A 30-storey residential tower could soon reshape the Maroochydore skyline, marking a significant shift for a region still establishing itself as a proper city ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Sydney-based Walker Corporation has applied to the Queensland government to build the 99-metre tower, dubbed ‘Celeste’, on the Sunshine Coast. The proposal includes 200 apartments and penthouses within Maroochydore’s new CBD, a 60-hectare priority development area where planning rules allow one landmark building of up to 100 metres.
For anyone in construction on the coast, the scale matters. A 30-storey build would rank among the most significant residential projects in the region’s history, with real pipeline across concreting, steel fixing, electrical, plumbing, and fitout trades.
Not everyone’s welcoming it. Residents from Palmwoods to Nambour have raised concerns that approving one tall building opens the door to more, with several calling it the ‘thin edge of the wedge’. The site carries its own history: the land was originally donated to the Maroochydore community for public use around 1930 by Robert Horton, before council bought the former golf course for $42 million in 2012 and the state government declared it a priority development area the following year.
The Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce is backing the project. Chamber president Brendan Bathersby described the proposed tower as ‘iconic’ and said the CBD was built to evolve over years, not freeze in place. Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli defended her election-campaign position on high-rises, saying her pledge covered nothing ‘new’ outside already-designated areas, a landmark building in the CBD had always been part of the plan.
The state government’s assessment outcome is the next key date to watch. If the tower gets the green light, it’ll be one of the larger construction contracts to land on the coast in years, in a market where population growth and Olympics-linked infrastructure are already pushing demand.
Frequently asked questions
How tall would the Maroochydore tower be?
The proposed Celeste tower would stand 99 metres across 30 storeys, just under the 100-metre maximum allowed for a single landmark building in Maroochydore’s priority development area.
Who is assessing the Maroochydore tower proposal?
The Queensland state government is responsible for assessing the application submitted by Walker Corporation.
How many apartments would the Maroochydore tower have?
The proposal includes 200 apartments and penthouses.
Sourced from ABC News. Original article.
