Preliminary works have started on turning 104 hectares of land into about 450 homes at Twin Waters West.
Developer Stockland said site establishment works, including fencing installation, commenced this week on the master-planned residential community between the Maroochy River and Sunshine Motorway.
“Stockland has started construction on three trial embankments at Twin Waters West,” a spokesperson said.
“The embankments will be used to monitor the site’s soil settlement profile over time in preparation for the area’s development.
“The works are being carried out by SEE Civil between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Temporary fencing, including kangaroo protection fencing, is in place for safety.”
Construction of the trial embankments will involve filling and compacting three specific areas at the northern end of the site.
The contentious development was given approval, subject to 100 conditions, in December 2023 after Sunshine Coast councillors voted to allow it by six votes to four.
Among the conditions are that the developer conducts a water-quality monitoring program, initiates a kangaroo management plan and provides a flood evacuation centre.
An initial proposal to develop the site was made in 2008. The project was rejected twice by the council and faced stiff community opposition.
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Taylor Bunnag, who is the divisional councillor for the Twin Waters area and elected after the development was approved, posted to social media this week with updates about the preliminary works.
“Stockland expect to complete these works by September 2025, weather permitting,” he said.
“Construction vehicles will access the site via De Vere Road. Filling and soil compaction works may cause some noise and dust.”
He also outlined the kangaroo management strategies that were in place.
“Council’s biodiversity team have worked closely with Stockland to produce a plan for managing the resident macropod population,” he said.
“Importantly, the plan will fence off the northern section down to the edge of the east-west drain. It is important that macropods are excluded from the area of works to reduce the risk of macropods dispersing north/north-east to David Low Way and north-west to the Sunshine Motorway and the roundabout.
“Prior to the fencing being installed, the macropods will be herded south from the works area by the Stockland consulting fauna spotter team, moving into a newly slashed area in the south and east.
“This slashed area is approximate to the future macropod habitat area. The western edge of the site will remain unslashed and partially fenced to discourage westerly movement of macropods towards the shared path and motorway.
“This approach has been determined to be the safest and most responsive approach to managing the resident macropod population. It will also provide the macropods with time to become used to the future reserve area, as well as, removing them from potential risks of dispersal to the north and west.”
