The owners of a high-profile site that was approved for an eight-storey mixed-use building in 2018 are seeking to amend the development permit.
The initial approval for the site at 46 Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba, was for 88 motel rooms, 54 residential units, offices, shops and food and drink outlets.
That followed the submission of the initial application by Dixing International Pty Ltd in 2016.
The site had even earlier approval for 59 motel rooms, 13 residential units, a restaurant and shops, after it was granted by the Planning and Environment Court in 2012.
A letter with the minor change application, submitted to Sunshine Coast Council on August 15 by Adams and Sparkes Town Planning on behalf of Dixing International, provides more detail about the 2018 plans.
“The approved development included a 25m-high (eight-storey) building fronting Brisbane Road and Tarcoola Avenue, and an 18m-high (six-storey) component fronting Smith Street,” it states.
Since then the approval has undergone a series of further changes.
In March 2022 the council allowed a minor change application that reduced the number of residential units from 54 to 51 and added a new rooftop level with a food and drink outlet, conference room and two function rooms.
In January 2024 another minor change was approved, with the number of hotel rooms reduced from 88 to 56, the residential units increased from 51 to 67 and the rooftop function and conference rooms removed.
A planned pool and gym for hotel users was also relocated to ground level, while a rooftop pool was added for exclusive use by residents.
The approval granted in 2018 was valid for six years but was increased by two years under pandemic extension provisions, meaning the existing development permit is in effect until July 25, 2026.
Now the developers are seeking to make another minor change to the approved plans.
These include a reduction in hotel units from 56 to 45 and an increase in the residential units from 67 to 75, so it would now comprise 40 two-bed units and 35 three-bed units.
The rooftop restaurant and bar would also increase from 120sqm to 140sqm.
The allocation of carparks would also be adjusted to reflect the changes to the number of hotel and residential units.
“(But) the total overall number of carparking spaces is the same between the existing approval and the current proposal, being 186 spaces,” the letter says.
Other changes include a reconfiguration and reduction in the ground-floor tenancy areas, from 655sqm to 490sqm.
“The proposed changes include an overall decrease in the ground-floor tenancies but seek to allow for flexibility of land uses between either retail or food and drink outlet, depending on market demand at the time,” it says.
The letter argues that the proposed amendments should be considered a minor change under planning laws.
“(They) do not seek to alter the approved land uses of short-term accommodation, multiple dwelling, shops, food and drink outlets but merely seek to redistribute the extent of each land use across the overall development; do not result in the application applying to a new parcel of land; (and) do not dramatically change the building form in terms of scale, bulk and external appearance, noting the overall building height remains the same and in compliance with the heights specified,” it says.
ASIC documents show Dixing International was registered in 2000. Its principal place of business is listed as Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba, since 2001, while its registered address is in Indooroopilly.
Its three directors were each born in China and currently have registered addresses in Brisbane and Sydney.
