Family ‘heartbroken’ as development takes unexpected turn

A longstanding Coast family who sold up to developers say they are heartbroken with the latest change to the site.

Debbie and Marcia Gill were original owners of the homes where the Rhythm on Beach now stands. They both now own units in the Maroochydore apartment complex.

The Gill family owned the homes at 16 and 20 Beach Rd for more than 50 years.

Marcia and Debbie Gill called the Maroochydore properties home for decades.

But now standing on those sites is The Rhythm on Beach apartment complex.

Former Maroochy Urban Renewal managing director and developer Matthew Stanley worked on the plans for two years before approaching the residents of the two homes where he wanted to build it.

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Marcia's husband Allen "Jim" Gill and his mother Irene owned the two homes that were sold to make way for the new building completed last year.

Marcia and Jim's daughter Debbie bought an apartment each to stay connected to their former homes.

The duo however have been left less than impressed after Direct Rentals lodged an application for Sunshine Coast Council approval to use 23 units in the 72-unit building for short-term accommodation.

"My family sold the property to developers and it was always going to be a residential apartment building never any thoughts or even spoken of being a hotel," Debbie said.

'It's really making it difficult to live here."

Ms Gill said it was heartbreaking for her entire family.

"My family would be rolling in their graves to know that this has happened," she said.

"Dad's got dementia, he has no idea of the fight that we are having, thank god because he wouldn't be happy at all.

"It's just a shame to think that they can get a change of use through for some of the units.

"It was never intended to be a hotel it was always going to be somewhere that people could come and live, enjoy Maroochydore like we always have and be close to everything."

Developer Matt Stanley, Marcia Gill with sister in law Valerie Nelson and Debbie Gill outside their former family homes on Beach Rd.

The site was not only Marcia Gill's home but it was where she married Jim 24 years ago.

"We had our wedding here in the yard, under the mango tree which is no longer here," she said.

"We've had Jim put in St Vincent's so we could walk to see him, which we do.

"This was to be our forever home, this is Debbie's first home and she was thrilled to be coming here.

"It's just really disappointing."

As for whether or not the Gills would consider a move should Direct Rentals be successful in their application, that remains to be seen.

"It's hard to say, this is home and we have an emotional connection to it probably like no one else," Debbie said.

"We both love our units and love living here but if it's going to become a hotel then we will probably think about it (leaving).

"It's not what we signed up for."

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