Court Clears Way for $450m Sheraton Resort at Hervey Bay

Sunny Beach Land has a Memorandum of Understanding with Marriott International, owner of Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, to operate the resort.

Nearly two years later, the council and developer won a QPEC court case launched by the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland’s Fraser Coast branch opposing the approval. 

The society had argued that light emanating from the building would affect endangered sea turtles and migratory birds. 

During the appeal process, the parties came to agreements on key changes to the development.

Sunny Beach had initially planned a luxury resort of up to 21 storeys comprising 223 hotel rooms and 400 apartments. 

It reduced to 18 storeys the apartment tower in its originally approved application. 

▲ A rendering of the two-tower resort planned for Hervey Bay.

But after the court case, it agreed to reduce the residential tower heigh further, to 16 storeys, as well as downsize the hotel tower to 12 storeys for its original 18. 

Changes to the building design were also made, as well as lighting conditions updated to reduce impacts on the surrounding development.

Those changes have cleared the way for the appeal to be resolved, meaning the development proposal can now move forward.

Sunny beach Land director Dan Cuda said that from the start, it had taken on board concerns raised by the Wildlife Preservation Society and redesigned the development accordingly. 

▲ The planned five-star resort features mineral, ice cold and hot plunge pools as part of its amenities.

“Today’s decision is an exciting result that will see the creation of a world-class, five-star hotel and residential development, putting the Fraser Coast on the map as global tourism destination,” Cuda said.

Cuda explained that lighting design technology minimised artificial skyglow from the resort. 

“[This] has been shown to mitigate any impact on sea turtles,” he said.

The hotel will include 1000sq m of ground floor retail and dining spaces in a podium connecting the two towers, as well as conference spaces and pools, a rooftop bar and restaurant. 

Once final orders are issued, the full development will be made public via the Fraser Coast Council website.

The next stage of the project will involve detailed design and construction approvals, including operational works, building approvals and infrastructure works.