Towers, rail and cutting edge design: $430m CBD takes shape

Three major projects are hoped to be under construction in the new Maroochydore CBD by mid-2019, but SunCentral CEO John Knaggs says still a lot of deals to do. SEE the pics

THREE major projects are hoped to be under construction in the new Maroochydore CBD by mid-next year, but SunCentral CEO John Knaggs admits there’s still a lot of deals to do.

Habitat Development Group this week announced its plans to develop an $83 million residential space made up of two towers and six townhomes equipped with home office space.

Artist impression of the Corso West at SunCentral, Maroochydore. Picture: Supplied

The announcement followed a $45 million commitment from two local companies in June to develop office space, a business hotel and retail and fuelled hope that activity may start to pick up in the $430 million, 53ha greenfield CBD site.

Sunshine Coast Council has committed to shifting 600 staff into the new CBD and has revealed its plans for a nine-storey ‘tower of power’ with rooftop restaurant, commercial and retail space.

But with the festive period approaching, which traditionally signals a lull in big business deals, Mr Knaggs was quick to point out there was still so much work to do to deliver the new city centre.

The site of the new Maroochydore CBD in September. Picture: Supplied

Mr Knaggs said the land sales completed so far — transactions which the council said it could not provide any details on due to commercial reasons — “would be less than 10 per cent” of the total land area in the first stage.

“We’re enjoying the pressure,” he said.

He said commercial negotiations were still progressing with a number of interested parties, but he was prepared for them to take some time as December-January became a bit of a hiatus as companies turned their attention to end-of-year issues.

Despite missing out on a commitment from Google, which remained focused in Sydney, and Hewlett Packard boss Dion Weisler dismissing rumours of his company’s interest in the site, technology firms remained among a number of keys sectors being targeted.

Latest artist’s impressions of the future Sunshine Coast Light Rail in the Maroochydore CBD. Picture: Sunshine Coast Council

Education and professional services were also named as fields earmarked as suitable fits for the new CBD.

“We want this to be a really well-rounded CBD of the future,” Mr Knaggs said.

“There’s a long way to go yet.”

Innovation was also set to feature throughout the site.

Evans Long director Matt Evans previously outlined his plans for their 4500sq m office in the CBD to be completely solar powered.

He hoped to begin building their eight-storey office building in January and be opened by 2020, with tenants already committed to about a quarter of the space.

This image was included in confidential SunCentral integrated resort development marketing material, as part of the push for a casino on the Sunshine Coast.

In June negotiations were reportedly well advanced between the council-owned development company SunCentral and Maroochy H & P Pty Ltd to construct a 100-room business hotel and associated development.

Mr Knaggs said the next stages for projects already announced was to progress them to development application stage, which would be carried out by Economic Development Queensland which will be responsible for consideration and approval of CBD plans.

Mr Knaggs said the project’s 20-year life meant they had to remain flexible as the project continued to evolve.

An artist’s impression of the new $83 million project in the CBD being delivered by Habitat Development Group.

“Future staging is under active consideration all the time,” he said.

“What’s important is that we’ve commenced with the core commercial precinct.

“That’s where the long-term employment is.”

He said there’d been no changes to the original configuration of lots in the first stage but “there could be some modification of alignment” when the next stage, south of the corso which takes up the central and southern two-thirds of the site gets underway.

Examples of automated waste collection system waste inlets.

Those considerations were a long way off though, with the second stage still 3-4 years away from being rolled out.

The response of the market to the first stage would also influence the rollout of future stages in the new city centre.

Mr Knaggs said the next stages were currently being designed, but they wouldn’t progress until the range of commercial deals closed during Stage 1 were completed.

A convention and exhibition centre remained a priority project for one of the CBD’s prime sites.