Sunshine Coast Council’s city hall opens to the public

Exclusive vision inside the Sunshine Coast council’s state of the art city hall including the new chambers, retail and community spaces can be revealed. PHOTOS, VIDEO.

The highly anticipated Sunshine Coast Council city hall has officially opened as we reveal exclusive vision inside the $98m project.

Situated in the heart of Maroochydore, the multimillion development opened to the community and dignitaries on the morning of December 10.

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As the new home to the mayor, councillors and 830 council workers, the 10 storey building features retail and community spaces, venue hire for community groups and businesses, open work spaces and green areas.

The contemporary civic hub features the new council chambers located on level 1, visible externally from outside the building, along with offices for all councillors and the mayor, including his private bathroom.

Sunshine Coast Council city hall was officially opened on December 10, 2022. Picture: Sam Turner

Hinterland and coastline views can be seen out from the office windows, along with the budding development sites surrounding city hall waiting to be built in the coming years.

Talking to the media on Saturday, mayor Mark Jamieson anticipated the final costing would be $98m, with the final fit outs to be finished by mid 2023.

“I appreciate that’s a significant sum of money, but if you think about the need for new chamber for council and also the catalyst this building is of other investment,” Mr Jamieson said.

Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson. Picture: Sam Turner

“If council wasn’t prepared to invest in the city centre, how could we expect private sector individuals to invest?”

In its initial stages, the city hall was estimated to cost $59.6m and then $80m to include fit outs, before council confirmed the project budget had increased to $100m in November 2021.

Rising construction costs, fit-out allocations and furniture were among reasons cited for the blowout.

Council chambers. Picture: Sam Turner

Mr Jamieson said most council services would be provided in the facility with it acting as a “nerve centre” for council and a meeting point for councillors to make decisions and community members to voice their wishes.

For workers in the Glass House Mountains inspired facility, they would be encouraged to use other means of transport, including carpooling and public transport due to there being more staff than car parks.

“We don’t want to build a city dominated by the motor car … this city will be pedestrian friendly,” Mr Jamieson said.

The view from mayor Mark Jamieson’s seat. Picture: Sam Turner

“It will be very supportive of public transport, particularly in rail and mass transit which will be critical for the future.”

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In response to why more public transport wasn’t implemented immediately, Mr Jamieson said council relied on other levels of government to complete the infrastructure, pointing out other council offices had similar parking scenarios.

See the rest of the walk-through below:

The ground level foyer. Picture: Sam Turner

Councillor offices. Picture: Sam Turner

The mayor’s office. Picture: Sam Turner

The mayor’s office and its private bathroom. Picture: Sam Turner

Offices inside city hall. Picture: Sam Turner

Meeting areas. Picture: Sam Turner

More offices. Picture: Sam Turner

A meeting room. Picture: Sam Turner

The view. Picture: Sam Turner

One of the hallways. Picture: Sam Turner

An outside seating area. Picture: Sam Turner

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Council’s city hall opens to the public