Sunshine Coast Approves 22-Storey Tower Near Maroochydore CBD

Sunshine Coast Council has granted final approval for a landmark 22-storey mixed-use tower development near Maroochydore’s revitalising CBD. The project, set for a vacant site at 12-24 Plaza Parade, will bring nearly 180 new apartments, retail tenancies and commercial space less than 500 metres from Sunshine Plaza.

Maroochydore’s Next Chapter

This approval arrives as the region wrestles with housing supply constraints, surging population, and a construction boom reshaping the local skyline. Developers have flagged the Maroochydore City Centre precinct, still under active construction, as integral to delivering the “new urban heart” of the Coast. As remote work fuels SunCentral’s vision of an activated, walkable CBD hub, large-scale projects like the newly-approved Plaza Parade tower are becoming emblematic of a changing city.

Location is the key draw. The site abuts Duporth Avenue on one side and is a short walk to the Cotton Tree Esplanade, a favourite for locals seeking riverfront parks and coffee stops. Developers say proximity to the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, Big Top Shopping Centre, and the Maroochy River ups the lifestyle premium for both residents and businesses. The proposal includes landscaped public realm upgrades along Plaza Parade, with pedestrian access linking to oceanview cycling routes.

Crunching the Numbers

Data from CoreLogic shows the Sunshine Coast median house price hovered near $880,000 at the start of June 2026, with two-bedroom apartments in Maroochydore’s recent releases now regularly listing above $749,000. The region’s population swelled past 390,000 in early 2026, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, placing ongoing upward pressure on property demand. Council’s own growth models project Maroochydore CBD will accommodate over 10,000 jobs once the full commercial and retail pipeline is built out. Construction of the Plaza Parade tower is scheduled to commence before the end of the year, with developers eyeing a 2028 completion date.

SunCentral Maroochydore, the development corporation guiding the CBD transformation, has described this week’s approval as a signal that high-value, high-density development near key activity hubs will be crucial to balancing liveability with economic growth. Nearby, work continues on the refurbishment of the Ocean Street dining precinct and a new stage of expansion at Sunshine Plaza itself.

Buyers and prospective tenants eyeing new product close to the Maroochydore CBD can expect further project launches in the coming months, council has noted via recent bulletins. Council planners say traffic and infrastructure works will occur alongside construction to manage short-term congestion. Residents are advised to monitor the project’s public updates portal and register for SunCentral’s monthly briefings to stay ahead of road changes and sales campaigns as major sites around Plaza Parade and Horton Parade move toward reality.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.