Central to it all

Business Matters Magazine asked Troy Wainwright, regional manager for Stockland, to give Sunshine Coast business owners and professionals some insight into what is happening in the Kawana precinct over the next few years. Troy will continue to update us in upcoming issues to make sure we all know what is happening and when.

Troy, exactly what we can expect over the coming years?  

The central Kawana precinct is set for some amazing progress, which will see an area of around 100ha transformed into a world-class destination for the region.

Specific elements already planned for the new heart of Kawana include:

the Sunshine Coast University Hospital employing 4500 people and a Ramsay Health Care private hospital;

a Skills, Academic and Research Centre (SARC) located in the hospital campus, which will involve universities, TAFE and training organisations offering training programs and research;

a complementary health services precinct, including elements such as physical therapy and cardiac services;

a variety of living options covering houses and apartments plus short-term accommodation options;

a sub-regional shopping centre, featuring a discount department store, supermarkets, quality specialty stores, cafes and entertainment;

several new large parks and networks of walking paths, bikeways and footbridges;

new community facilities including a major library and learning centre, a performance space, parks and other open spaces; and

a public transport hub providing links to Brisbane and other areas of the coast.

Do you have any visuals you can show us of the precinct?

We have some helpful aerials of the precinct that show how each element of our vision for central Kawana will come together. We will be showing these visuals in this and upcoming issues of Business Matters Magazine.

We have heard all different figures about the number of people and the amount of money it is envisaged we can expect locally from this development; can you enlighten us on some of these expected numbers?

This is a unique opportunity for the Sunshine Coast with various private and government investment of more than $3.5 billion in the precinct over the next five to seven years.

It is expected that the precinct will bring many new arrivals to the coast and eventually be home to around 10,000 residents. It will also provide jobs for more than 10,000 people, including approximately 4500 hospital positions.

An initial jobs boost created by construction activity will be complemented by a range of medical, retail, hospitality and other jobs, once projects are completed.

Our readers are very interested to hear timeframes. Can you give us some kind of overview

of what and when?

At this stage the private hospital component of the Kawana precinct is due for completion at the end of 2013 and stage one of the public is due to be finished by the end of 2016. We are working closely with the Sunshine Coast Council to finalise the planning of the balance of the precinct and we will advise anticipated dates for these elements at a later stage.

There are a lot of questions from our readers who are small to medium business owners on

how we will be affected – what would you say to these people?

We expect local business owners to be among those who benefit the most from this precinct.

The investment in the new public hospital will bring an influx of new workers and residents to the Sunshine Coast, creating new opportunities for local business growth.

Is there any other information you would like to share?

Central Kawana will be unique to the Sunshine Coast due to its unmatched focus on enabling people to work, live and socialise in the same location.

We have been making very good progress with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council in terms of planning the central Kawana area.

We look forward to continuing to work closely with council and all stakeholders to create a new heart for Kawana and the coast, which will be the envy of the region.

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