Dennis Family Corporation buys Sekisui House land at Yaroomba

A Victorian-based development family has won out after a major national and international bidding war for a Sunshine Coast block at the heart of a long-running legal saga.

The Dennis Family Corporation has bought an 18.5ha land parcel at Yaroomba from Sekisui House.

Prime beachfront Sunshine Coast land at the heart of a court appeal has been sold by development firm Sekisui House to a Victorian family developer.

Sekisui House put the 18.5ha Yaroomba site up for sale through Colliers and Ray White Special Projects in July 2022.

Colliers special projects manager Baydn Dodds said the sale was settled on September 28 this year after almost 20 national and international offers following an expression of interest campaign.

“It was a hotly contested sale,” he said.

“The offers reflect the confidence in the Sunshine Coast market and the beachside property, and the scarcity of beachside residential property.”

Baydn Dodds of Colliers International.

The Dennis Family Corporation has also confirmed the sale.

A spokeswoman said the developer had reached an agreement with Sekisui House to buy the land for an “undisclosed sum” and that Yaroomba presented an “exciting opportunity” to increase its portfolio in the region.

The developer did not answer questions about its plans for the land.

The Dennis Family Corporation is behind Serenity Residences at Little Mountain on the Sunshine Coast, a 1.2ha site that will have 40 three-bedroom townhouses.

Sekisui House initially lodged its plans for the Yaroomba site in 2015, sparking community protests, before revealing revised plans for a $900m seven-storey development.

In 2018, the Sunshine Coast Council approved the controversial revised plan.

The Art of Protest opens in Coolum on Friday showcasing art signs from the Yaroomba protest in 2015. Picture: Warren Lynam

Development Watch and the Sunshine Coast Environment Council have spent the past five years fighting the council decision in court.

Development Watch president Lynette Saxton says she looks forward to dealing with the Dennis Family Corporation. Picture: Patrick Woods.

An existing approval for multiple dwellings, detached houses and duplexes is still attached to the land, which is not subject to court proceedings.

The promotional material for the Yaroomba sale touted development approval for more than 290 dwellings.

The existing approval also includes 500sq m of retail use.

Development Watch president Lynette Saxton said the organisation “looked forward” to dealing with the Dennis Family Corporation.

“They seem like an ethical company that seems to respect planning schemes and communities,” she said.

She would not comment on the current appeal before the Supreme Court.

Originally published as Dennis Family Corporation buys Sekisui House land at Yaroomba