Sekisui Wins Approval for $900m Sunshine Coast Project

The Sunshine Coast Council has given the green light to developer Sekisui House for its controversial seven-storey Westin Coolum Spa and Resort, the first five-star resort developed on the Sunshine Coast in more than 30 years.

The Japanese developer, who is also developing a $1.5 billion town centre in Ipswich and West Village in Brisbane’s West End, made alterations to the Yaroomba Beach development after more than 9000 submissions against it were lodged.

The developer announced that it had won approval on Thursday for the 220-room Westin hotel, with the larger resort comprising 148 serviced apartments, 753 residential apartments, 98 two- to three-storey homes and a 2,770sq m retail village.

Sekisui House reduced the height for the hotel element of the 19-hectare site from 10 to seven-storeys in 2016.

Related: Architect Appointed to $900m Coastal Village on the Sunshine Coast

The first stage of the development will deliver the hotel and the public components of the Hassell-designed masterplan.

Yaroomba Beach project director Evan Aldridge said the approval recognised the strategic importance of the site and the community benefits it provided to the Sunshine Coast.

The shopping centre will form part of a "coastal village" which will also include a 6,000sq m public park, three kilometres of pathways surrounded by retained native vegetation, direct access to the beach with public car parking and a beach ecology and indigenous education centre.

Yaroomba Beach project director Evan Aldridge said the approval recognised the strategic importance of the site.

“Sunshine Coast Council officers undertook a rigorous assessment of our application and Councillors supported their recommendation that the application be approved,” he said.

The project is targeting a 6-star Green Star rating with completion of the development expected by 2021.