Hotels, a supermarket, shops, a showroom, a childcare centre and more could be built at the Sunshine Coast Airport under a proposed development scheme that will allow buildings up to 10 storeys high on some of the land.
The proposed development scheme for the Sunshine Coast Airport Priority Development Area was released on Wednesday for public consultation.
According to the plan, the vision is to “support the delivery of the Sunshine Coast Airport to be a modern, sustainable and competitive world-class airport”.
The development scheme considers land use in six different airport precincts, of which two on the eastern side of the airport are identified as suitable for mixed-use “nodes”.
According to the scheme, the preferred uses for Precinct 2, which includes the airport terminal, would be short-term accommodation, hotel, food and drink outlets, a supermarket, bar, shops and offices.
Other preferred uses include a service station and warehouse showroom, a childcare centre and aviation services.
Precinct 5, which adjoins existing homes at Marcoola and on David Low Way, is earmarked for preferred uses including short-term accommodation, a food and drink outlet, shops and offices, tourist activity, low-impact industry, indoor sport and recreation, a warehouse and a showroom.
The scheme says short-term accommodation, such as an overnight or airport hotel, could have up to 250 rooms or a tourist hotel could be a maximum of 300 rooms.
Up to 6000sqm of retail space and 5000sqm of commercial space would be allowed at the airport.
The proposed scheme sets a maximum building height in Precinct 2 of up to 10 storeys but says building heights in the priority development area overall should not interfere with aircraft safety.
Precinct 1 and 3 would be used for typical airport operations, although the scheme also makes provision for offices, a transport depot or warehouse in Precinct 3.
Under the scheme, precincts 4 and 6 would be left for environmental purposes.
The release of the proposed plan, prepared by Economic Development Queensland, comes a month before the interim land use plan currently in place for the airport PDA was due to expire.
The Minister for State Development has extended the land use plan to allow time for the scheme to be finalised and adopted.
The development scheme for the area became the responsibility of EDQ after Sunshine Coast Council successfully sought to have the airport declared a priority development area.
A spokesperson for EDQ indicated the designation of a airport PDA was not unusual.
“The Sunshine Coast Airport PDA was declared in 2023 at the request of the Sunshine Coast Council to support the long-term viability of the airport while facilitating economic opportunities through land use diversification,” the spokesperson said.
“This is consistent with the approach at other airports across Australia.
“The proposed development scheme for the Sunshine Coast Airport PDA has been prepared in close consultation with the Sunshine Coast Council.
“This PDA aims to unlock the potential of the Sunshine Coast Airport as a modern, sustainable, and competitive world-class airport, serving as a key domestic and international gateway that contributes to the continued growth of the Sunshine Coast.
Council did not respond directly to questions submitted about the scheme but said: “The Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) has given notice that public notification of the proposed development scheme for the Sunshine Coast Airport PDA has commenced.”
“Sunshine Coast Council encourages our community to have their say on the proposed development scheme. Submissions can be made to MEDQ from now until August 8, 2024.”
The EDQ spokesperson also invited people to view the scheme and have their say.
Members of the public can go here to have provide feedback on the proposed development scheme.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
