Construction starts for SOL by Walker residential project in Maroochydore CBD
A major housing project has begun in the heart of Maroochydore, with family units worth $1.2m, as 600 industry leaders meet over major Sunshine Coast infrastructure plans.
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A major Australian developer has celebrated a milestone in delivering a “sophisticated” residential apartment collection in the heart of the Sunshine Coast.
The state government has also met with 600 industry leaders and company representatives as the tendering process started for The Wave and Mooloolah River Interchange projects.
Construction has started on Walker Corporation’s SOL by Walker, a $300m set of residential apartments at the Maroochydore City Centre.
In a statement by the Walker Corporation, the developer claimed the project would bring “ sophisticated, sustainable and connected urban living” to the region and support hundreds of jobs in the process.
During a press conference this morning, May 9, it was revealed the project was 75 per cent sold with the majority being first home buyers.
Walker managing director and CEO David Gallant said they had taken first home buyers and high value industries into account with the units with rate tax exemptions for first home buyers in this block.
he said the one-bedroom unit started at about the $600,000 mark, and a two-bedroom unit was in the high $800,000 range.
“A family can live in a four-bedroom unit here for around $1.2m,” he said.
The first 19-storey residential tower will offer 112 apartments with views of the coastline and hinterland alongside “resort-style amenities” and the retail, dining and green spaces of the CBD.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said this was an exciting time for the Sunshine Coast as a “lasting legacy” from the 2032 Olympic Games was delivered.
“In the next seven years, the Sunshine Coast will be home to more than $12-15bn worth of infrastructure,” he said during the press conference.
“That’s just here on the Sunshine Coast between now and 2032 with a lot more beyond.
“A lot of people want to move to the Maroochydore city centre and this development will allow that.”
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said she was excited.
“I’m pleased you still remember where the Sunshine Coast is because $12-15bn, I’m going to hold you to that and so will the people of the Sunshine Coast,” she said.
“We all know we need more homes on the Sunshine Coast and this is a step in that direction.”
Ms Natoli said the project reflected the Sunshine Coast’s “bold approach” to smart, liveable and inclusive environments.
She labelled the Maroochydore CBD as the “forefront of innovation, sustainability and opportunity” which will play a key role in the future economy and contribution to the Olympic Games.
Walker Corporation Managing Director and CEO David Gallant said the company is proud to help bring a “generational vision” to fruition.
Transport minister Brent Mickelberg also met with almost 600 industry leaders and company representatives as the tendering process started for The Wave and Mooloolah River Interchange projects.
He said there was great interest from national corporations all the way down to local businesses and there would be a great influx of jobs.
“The Wave will deliver the public transport infrastructure that the Sunshine Coast has needed for so many years,” he said.
Mr Mickelberg said the other project being planned today was the Mooloolah River Interchange
“This is the bottleneck in the centre of the Sunshine Coast that has been spoken about for so many years,” he said.
He said that construction of the Wave and the interchange would not shift bottlenecks from one spot to another and ensure traffic flow was improved on the conclusion of the projects.
“The wave will share the same corridor in parts as the interchange, so we need to ensure we clean up all the bottlenecks around the Sunshine Mwy for this to have any impact,” Mr Mickelberg said.
Scott Whittaker, the regional director for the north coast region of transport and main roads said the department had a “big job” and “but we are getting on with it”.
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Originally published as Construction starts for SOL by Walker residential project in Maroochydore CBD
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