Plans lodged to transform former Sunshine Coast bowls club into a thriving mixed-use communtiy
Plans have been submitted to the Sunshine Coast Council to transform a vacant bowls club and existing tavern in Pacific Paradise into a thriving mixed-use community.
Covering a substantial 12,775 sqm of land adjacent to the Northshore Tavern at 698-706 David Low Way, the project is spearheaded by prominent Sunshine Coast builder-developer John Goulter and property lawyer David Wheldon.
If approved, the project will comprise three apartment blocks and a six-story hotel, breathing new life into the area.
The proposed development site falls within the Pacific Paradise Small Business Zone, framed by David Low Way, Timari Street, Menzies Drive, and Lerner Street. Its strategic location, situated just 1.7 kilometres from the Sunshine Coast Airport, 2.1 kilometres from Mudjimba Beach, and 1.7 kilometres from the Sunshine Motorway, places it at the heart of the quaint Sunshine Coast suburb.
Nestled between the Maroochy River to the South and the Sunshine Motorway to the North East, Pacific Paradise is an integral part of the Maroochydore Urban Centre. The proposed project serves as a pivotal cornerstone in the area's urban development, promising to rejuvenate a previously vacant Lawn Bowls site and introduce a vibrant mix of uses and increased density.
Designed by KP Architects, the project is slated for a two-phase implementation. The first stage will encompass a 65-key hotel-motel, complemented by food and beverage retail components, designed to kickstart the area's revitalisation. The second phase will usher in 127 apartments across the three contemporary buildings, which range in height from three, five and six storeys.
The architects behind the project emphasised their commitment to community engagement and integration, stating, "The buildings are arranged and orientated to seek connection to the local amenity and subtropical landscape, whilst addressing permeability, privacy, activation, and breathability. The building design and arrangement encourage social interactions between residents, short-term visitors, and customers to the tavern, encouraging pedestrian movements through the site and adjacent amenities."
The pressing need for accommodations on the Sunshine Coast has driven this development. The region anticipates a shortage of 179 rooms by 2026, escalating to 225 by 2031, underlining the urgency for projects like this one. KP Architecture noted, “Based upon the future supply gap, and most notably for attached dwelling stock, there is a strong market potential for the residential development at the subject site to comprise more than the proposed 127 apartments, subject to planning approval.”
According to the planners at Place Design Group, the North Shore development is poised to become a "mixed-use village that will deliver an activated, lifestyle precinct and expand the Pacific Paradise centre for the community." This development has been envisioned as an opportunity to offer well-designed housing options within a mixed-use centre environment, perfectly capitalising on access to employment, services, and key transport networks.
Central to the project's design is a communal pool, gym, and residents' lounge, all aimed at fostering a sense of community connection and enhancing the project's overall aesthetics. The master plan emphasises a mix of uses compatible with extended hours of activation, promising to invigorate the local area.
While the site was previously zoned for sport and recreation, which limited its development potential, planners foresee a change on the horizon. "The site is planned to be reinstated to its previous local centre zoning as part of the upcoming and identified planning scheme changes," suggests the planning documents. Despite building heights that exceed local constraints, planners argue that this island site could catalyse the future development of the Pacific Paradise area, significantly contributing to the area's character and vitality.
