Maroochydore CBD receives $82.9m boost in infrastructure for 1800 homes

The state government has promised more than $80m to help deliver infrastructure for more than 1800 homes on the Sunshine Coast.

Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli in Maroochydore on Friday. Picture Lachie Millard

The state government has announced a boost to help deliver 1800 apartments in the heart of the Sunshine Coast as part of a billion-dollar roll out.

The new homes will be delivered in the Maroochydore CBD in an $82.9m fast-tracked project.

It comes as part of the $2b residential activation fund, which seeks to accelerate the construction of “critical trunk infrastructure” to welcome residential projects.

Such infrastructure includes water supply, sewerage, stormwater and roads.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson, in Maroochydore on Friday looking onto vacant land which could soon host 1800 homes. Picture Lachie Millard

The Maroochydore project will include the extension of First Avenue to Dalton Dr, as well as an upgrade to a section of Maud St.

Deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie described the fund as a “cornerstone and turning point” in combating the housing crisis.

“The answer to the housing crisis is supply, supply, supply,” he said.

He noted councils could not afford to take on all the heavy lifting to produce infrastructure, so the state government has stepped in to lend a hand.

Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson said unlocking supply would benefit everyone, from those who will find a home in the CBD to people who would take up homes elsewhere when families move to Maroochydore.

Sunshine Coast Council City Hall in the Maroochydore CBD. Picture Lachie Millard

“It’s a win for everybody,” she said.

She said infrastructure would improve connectivity in the heart of Maroochydore.

Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli said it was exciting to have such an amount of “really important” funding support.

She said the funding would allow council to bring forward the creation of homes for people wishing to live on the Sunshine Coast, close to a “thriving city centre”.

“It is difficult for councils to do this on their own, so having the support of the state government is so vitally important,” she said.

The announcement comes after the region’s council rejected a large-scale development, set to bust height limits by six metres in certain areas, in Pacific Paradise.

Mr Bleijie said he was not familiar with the project but said councils assessed projects based on the planning scheme and the South East Queensland Regional Plan.

He said the project was a matter for council.

This came after Mr Bleijie said any planning schemes would be overruled to deliver Olympic infrastructure for 2032.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the matter was debated on the floor on Thursday and the council came to a decision.

She deflected to the matter of delivering homes in central Maroochydore, saying council is currently in negotiations with the state and working hard to deliver 1800 homes, which the state government had backed by spending $82.9m on infrastructure.

Originally published as Maroochydore CBD receives $82.9m boost in infrastructure for 1800 homes