Queensland has fast-tracked one of the Sunshine Coast’s biggest residential developments, declaring the Aura South project at Halls Creek a priority development area (PDA) on Friday.
The declaration, reported by ABC News, shifts planning and development powers from Sunshine Coast Council to the state government, overriding conflicts with the local planning scheme. Developer Stockland says the first homes could be complete within two years.
The Aura South site, south of Caloundra, is earmarked for up to 12,000 new homes. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the project would contribute to the state’s target of one million new homes by 2044. The Caloundra Chamber of Commerce backed the move, with president Michael Shadforth pointing to the region’s population growth ahead of the 2032 Olympics and the need for affordable family housing.
Not everyone is pleased. Narelle McCarthy from the Sunshine Coast Environmental Council said the area was never intended for urban expansion, given its proximity to the internationally recognised Ramsar wetlands near the Pumicestone Passage, and that the SCEC would watch environmental conditions closely. Stockland general manager David Lenner said the project had gone through federal EPBC Act approvals covering water quality, run-off management, frog habitat, and conservation areas, and that more than half the 1,200-hectare site would be set aside as open space and conservation land.
For tradies on the Sunshine Coast and surrounds, a development of this scale represents a substantial pipeline. Lenner noted that more than 35 per cent of sales in the adjacent Aura North development went to first-home buyers, suggesting strong end demand. If you’re thinking about what a project like this might mean for your own build costs, our guide on what it costs to build a granny flat in Australia gives a useful state-by-state benchmark.
Public consultation on Aura South is expected to open later this year, with construction activity ramping up as approvals are finalised.
Frequently asked questions
What is a priority development area and what does it mean for Aura South?
A priority development area (PDA) declaration shifts planning and development powers from the local council, in this case, Sunshine Coast Council, to the Queensland state government, overriding conflicts with the local planning scheme.
When will the first homes at Aura South be ready?
Developer Stockland says the first homes could be complete within two years, with construction activity expected to ramp up as approvals are finalised.
What environmental protections apply to the Aura South site?
Stockland general manager David Lenner said the project has gone through federal EPBC Act approvals covering water quality, run-off management, frog habitat, and conservation areas. More than half the 1,200-hectare site will be set aside as open space and conservation land.
Sourced from ABC News. Original article.
