Lang Walker of Walker Corporation reveals how he wants to use his influence on the Sunshine Coast
A billionaire property tycoon who owns a private island resort at Fiji has revealed how he wants to use his status as the region’s ‘most powerful’.
Business
Don't miss out on the headlines from Business. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The billionaire property tycoon leading development at the Maroochydore CBD says he will use his influence to bring the “wow” factor to the history-making project.
The Sunshine Coast Daily named Walker Corporation founder and executive chairman Lang Walker as the region’s most powerful person in 2021.
His Australian property company Walker Corporation was handed exclusive rights to market and develop the remaining land in the Maroochydore City Centre in a deal expected to attract $2.6b in investment.
The project was set to change what had long been referred to as the heart of the Sunshine Coast forever and create a true focal point for the region.
Mr Walker said Sunshine Coast Council chose the company to take on the major project in late-2020 because of its “placemaking and master planning experience”.
The development was expected to take between 15-20 years and eventually have 160,000sq m of commercial and retail space and 4000 residential dwellings.
“For me it’s all about influencing great decisions that will create a CBD which people want to come back to again and again because it’s got that wow factor,” he said.
“Our vision is big and bold for the people of the Sunshine Coast to have a world class CBD and we will deliver that with our partners at the council and Suncentral.
“The Sunshine Coast population will grow by an estimated 85,000 people over the next 10 years and total more than 500,000 by 2040.
“The region needs the Maroochydore CBD to create thousands of jobs of the future, close to home. We will deliver a CBD which will attract some of the best companies in the world to do business on the Sunshine Coast.”
In 2019, Mr Walker made No. 14 on the Australian Financial Review’s Rich List, four places higher than his 2018 ranking, with his wealth up from $3.5b to $4.7b.
He owns a fleet of yachts which were named after his private island resort at Fiji, Kokomo, and a private jet.
Walker Corporation boasts a $30b development pipeline and was carrying out a transformation of the Parramatta CBD, with the $3.2b Parramatta Square project.
His vision of what the Sunshine Coast would look like in 10 years was an optimistic one.
“In 10 years, the Coast will be buzzing with excitement as we enter the final countdown to an Olympics which will captivate not just Queensland but Australia,” he said.
“The Sunshine Coast will have a sparkling new CBD and new rail and transport links.
“It will be a postcard perfect destination for international tourists coming to soak up the sun, the sand and the beaches while cheering on their country in the Olympics.”
He said he believed development must be sympathetic to an area’s character and also challenge and inspire.
“The Coast’s beautiful climate and sunshine should always make their way into a building’s design, using angles and spaces to maximise enjoyment for those inside and out,” Mr Walker said.
“The Sunshine Coast is synonymous with sustainability and it’s essential we see that narrative weave its way through future developments up and down the coast.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Lang Walker of Walker Corporation reveals how he wants to use his influence on the Sunshine Coast
How ‘dumb luck’ launched a $1 trillion opportunity
Stonepeak founder Mike Dorrell was in the right place at the right time. But the highly sought after fund manager is rewriting the rules on infrastructure.
Music fest, 100km run: Participants set to swelter as events ramp up
With a scorching 34 degrees forecast and a chance of rain predicted, people going to the much-loved Big Pineapple festival and athletes competing in the Blackall100 should prepare for anything.
Can Nine really change its shocking ways?
There is little confidence the same board that fundamentally allowed an appalling corporate culture and poor leadership to thrive, can also fix it.
Battle lines drawn over TAFE, safety upgrades for roads pitched
With less than two weeks to go before election day, Labor has drawn line in the sand over the Nambour TAFE while the LNP goes on the attack about roads in Cooroy and Palmwoods.
Developer set for court clash with council over supermarket rejection
A developer will take Sunshine Coast council to court after his application to build a suburb’s first supermarket was rejected despite desperate pleas from residents to give it the tick.
WiseTech’s board confronts tough choices with White
The billionaire founder of WiseTech Global, Richard White, has the backing of his board but there are active discussions about the chief executive taking leave from the tech major.