Uniting Care starts construction on Sunrise Beach retirement precinct

More than a decade after gaining approval early works have started on a controversial $100m aged care precinct in one of Noosa’s richest suburbs.

Tears have flowed as works begin on a $100m retirement project ending a long fight to protect a vulnerable bird population.

More than a decade after gaining Noosa Shire Council approval Uniting Care has started early construction work at its Sunrise Beach retirement precinct.

The project has been the subject of widespread community backlash largely led by Spencer Hitchen, 11, and his mum Maxine, who spent years campaigning against the development.

More than 50,000 people signed his petition protesting the removal of 56 she oak trees that he said vulnerable-listed glossy black cockatoos regularly feed on.

Uniting Church is starting construction on its controversial $100m aged care precinct at Sunrise Beach, to the disappointment of locals Maxine and Spencer Hitchen who have campaigned against it because of its potential risk to glossy black cockatoos. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Emotions were high on Monday morning and Spencer and Maxine arrived at the site to find construction workers chopping down trees.

“We’re absolutely devastated … this is gut wrenching,” Maxine said.

Uniting Care’s Blue Care is developing a $30m 102-bed aged care facility as part of the $100m precinct with Lendlease taking on the 68-home retirement village component.

Group property general manager Lavinia Dack said in 2021 that the precinct would address Noosa’s “critical shortage” of retirement living options.

Blue Care is developing a $30 million aged care facility as part of a $100 million retirement precinct at Sunrise Beach.

Uniting Care is expected to spend up to $500,000 over four years to manage a nearby 3ha offset site where they will plant up to 450 she oak trees.

Ms Dack said Blue Care was advised no glossy black cockatoo nesting or drinking sites were on the development land.

The Girraween Nature Refuge offset site is being managed by ecologists Liam Pratt and Kate Gregory who are growing the trees that will be planted there.

They said the trees would take seven to nine years to mature and the process started in 2018.

Ms Dack said changes to the construction timeline approved in 2020 would reduce the extent of vegetation clearing at any one time.

But Ms Hitchen said she had concerns about whether or not the glossy black cockatoos – known to be fussy eaters – would feed at the offset site.

She called on councillors – including those who originally voted for the approval in 2011 – to meet with them.

“The most important thing here is (Spencer’s) emotion, my emotion, this is what everyone is feeling,” she said.

“We’d like to see the decision makers here.

Blue Care is progressing its plans for a retirement precinct at Sunrise Beach despite a campaign being led by a mother and son, Maxine and Spencer Hitchen.

“They need to see, when you watch these trees come down it changes how you feel about wildlife.

“The decision makers need to be here, to meet our children, find out what matters to them.”

The project is estimated to create 170 jobs and be built in several stages over five years.

The aged care facility will be built first followed by the village.

A spokesman said in preparation for drainage works the bus stop near Grasstree Crt would be relocated and some trees around the bus stop, external to the site, would be removed.

Blue Care is developing a $30 million aged care facility as part of a $100 million retirement precinct at Sunrise Beach.

They said road reconfiguration works would also start during school holidays to minimise traffic disruptions.

“We have communicated about the works underway with the local church, local school principals, Noosa Shire Council, Noosa Police, owners of shops in the area and other interested people and groups,” the spokesman said.

“We would like to thank those involved for their support in bringing much needed aged care services to the area.”

The aged care home will be developed by Blue Care and the retirement village by Lendlease.

Originally published as Uniting Care starts construction on Sunrise Beach retirement precinct