Aria Reworks Pre-Covid Hotel Plans on Mooloolaba Foreshore

Aria Property Group wants to add two floors and 50 rooms to its approved Mooloolaba hotel scheme, offering extra foreshore funding to sweeten the deal. 

The group first planned, and won approval, for a 159-room hotel in 2021. Covid led the developer to put the scheme on hold, but is now ready to proceed, albeit with amended plans.

Aria Property Group founder Tim Forrester’s parents Rodney and Janette bought the 2588sq m site at 1 Mooloolaba Esplanade opposite the surf club in 1991 in what is the hometown for Forrester as well as Aria residential manager Michael Hurley.

▲ A rendering of the southern seawall that is being built at Mooloolaba.

Aria had planned to release the apartments for sale in 2021 ahead of construction starting that same year after gaining approval for the hotel, but Covid put paid to those plans.

Now proposed is a resort complex designed by Koichi Takada Architects comprising 201 rooms and 46 apartments or short-term accommodation units as well as a bar, shop and food outlet across a 16-storey tower.

The Project Urban planning report for the new proposal said the existing five-star hotel approval was valid until September 2027, however the developer wanted assurance from the council before moving forward.

▲ A rendering of the Aria Property Group hotel rooftop overlooking the beach at Mooloolaba.

During pre-lodgement meetings with the Sunshine Coast Council, according to the report, insufficient funding for Stage 3 of the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project, which is just across the road for the Aria site, was identified.

That stage would connect the parklands and surf club to the wharf.

“Aria understands from pre-lodgement meetings and discussions with council and government that there is insufficient funding to complete the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project,” the report said.

“In order for Aria to deliver the project, Aria needs assurance that the construction works for public parkland are undertaken in a timely way and do not compromise the opening and operation of the hotel.

“If the hotel were to open while construction works on the foreshore are still under way (or once operational) it would significantly hinder the hotel’s success within the community.

“Thus, Aria proposes to fund and deliver the Southern Parkland and Stage 3, to ensure that those works are completed before the hotel is opened.”

▲ The ground floor has been changed to match in with the foreshore upgrades.

Work has begun on Stage 2 of the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project to replace a 1960s-era seawall with a terraced seawall as well as upgraded amenities. 

This stage has received more than $13.3 million in funding from the Commonwealth and state as part of the SEQ City Deal, as well as the Disaster Recovery Fund.