A Sunshine Coast tourism gem renowned for its natural beauty could soon outshine other high-profile destinations as a stunning transformation gains momentum.
Mooloolaba is undergoing a renaissance with new 4.5 and 5-star hotels, the recent opening of a new $16 million parkland and an overhaul of key roads.
That’s on top of the refurbishment of the ‘tired’ Wharf precinct into a vibrant dining, retail and entertainment hub.
The injection of millions of dollars could help elevate Mooloolaba as a destination to rival world-famous Noosa, Port Douglas and Surfers Paradise.
In fact, Mooloolaba beach was the only one in Queensland named in TripAdvisors’ best beaches in the South Pacific 2022, stealing the limelight from other prominent locations.
Developer Kenneth Wagner, who is building the $50million Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel, is one of a number of investors who see even more potential.
Mr Wagner said Moooloolaba, and the Sunshine Coast in general, still had “enormous opportunity” for more domestic and international tourism.
He pointed to a significant lack of quality hotels as one factor holding back visitor numbers which would change with the arrival of his hotel and the proposed five-star Aria.
“Ultimately as a few of these destination-style developments come to fruition, Mooloolaba will become a very prosperous tourism-leisure zone,” he told Sunshine Coast News.
Mr Wagner said Mooloolaba was blesssed with natural beauty and would soon have the tourism infrastructure to better support it.
“With the Coast and Mooloolaba it’s about capitalising on that natural beauty and producing a product that enhances that natural beauty,” he said.
The Sunshine Coast Council has been investing millions of dollars to turn the area into a “world-class destination”, including a four-stage transformation of the foreshore.
The Stage 1 Northern Parkland opened in June and stage 2 has been prioritised for 2024/2025 and will focus on the Central Meeting Place near the Brisbane Road entry point.
A new four-lane bridge on Brisbane Road is also scheduled to open by end of this year which aims to reduce traffic congestion on arrival into Mooloolaba.
Construction to expand the road from two lanes to four has reached the halfway point this month, with two of the Mayes Canal bridge’s four lanes open to traffic.
The remaining two new lanes constructed over the next few months.
Mooloolaba Chamber of Commerce president Graeme Juniper said businesses were already noticing the flow-on effect of the recent opening of the parkland and the new kids’ adventure playground was “the place to be”.
Mr Juniper said the outdoor space, with waterfront walkways and barbecues, was bringing more people to Mooloolaba who in turn frequented local businesses that had previously missed out on foot traffic.
It is expected to lure thousands of additional visitors, injecting an estimated $5.5 million worth of extra expenditure into local businesses each year.
Mr Juniper said more people were about to discover why Mooloolaba was “one of the best destinations in Australia.
“We have an amazing north-facing beach and environment and you can look at the water as you shop; it’s quite extraordinary,” he said.
“The locals have got something special here, something world-ranking in our backyard.”
Local councillor Joe Natoli said the changes underway could turn Mooloolaba into the premier tourist destination to rival Noosa.
“Hopefully, Mooloolaba will start to challenge key locations like Noosa, Port Douglas and Surfers Paradise, and it will continue to evolve. It has everything going for it,” said Cr Natoli.
“It has everything in the toolbox to make it an incredibly successful place. The momentum is building.”
However there was still contention around some unfinished projects such as the future of the famous Loo with a View, with opinion split be retaining and replacing it.
The new multi-storey carpark remains underutilised after opening in December 2020 and local businesses continue to call for it to be free to the public, or have a free period.
Cr Natoli said ongoing roadworks would also be challenging and encouraged people to support affected businesses.
