Sunny Coast Height Uptick Targets Olympics Crowds

Tourist hotspots on the notoriously height-averse Sunshine Coast have been earmarked to allow upscaled hotel buildings.

The Sunshine Coast Council has been greenlit to introduce a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) to “encourage development of upscale accommodation hotels”. 

The Queensland Government has given its seal of approval for a TLPI allowing additional height allowances and reduced onsite carparking requirements, which it said is more reflective of the needs of upscale hotels. 

The hyper-local instrument will only apply to existing central tourism locations in Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Caloundra, Sippy Downs, Nambour and Beerwah, which the council said accounts for less than 1 per cent of the Sunshine Coast Region. 

The original request from the council also included new height proposals in Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headland, but these were rejected by the State Government. 

It also stipulates that applicable hotels must have a minimum four-star rating and have at least 140 rooms. 

The Sunshine Coast Council said it had an “urgent need” for four and five star, full-service hotels. 

▲ The Sunshine Coast is hoping to attract high-end hotels like the Voco-branded 13-storey tower lodged last year.

It forecasts a 2000-room shortfall in the region, with potential visitors either not visiting or staying elsewhere and travelling in by car.

The council estimated that each new hotel would drive $29.5 million of additional spend in the area annually.

The Sunshine Coast Council has a reputation for being height-shy, rejecting proposals in 2023 for instance that would allow heights of up to 21m in Buddina, knocking them down to 12m before being overruled by the state government

The decision to up heights in certain tourist hotspots comes as the state looks towards the Olympics, with decisions being made over the likes of the Victoria Park stadium this week.

“There are immense opportunities for the heart of Maroochydore CBD heading into the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and this decision will drive more investment while also protecting the Sunshine Coast’s lifestyle,” Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Rosanna Natoli said.

The instrument, like the Kurilpa TLPI in Brisbane, may help along projects such as Sydney developer Felix Capital’s IHG Hotels & Resorts development in Maroochydore, a 153-key, 13-storey hotel lodged last year.