Is Sarina Beach destined to become the next Airlie?

Development would see it the next hot property on the Queensland coast

Proposed development site Sarina Beach. Picture: Contributed

EXCLUSIVE: The sleepy seaside township of Sarina Beach could become the site of a development boom similar to the one that transformed Airlie Beach in the 1960s and 70s.

One of the largest landholders at Sarina Beach, the Brooks family, has grand plans for an eco-friendly development that will more than double the size of the town.

Family spokesperson Lesley Brooks said it was an ambitious plan that incorporated a 58 hectare masterplan village on the 147 hectare site that wraps around the township from Sarina Beach to Sarina Beach Rd.

The development proposition, while still in its infancy, was first put to the community for feedback at a meeting late last year.

Today, the developers will again meet with the community, at Sarina Surf Lifesaving Club, to discuss how the proposal is progressing and gather more feedback.

Sarina Beach Development

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Following initial community feedback, a Draft Community Vision was developed and released to stakeholders.

"The proposed design has a village-style focus with a vibrant village heart providing a place for locals to catch up for a coffee...," Mrs Books said.

"Access to natural features, the beach and the bush is maximised, It includes eco-tourism development which would help maintain and protect urban biodiversity."

Ray White Sarina principal Kent Street, who has been selling property around Sarina Beach for more than a decade, said the development was something that was needed in the township.

"It's great to see the Brooks family looking to the future of the Mackay region by investigating possible development scenarios for their property at Sarina Beach," Mr Street said.

"Other regional councils over time have recognised the benefit of a close by beachside tourism location - Proserpine has Airlie Beach, Rockhampton has Yeppoon, Bundaberg Bagara and Agnes Waters and 1770.

"If you look at those towns in the '70s and then again now there has been great change that has supplied jobs to those areas.

"f you look at Sarina Beach in the 70s and again now there has been no change.

" If (Sarina) was developed into a great tourist destination it would lift visitor numbers to the Mackay region as a whole, with the likes of the Marina, Harbour Beach and Pioneer Valley benefiting.

"It would also provide more employment opportunities to the region outside of the coal and cane industries."

Mrs Brooks said although the development aimed to bring eco-tourism and business to the area, it wouldn't resemble Airlie Beach as it would instead be a "sustainable development" not involving highrises.

If the development does go ahead, it won't transform Sarina Beach overnight.

"It is estimated that the project would be delivered in phases, over 10 to 15 years," Mrs Brooks said.

"We have been planning the development over the past year."

Long-time Sarina Beach resident Nick Kenyon was at the community meeting last year, and will be attending today.

He said the community was supportive of the development, but maintaining the lifestyle and environment at Sarina Beach was important to the people who were at the meeting.

"There were no concerns (at the meeting), but it's too early to say," he said, adding that residents had not yet seen a complete plan for the site.

Sharron Schoffield, of Sarina Beach Store, said any development would be welcome to the small town.

"It will boost our business as well, it will be good for our little business because it's been real quiet since the mining downturn."

Mackay Regional Council development services director Gerard Carlyon said the council was keen to work with developers looking at innovative projects.

"We've been in discussions with the owners for a number of years," he said.

"We look forward to any development application the owners submit in the future and any approval would be subject to a detailed assessment of the development at the time of submission."

Councillor Karen May said she and Cr Amanda Camm will attend today's meeting.

Originally published as Is Sarina Beach destined to become the next Airlie?