Sunshine Coast wave pool developer rivalry heats up with court appeal

A water park and wave pool developer has lashed out at the approval of a rival project as “completely nuts” as a legal stoush begins.

A Sunshine Coast wave pool developer has slammed the approval of a rival project as “completely nuts” after launching a legal stoush.

Sanad Capital is appealing Sunshine Coast Council’s approval of Surf Parks Australia’s Glass House Mountains wave park, claiming it is the wrong location and there is no economic need for it.

“Council approved ours and a few months later another, 21kms down the road (which won’t work),” a Sanad Capital spokesman said in a statement.

“Completely NUTS.

“Doesn’t make any sense.”

He said Surf Parks Australia could not progress its project while the appeal was ongoing.

Town real estate agency founder Craig Morrison hopes the court appeal will not delay his wave pool project at Glass House Mountains.

Surf Parks Australia chief executive and Sunshine Coast real estate agent Craig Morrison said he hoped the appeal would not delay the estimated $30m project.

“Our team has the technology, funding and experience to deliver the project, so it is disappointing that the appeal has been filed against the council,” Mr Morrison said.

“We are moving ahead with detailed design and are finalising agreements with our development and our operating partners.

“We hope this appeal will not slow our ability to get moving on the construction of the facility.”

The project aims to deliver a wave pool, wellness centre, paddock to plate food and beverage, ocean and marine protection education, learn to surf classes and surf coaching adjacent to Moby Vic’s Bruce Hwy service centre.

It was approved in December and Mr Morrison hoped to start construction this year.

Sanad Capital – which has a wave pool and water park project more than five years in the making and has council approval – is challenging the decision and calling on a court to refuse the project.

Brisbane’s HWL Ebsworth Lawyers lodged the appeal in the Planning and Environment Court on January 24.

It said it was an inconsistent use for rural land and “alienates and fragments” agricultural property.

It added it would create “unacceptable” impacts on surrounding land and there was no economic or community need for it.

Renders of Surf Parks Australia’s wave pool project at Glass House Mountains.

It is not the first time the company has questioned the viability of the rival project.

Economic consulting firm Urban Economics lodged a submission on behalf of Sanad Capital against the Glass House Mountains project during the community consultation phase.

Most of the 958 submissions on the Surf Parks Australia project were supportive.

It said Surf Parks Australia’s wave pool would impact on the delivery of Sanad Capital’s tourism attraction.

Sanad Capital was granted council approval for its wave pool, resort and water park in 2017.

“It is considered that the market for more than one surf park facility on the Sunshine Coast is unsustainable at this stage,” it said.

It said a surf park should attract at least 250,000 visitors per year to be economically sustainable.

Sanad Capital was first granted development approval from Sunshine Coast Council for its Actventure water park, Endless Surf wave pool and resort in 2017.

Shadforth Civil was in January awarded the civil construction contract with work expected to start in February.