Queensland’s Maroochy Shire is set to benefit from the development of a farm site which has been owned by one family for the last 100 years.
Adjacent to the Maroochydore Central Business District, this major commercial and residential development will have a predominantly green emphasis.
Mayor Don Culley said the proposed development provides many unique opportunities for Maroochy Shire and the community. “It is planned to develop Wises Farm as a greenfield site with up to 50 percent of the 120 hectares to include waterways, boardwalks, parkland and bikeways,” he said.
Maroochy’s Director Planning and Development, Magdy Youssef, said it is a unique and exciting opportunity to plan a development for a CBD site from the start. He said the Shire is particularly fortunate that the owner did not simply subdivide the site.
In addition, the developer is prepared to devote 50 percent of water frontage on the site to public access giving Maroochy the opportunity for a quality development. “Our vision is that of a City within a park rather than the other way around,” he said.
“We intend a development that allows people to walk or cycle throughout the City. And the right balance of residential and commercial space will allow people to work and play where they live. The most successful Cities in the world work on that principle.”
He said proper planning will also reduce the need for traffic and hence the pollution and congestion it brings. “Sometimes we seem to plan Cities for traffic rather than people,” he said.
The plans include a convention centre and a five star hotel. The State Government is also involved in the project working with Council and the developer to create a long term vision for Maroochydore.
Magdy Youssef said Maroochy is lucky to have a developer prepared to fund 75 percent of the project, including the public infrastructure component, even though it may be some time before it realises the gains on its investment. “Such a project is very difficult to achieve unless the developer is committed to a long term plan,” he said.
For further information contact Magdy Youssef, telephone 07) 5441 8182.
