A planned Sunshine Coast surfing facility that is set to feature dozens of wave settings could become a reality in just over two years.
Construction on the Surf Farm at Glass House Mountains is scheduled to commence later this year, with the project progressing through detailed design and pre-construction phases.
Project officials told Sunshine Coast News the venue, set to be built on a 10-hectare former pineapple farm beside Johnston Road, is planned to be completed by mid-2028.
The initiative, which is set to cost up to $60 million, is expected to produce a world-class surf and lifestyle destination, with cutting-edge wave technology, food and beverage offerings, retail, events and community spaces.
Artificial wave technology expert Wavegarden has been announced as the facility’s official surf technology partner. The company operates at multiple surf parks and ‘Wavegarden Coves’ around the world, including at UrbnSurf locations in Sydney and Melbourne.
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The project will feature a Wavegarden Cove lagoon configured with 62 modules, delivering the equal largest range of programmable wave settings in the southern hemisphere.
Surf Farm team member and former world surfing champion Joel Parkinson said Wavegarden’s wave-generation system would underpin a facility that appealed to surfers of all abilities.
“I was raised on the Sunshine Coast and I’m proud that the Glass House Mountains-based Surf Farm will become a major new leisure and tourism destination for the region,” he said.
“Surf Farm is about creating something truly special for surfers and the wider community.
“The Wavegarden Cove technology delivers incredibly high-quality, repeatable waves, and implementing the full 62-module configuration means this will be the most advanced Wavegarden set-up on the east coast of Australia.
“It’s a game-changing project for the region, it’s a place where beginners, families and elite surfers can all share the same world-class environment.”
The wave park has development approval but, due to a change in the wave-generation technology, a Minor Change application will soon be lodged with Sunshine Coast Council.
The Surf Farm project is led by a team including UrbnSurf foundation shareholders Adam Lamond and Chris Salmon. Craig Morrison is also a founding developer behind the project.
“Chris and Adam are totally committed to creating something truly special where beginners, families and elite surfers can all share the same world-class environment,” Mr Parkinson said.
The Wavegarden Cove is known for its reliability, high surfer capacities, energy efficiency and ability to generate a broad spectrum of wave types in a controlled and sustainable environment.
Wavegarden founder and CEO Josema Odriozola said Surf Farm represented an exciting addition to the Australian market.
“The Wavegarden Cove 62 configuration will provide an exceptional breadth of wave settings, offering one of the most versatile surf experiences in the region,” he said.
“We are delighted to partner with the Surf Farm team and look forward to seeing this world-class destination come to life.”
