Sunshine Coast housing: Unit developments approved

Modest homes at prime locations on the Sunshine Coast are being snapped up for unit developments. Here are seven homes approved to be demolished to make way for more housing. SEE THE LIST

Modest brick and beach houses are being knocked down to make way for units and while some say with them we lose our region’s character, others argue it is necessary for growth.

With the Sunshine Coast’s population to boom developers have their sights set on larger blocks to knock down existing homes and to bring higher density properties.

Architect Roger Todd said he found some growing residential areas “a bit intense” and believed better outcomes could be achieved.

“I acknowledge that we need to house people more efficiently,” he said.

“My own work is around heritage buildings and the sustainability of reusing existing building fabric is pretty obvious.

“When you see beautiful hardwood frames being mushed up with a backhoe and sent to the dump it’s not a sustainable approach.

“If they could scale back the intensity by 10 per cent it would provide for a much richer environment in some of the small lot developments.”

Former tennis champion turned property developer Mark Kratzmann said change was inevitable and the Sunshine Coast needed to grow to accommodate the 170,000 more people expected to live in the area from 2041.

“It’s a matter of doing it effectively and in the character of what the Coast wants to achieve,” he said.

“We don’t want to be the Gold Coast but we can’t stop people from moving here.”

Mr Kratzmann said he would expect to see more duplex-type developments about 400 metres from the beachfront as more people wanted to move close to the coastline.

Covey Associates director Kevin Covey said the majority of recent housing developments were duplexes about five to 10km from a town centre or the beach.

“The increasing demand for duplex and unit developments does not necessarily conflict with the character of the Sunshine Coast, if buildings are designed to consider the Coast’s elements of character and liveability,” Mr Covey said.

“Duplexes and units form part of the overall matrix of catering to the needs of a vibrant community.

“Well considered developments, attractive building design and a focus on access to amenities and liveability for all residents is what will preserve the character of the Sunshine Coast.”

Mr Todd said the Sunshine Coast Council’s Yellow Book provided good examples of how to have sympathetic development.

The design principles in the document released in early 2020 were not made mandatory but Mr Todd said there would be an opportunity to strengthen these rules in the new planning scheme.

“With that on the horizon we’re hoping some of those principles from the books can be woven into the new planning scheme,” he said.

Here are seven homes to be demolished for higher density residential projects:

The three-bedroom home on the 901 sqm block at 1 Harry Place, Beerwah, would go to make way for five units.

1 Harry Place, Beerwah

The three-bedroom home at the Harry Place cul-de-sac was sold for $418,000 in October 2020.

Now BWTMS Projects led by Brett Smith has approved plans for a medium density development in the form of a five-unit complex.

Plans for the five unit development proposed for 1 Harry Place, Beerwah.

The application said land surrounding the site were also zoned medium density and would likely be turned into higher density outcomes as Beerwah continued to grow.

It said Valentine Building Design completed the layout under strict guidelines in relation to liveability and street appeal.

32 Warne Terrace, Kings Beach

A 1960s Kings Beach beach house would be demolished to make way for four units in a 15-metre tall tower.

The property sits in the high density residential zone with a 15m building height limit and sold in July 2020 for $1.2m.

According to property records it was the first time the three-bedroom home changed hands since 1991 when it last sold for $180,000.

Jonathon and Nicole Mees, directors of Sahara Waters, gained approval for the unit development which aimed to “facilitate higher density infill development in an area that seeks to develop under used lots within proximity to the Caloundra CBD”.

19 Old Landsborough Road, Beerwah

An artist’s impression of the plans for 19 Old Landsborough Road.

The Beerwah three-bedroom home on a large 1,393 sqm block is slated to be knocked down for a five unit development.

Grant Walker was listed as the director of 19 Landsborough Road, the company which gained approval for the project from Sunshine Coast Council earlier this year.

It was proposed to have two buildings, a stand-alone unit at the front and a cluster of units two to five at the rear of the site.

41 Anzac Avenue, Maroochydore

A developer snapped up two homes with adjoining blocks one year apart with the goal to bring eight new townhouses to the Maroochydore streets.

The homes at 41 Anzac Avenue and 37 Hinley Avenue were purchased for $600,000 and $678,000 respectively about a year apart.

Ronald and Bruce Barclay of the Barclay Group and Jeanette Lewis – directors of Briquedev – were behind plans approved to demolish the two homes for eight townhouses.

“The proposal has focused on the ability to deliver an attractive architectural design that is sympathetic to the character of Maroochydore,” the application reads.

“The design has been inspired by creating a coastal village feeling when entering the site.”

92 Parker Street, Maroochydore

Vantage Building Group gained approval for a 19-unit development aimed to offer affordable accommodation for key workers, young people and students.

The development was proposed for 92 Parker Street where a two-bedroom home would be demolished to make way for the six-storey, 18-metre high tower.

The complex would feature one-bedroom studio-styled apartments, a food and drink outlet on the ground floor and a commercial office space on the first floor.

According to the proposed plans the design embraced principles from the council’s Yellow Book for building design.

11 Boorook Street, Buddina

A three-bedroom home built in 1997 at Buddina and owned by one family would go to make way for three four-bedroom units.

The property, in a prime location being walking distance to the beach, sold in June 2021 for $1.5m to DCB Developments.

Property records show it was the first time the home was sold since the former owners purchased it in a family sale for $40,000.

DCB Developments, directed by Daniel Cox, applied to Sunshine Coast Council to build a three-unit development at the 577 sqm block.

The proposed four-storey development had a building height of 11.8m and would include three four-bedroom units.

8 Tumut Street, Buddina

A 1975 built home at a prime Buddina site would also have to go if Sunshine Coast Council approves plans for a three-bedroom unit complex.

Marcus and Amanda Harper lodged an application earlier this year for the development at the multi-unit residential zoned site.

The application said it would have four-bedroom units, with courtyards, a communal pool and various private open space areas.