The first sod has been turned on a 5.3-hectare South Bank-style parkland, complete with a swimming lagoon and water play areas.
Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli on Tuesday officially marked the milestone on the Aura Parklands, which will form part of developer Stockland’s future Aura City Centre.
The parkland will also include barbecue and picnic areas, event spaces and a network of pathways, and will form part of a larger 11.3-hectare recreational park that is currently under planning.
It will also support trading at the future Aura Retail Town Centre, which adjoins the site to the south, with integrated designs connecting the two areas.
Aura Parklands is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
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Stockland general manager – Queensland development David Laner said the parklands would be an exciting destination to meet the needs of Aura residents and the broader region.
“Aura is a vibrant and connected community that celebrates the quintessential Sunshine Coast lifestyle,” he said.
“As the community grows, Aura Parklands will provide a recreational area where families can picnic, kids can play and swim safely, and the community can come together to socialise.
“Infrastructure like Aura Parklands builds on our legacy of creating communities full of energy, soul and life.
“It’s great to celebrate this milestone with Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli and council, and we look forward to seeing the community enjoy the parklands once works are complete.”
The swimming lagoon is designed to span about 2100sqm of water surface area – nearly the size of two Olympic swimming pools – with plans for accessible graded edges, stepped entry points and a maximum depth of 1.8m.
Sunshine Coast Council will operate and maintain the lagoon and water play areas once it opens, with plans to engage an operator to oversee staffing, lifeguard services, security and daily management.
The parkland is a key infrastructure obligation under the Caloundra South Infrastructure Agreement.
Aura is Australia’s largest masterplanned community and currently home to more than 10,000 residents.
