The Sunshine Coast’s premier shopping destination is getting some significant upgrades.
The 325-store Sunshine Plaza is about to get a new outdoor playground, new stores and new sustainability initiatives.
Plaza centre manager Simon De Barro said the new kids’ area on Cornmeal Parade, to be opened this month, would be a hit.
“It will offer a variety of interactive components to enhance families’ visits to the centre, and it will include a 7m pelican with slide, climbing apparatus, submarine and seal,” he said.
The plaza will also implement a breakthrough eco-friendly scheme.
“Lendlease is also currently working with (agri-tech company) Goterra to introduce a modular waste management system at Sunshine Plaza,” Mr De Barro said.
“The system is expected to be operational early next year and uses insect larvae to process food and organic waste, converting it to a sustainable, high-quality protein and fertiliser that recycles nutrients back into the food chain. Lendlease was the first organisation to work with Goterra to introduce this system at Barangaroo in Sydney.
“Sunshine Plaza will be one of the first shopping centres in our network to introduce the system.”
The system will be in a loading dock, near food retailers.
The retailers will be able to put their organic waste into the system, and the resulting protein and fertiliser will be distributed by Goterra for agricultural use.
Another sustainability feature is also in the pipeline.
“We are enhancing our sustainability practices with the installation of additional on-site solar arrays which will further reduce Sunshine Plaza’s use of grid power for common areas,” Mr De Barro said.
“The installation has commenced and is due to be finished in the new year.”
The solar arrays will be located on the roof areas near Target, Kmart and Woolworths.
Shoppers can also look forward to the opening of a new store, Le Bon Choix, in February.
The boulangerie patisserie operates in 10 locations in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. It’s known for its selection of sweet treats and savory bites.
The bakery will be the latest in a long line of new stores to open at the centre.
During the past six months, the plaza has welcomed Skin Cancer Care and Cosmetics, Zambrero, Simon Curwood, La Fabbrica Della Farina, Hanaromart, Brazzos Smokehouse, Hats by the Hundred, an expanded R.M. Williams, Oz Hair and Beauty, Academy Brand, Ringers Western, Gilhooleys, Harli and Harpa, and, most recently, Daiso.
“The offer at Sunshine Plaza is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our customers and we are the first shopping centre in the region to introduce brands like Harli and Harpa, and Oz Hair and Beauty,” Mr De Barro said.
“The dining offer continues to evolve in the Riverwalk precinct with two new restaurants now open, Gilhooleys and Zambreros.”
Sunco and Japanese barbecue operator Yakiniku Hibiki were also scheduled to open before the end of the year.
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.
Mr De Barro said the plaza, which attracts about 10 million visitors per year, was booming during the festive season.
“The Christmas period is one of our most popular seasons for our customers,” he said. “We see an influx of customers taking advantage of sales offered by stores around Boxing Day and Black Friday, along with those last-minute Christmas gift buyers in the days before Christmas.”
Sunshine Plaza will have extended trading hours in the lead-up to Christmas, including a midnight trade on Monday, December 23.
“We encourage shoppers to check with their favourite store on their specific trading hours,” Mr De Barro said.
The Christmas spirit is well and truly alive in the centre.
“Customers can celebrate the magic of the festive season at our Christmas Light installation along our Riverwalk from December 1 to 24,” he said.
“A schedule of entertainment is hosted on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings with customers able to enjoy discos, roving entertainment and giveaways.”
