An application to alter the approved plans for a seven-storey mixed-use development at a high-profile Maroochydore site has been submitted.
The proposed changes for the building, which would be the final project within the larger Emporio complex, seek to allow more units and revise the design of a healthcare tenancy and childcare centre.
A town planning report submitted to Sunshine Coast Council by Brisbane-based Eternus Group on behalf of Emporio Fiduciaries Pty Ltd states that the changes would see the addition of 19 more units, which will be exclusively for specialist disability accommodation (SDA).
The healthcare tenancy would be reduced by 15sqm to 200sqm, while the number of childcare places available would drop to 99 children, down from 110.
The 3589sqm site, at 2-10 Maroochy Boulevard, is currently vacant but forms part of the larger, partially completed Emporio mixed-use development.
The site is close to Sunshine Plaza, the Maroochydore Homemaker Centre and the emerging Maroochydore city centre.
Daniel Krause, who is director – property at Eternus Group, said it was hoped the development could help fill a lack of SDA options on the Cosat.
“This development is the final project within the broader Emporio precinct,” he said.
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“In delivering this exceptional mixed-use development, we are hoping to both complement the original vision for Emporio and enhance the standard of SDA living available on the Sunshine Coast.
“The redesign of the project has been undertaken to address the change in market conditions between when the previous approval for this site was granted by council and now.
“Particularly in relation to the redesign of our accessible apartments, we have focused on elevating the living experience for future tenants with additional emphasis being placed on the provision of communal facilities tailored to enhancing resident wellbeing.
“The accessible housing market is significantly underserved with a lack of high-quality, well-located and thoughtfully designed apartments that cater for diverse accessibility needs. This project aims to fill part of this void on the Sunshine Coast.”
The Emporio complex currently comprises a four-storey office building and six- and eight-storey mixed-use buildings with commercial tenancies at ground level and apartments above.
These buildings were subject to a development permit for 234 multiple dwelling units, market, office, shopping complex, showroom, restaurant and local utility, which was originally approved by the council in February 2011.
This was amended in May 2021 when the council approved an increase to 260 apartments plus the addition of a childcare centre and medical tenancy.
The current change application, submitted on June 21, seeks approval for 279 units across the entire Emporio complex.
The plans for the proposed seven-storey mixed-use development include a total of 48 one- and two-bedroom apartments, up from the currently approved 29.
“All proposed apartments on the subject site have been designed to accommodate the requirements to be used for specialist disability accommodation (SDA) for participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” the planning report states.
Communal recreation space for the exclusive use of the SDA unit residents would be provided, comprising an area of 499sqm. The facilities would include a gym, therapy and massage suites, barbecue areas, media lounge, co-working space and indoor and outdoor breakout spaces.
The proposed changes do not seek to vary the previously approved building height, with the development remaining at seven storeys and a maximum of 25m in height.
The site is subject to the Wises Farm Preliminary Approval, which overrides the former Maroochy Plan and was originally approved by the council in 2006.
The application is subject to code assessment.
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