Australia Zoo’s bid for functions, live music at Beerwah revealed

Australia Zoo wants to move into the live music and function space with new plans lodged for its food court, while the Sunshine Coast’s tourism sector records a major revival.

Australia Zoo has revealed its latest expansion plans in a proposal for events for up to 300 people with live music.

The Beerwah tourist attraction has applied to Sunshine Coast Regional Council to double its capacity at the two-storey Crocoseum Food Court so it can host events and functions.

It said there could be breakfast, lunch or dinner events limited to times between 7am-10pm.

It would be the latest development for Australia Zoo after the opening of the luxury Crocodile Hunter Lodge and the Warrior Restaurant and Bar in 2022.

The business is among many in the Sunshine Coast’s tourism sector to experience a “bumper summer” with long queues at an overflow carpark reported during some of its busier days.

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Terri Irwin photographed at the new Crocodile Hunter Luxury Lodge, Australia Zoo, Beerwah. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

ATP Consulting Engineers completed a noise impact assessment for the application lodged in December which said the nearest noise sensitive residential neighbours were at Peterlyn Court and Newton Dr.

It said function facilities in the rural zone had a 30 decibel noise limit.

“This low limit is applied because the remote, scenic areas on the Sunshine Coast have low background noise levels, and when function facilities are established … they have significant impact,” they said.

They said Australia Zoo was in the tourism zone precinct, and proposed increased limits of 87 decibels.

It said noise impacts would be managed by limiting breakfast and evening events to the Crocoseum Food Court building only.

Amplified noise and live music was to be used on the eastern side of the food court building and not exceed 87 decibels measured 3m from the speakers.

It said events would be directly operated for and by Australia Zoo.

The extended operating hours from 7.30am to 8.30am and 4.30pm-10pm only applied to the restaurant and function facility buildings, not to the rest of the zoo, the application said.

The code-assessable proposal was subject to council approval.

Originally published as Australia Zoo’s bid for functions, live music at Beerwah revealed