LOCAL NEWS facility and enjoy the park and beach access. The land to be gifted to Sunshine Coast Council will be the equivalent of four football fields of landscaped parks, lake and bushland pathways. Sekisui will also pay for the costs of maintaining the facilities.
must still work hard to win the support of the wider region. “From a design perspective, it’s encouraging to see so much time being invested into high quality design outcomes for the proposal.” Dickson says without the inclusion of the five-star resort, Yaroomba Beach would be nothing more than a residential and commercial project, which is what Sekisui House is well within its rights to develop under the current plan if it so chooses. “The Sunshine Coast does require five-star hotels and is suffering from a lack of international hotel destinations. Such projects as the Sunshine Coast Airport will require these pieces of infrastructure to better attract international guests who visit our region,” he says. “Whilst it’s important that the region engage seriously on this proposal, it’s important to note that I often hear that families wish to see jobs for their children, the upgrade of our airport and the delivery of a light rail system. “I don’t believe many of these outcomes will occur without seriously considering some of these major game-changing projects across the region.” Aldridge says Yaroomba Beach will not be a gated, exclusive community. Locals will be able to buy spa memberships, dine, shop and attend functions in the 450-seat conference
“…Westin was exactly the brand and model Sekisui House wants to work with…” Evan Aldridge
Aldridge says Sekisui will also reinstate an active beach patrol at the location to ensure everyone can enjoy a swim safely and Gubbi Gubbi elders have been engaged to discuss future Indigenous culture tourism opportunities on the site.
“We want the local people to be engaged with the facilities, we want to make it a destination for the community as well as interstate and international visitors,” he says. Aldridge says the company hopes to begin construction in 2019 with a view to open in 2021, one year after the slated completion date of the Sunshine Coast Airport’s international runway. Aldridge says Sekisui was drawn to the region because of the growing population and the opportunity to develop one of only two remaining tourism-marked precincts. He says the completed precinct is expected to generate $59 million in tourism spend each year. Following five community discussions which were held from May to August, Aldridge encourages people to stop in at a listening post at the Mt Coolum Shopping Centre to find out more about the project. My Weekly Preview contacted Development Watch, however the group declined to comment.
To find out more, visit yaroombabeach. com.au or visit the listening post at Mt Coolum Shopping Centre between 10am and 6pm Monday to Friday and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm. The post will be open until December 17.
FAST FACTS
• $900 million investment • The development application will be submitted to the Sunshine Coast Council in early 2017 • Construction of Stage 1 is expected to start in 2019 for completion in 2021 • Yaroomba Beach will be developed in seven stages over seven years • The tallest structure will be a seven-storey Westin Coolum Resort and Spa hotel building • 77 million people are connected worldwide to the loyalty program that will include the Westin Coolum • The hotel will have 220 luxury rooms • 3.3 hectares of park, a lake and pedestrian pathways included in Stage 1 of the development will be gifted to the community via the Sunshine Coast Council • When complete, Yaroomba Beach is expected to generate $59 million in tourism spend each year.
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