Work has recommenced this week on a land development that was halted last year because it did not have the necessary approvals.
The Sunshine Coast Council granted approvals for work on releases 25 and 27 of the Harmony estate at Palmview last Wednesday. The releases total about 190 blocks.
The council had requested the AVID Property Group halt site works in May last year, pointing out that the developer did not have the appropriate approvals for site works on the land it was selling.
AVID lodged various applications, including applications for operational works permits for the earthworks for the two stages, in October last year.
A council spokesperson said the organisation had been working with AVID to resolve outstanding items relating to development applications for the two Harmony releases.
“AVID has now provided the necessary details which has enabled council to issue approvals for releases 25 and 27 on February 5,” the spokesperson said.
“Recent meetings between Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli, CEO John Baker, Councillor Christian Dickson, group executive Debra Robinson and senior AVID executives have been positive.”
The council spokesperson said AVID emailed an update to future residents of the land releases confirming settlement was expected in June 2025.
AVID has not cancelled land contracts nor invoked a sunset clause but has committed to work with any buyers who want to exit their contracts.
Cr Dickson, whose division includes Palmview, said the council had worked hard to hasten assessment once the applications were lodged.
“AVID didn’t have approvals to do any work. They knew they didn’t and they knew those approvals weren’t going to be for some time,” Cr Dickson said.
“The council has had to break a deal to get these approvals through sooner,” he said.
Want more free local news? Follow Sunshine Coast News on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, and sign up for our FREE daily news email.
Cr Dickson said he felt for buyers who had been waiting for their land to be delivered and had heard of some people who were in danger of losing first-home buyers’ grants because they had not been able to settle on their land and start building.
“It’s great that people are finally going to get access to their land that they’ve been waiting on a long time. Some of them have been waiting since the end of 2023,” he said.
Cr Natoli said she had spoken with residents and builders whose futures were tied up in the land.
“It is extremely disappointing that this has been drawn out for so long – not an outcome anyone would want. Local people’s lives have been seriously impacted,” she said.
She said AVID was encouraged to undertake the required infrastructure works in order to enable landowners to settle their lots and commence construction of their homes.
AVID’s civil works contractor began work on site on Monday, straight after a pre-start meeting with the council.
“AVID has worked collaboratively with all relevant parties, including council and Unitywater, to progress these applications within Harmony and is grateful for the outcomes received,” an AVID spokesperson said.
“Our top priority is to allow buyers within stages 25 and 27 to progress through to their home construction and to deliver infrastructure to Palmview.
“We are in regular contact with our customers and are grateful to them for their patience and understanding.”
Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said he had been contacted by constituents whose land had been held up, including one whose building costs had risen by $13,000.
“As a licensed builder, I know how important it is for builders to get timely access to residential land to build the homes Australians need,” he said.
Mr Wallace described the dispute between the developer and the council as “unacceptable” and urged all parties to avoid a repetition of the circumstances.
He said the Coalition had committed to a $5 billion Housing Infrastructure Program that would offer grants and concessional loans for civil works and infrastructure that was currently “backlogged”.
