When Sunshine Plaza's 100 new stores will officially open

THIS time next year residents should have another 100 stores to get the Christmas shopping done at Sunshine Plaza.

An artists impression inside the new-look Sunshine Plaza, which will feature major department stores David Jones and Big W along with about 100 speciality shops. Picture: Contributed

THIS time next year residents should have another 100 stores to get the Christmas shopping done at Sunshine Plaza.

Centre manager Michael Manwaring said construction on the Sunshine Plaza redevelopment project was on track to be complete in late 2018.

"We're looking to be open for Christmas next year," Mr Manwaring said.

"We're looking forward to it."

The expansion is now in stage two, with workers pouring four massive concrete slabs for the David Jones site, which will come with another multi-storey car park.

"There's two levels of car parking up on top of the retail level, so we get an express ramp off Millwell Rd, and another express ramp off Southern Dr," Mr Manwarning said.

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The area under construction will be home to David Jones, Big W and more than 100 new speciality retailers.

The multi-storey car park at Kmart was completed in late October, and the addition of the Myer and David Jones car parks will provide 3500 car parks, bringing the centre total to almost 5000 parking spaces.

Artist impression of how the expanded Sunshine Plaza will look at Cornmeal Promenade.

The redevelopment will also deliver a new waterfront dining and leisure precinct along Cornmeal Creek, and an additional development application is before the Sunshine Coast Council for a high ropes course at the creek.

An artist impression of the high ropes attraction proposed for the Sunshine Plaza. Picture: Contributed

He expected all the regulated parking areas to become paid parking areas by March next year, bringing a consistent parking system across the shopping centre.

At present, two systems are in place, with the car parks near the cinema, Woolworths and behind Toys 'R' Us now charging fees for stays of more than three hours.

In the remaining car parks near Myer and Kmart, parking was limited to three hours but this restriction has been lifted for the Christmas shopping season.

It is estimated that the redevelopment will generate up to 2900 jobs during construction and about 2300 additional retail positions once the project is complete.