Sunshine Coast property: Bokarina Beach development continues with apartments and restaurants

What was a “patch of dirt” has been transformed into a coastal hub, with more multimillion-dollar apartments to be added to the mix at Bokarina Beach. See the latest photos.

Some of the Sunshine Coast’s most prominent developers and businesspeople are transforming Bokarina Beach from what was a “patch of dirt” to a new coastal hub.

Construction start dates are nearing for hundreds of apartments across a handful of multimillion-dollar projects near the beachfront at Stockland’s masterplanned community.

Prominent restaurateur Tony Kelly is opening an Italian restaurant near the beachfront while work is expected to start later this year on a rooftop bar and childcare centre.

Mr Kelly’s Bocca Italian will open at Clark Group’s 63-unit Seanna Residences on Friday, June 24.

Mr Kelly said he was inspired to bring a restaurant offering to Bokarina Beach after witnessing the pace of the development.

Supplied Editorial SCN140622BoccaItalian 1

He said the 90-seat restaurant, with a dining room and a neighbouring bottle shop, would offer simple Italian food in a family friendly setting.

“There were some reputable names developing at Bokarina Beach and the early plans looked great,” he said.

“That was the first time I thought I might keep an eye on this.

“At first it wasn’t a must do for me, but over the next 18 months every time I was going to Caloundra I’d zip in there and see how it was coming along.

Construction will soon start at Walter Iezzi’s second apartment complex at Bokarina Beach.

“That wedge from the beach to the hospital with all the new housing areas have come out of the ground so fast.”

Business partner Luke Stringer lives in the area and Mr Kelly said he was always reminding him of the opportunities there.

“We knew the development was going to be first class, it was a killer location right on the beach, and there are lots of families in that area,” Mr Kelly said.

“That led us to green light it six months ago.”

Walter Iezzi Group general manager Wendy Faithfull said the company’s $80m Oceanus project, with 107 units, was close to completion while they also started selling units at the $140m Azzure complex.

“Azzure is 90 per cent sold, it’s been amazing,” she said.

“We’ve had a great response especially from locals who are downsizing, as well as some southerners.”

Prices at Azzure ranged from $900,000 to up to $2m.

An artist’s impression of Cube Developments’ Oasis apartment complex at Kombi St, Bokarina Beach.

Meanwhile Cube Developments’ Oasis complex is almost sold out after it achieved sales worth $50m in its first week.

The 56-unit complex at the last remaining beachfront site was a no-brainer development for owner Scott Juniper.

“Knowing there would be infrastructure on the ground for parklands and breakout areas, the surf club and a sports hub, I knew it would be an exceptional area.

“On that basis we worked really hard to secure the site.”

Mr Juniper said he considered development at Bokarina Beach as “premium” and wanted his company to be in the mix.

Stockland has transformed Bokarina Beach into a masterplanned community.

“There was an opportunity to do the most premium building in that precinct.

“We could have put 75 apartments there but we chose to do 56 to have more of a premium offer.”

“Bokarina Beach as a precinct has evolved dramatically over five years ago when it was really a piece of dirt.

“It’s a premium beachfront precinct that is only going to get better.”

Two-bedroom units started at $800,000 with penthouses setting buyers back $3.2m.

“Our sales team had 40 apartments booked on the first day of Oasis’ soft launch, 25 of which sold that very same day,” Mr Juniper said.

“There’s been a sense of urgency and we’ve certainly had people vying to get a piece of the action.”

A major project is also underway at Nicklin Way near the entrance to the beachfront.

BeauGroup expects to start construction mid to late 2022 on its “boutique” food and retail hub BokBeach Corner.

The development would feature an organic grocery store, a rooftop restaurant and bar, childcare centre and gym.

CBRE’s Louisa Blennerhassett is handling leasing inquiries with Ryan Parry.

All 44 of Stockland’s 60s-inspired beach houses on Kombi Street are sold with residents moving in.

“We want this to be a community hub and a meeting place where people can come for childcare, gym, and convenience offerings,” Ms Blennerhassett said.

“We’re aiming for it to be a unique and local concept, rather than offering national brands.”

Meanwhile Stockland is selling its last home at Bokarina Beach - a four-bedroom house on Glassy Ln listed for $1.59m.

The major development company also recently sold all of its 44 60s inspired beach homes at Kombi St.