned to build a five star resort.

Sekisui House’s plans included a $900m residential development and resort, which had received significant backlash and was involved in an ongoing court dispute.

Project director Evan Aldridge this week declined to comment on the ending of the expressions of interest campaign.

The property is still listed for sale online.

Sekisui House has listed its 18ha development site at Yaroomba beachfront for sale with Ray White Special Project and Colliers.

The 1415 David Low Way site was listed with Colliers and Ray White Special Projects in May, advertised as an “unrivalled” beachfront development opportunity.

It had existing approval for a gated residential development with 291 homes, 41 terrace buildings up to three storeys and 138 apartments in four-storey buildings.

The sale was not a cause for celebration for opponents to the project who worried who would have the financial capacity to buy it, and what they would do with the land.

In 2018 the Sunshine Coast Council approved Sekisui House’s development application that meant it could build a hotel up to seven storeys as well as a residential community of up to four storeys.

Community opposition strengthened with Development Watch and Sunshine Coast Environment Council appealing the decision in the Planning and Environment Court in 2020, but its appeal was lost.

Development Watch appealed that decision in the Supreme Court in early 2021.

Sekisui House's Yaroomba Beach project director Evan Aldridge.

The Court of Appeal in February, 2022, found three errors of law in the Planning and Environment Court’s decision to dismiss Development Watch’s appeal and approve the application.

In the latest decision by the Court of Appeal in May, Sunshine Coast Council and Sekisui House were ordered to jointly pay two-thirds of Development Watch’s Supreme Court appeal costs.

The matter has now returned to the Planning and Environment Court.