Sunshine Coast Council has approved Rivianne, an 18-level, 180-apartment project by Habitat Development Group at 132–136 Aerodrome Road, Maroochydore. The 3,468 sqm site, home to two op shops, was bought for $13.5 million in June.
At 63 metres the building will stand well above the 40-metre height limit. It is another sign that Maroochydore is becoming the Sunshine Coast's high-rise heart.
The project at a glance
- Site: 132–136 Aerodrome Road, corner of First Avenue, Maroochydore QLD
- Site area: 3,468 sqm, Principal Centre zone
- Purchase: $13.5 million in June
- Buyer: Cleighton Clark, linked to Habitat Development Group
- Approval: 18 levels, 63 metres tall (23 metres above the height limit)
- Program: 180 dwellings and five ground-floor commercial tenancies
- Existing uses: a Neighbours Aid op shop (former AAMI service centre) and a Salvos Stores
A bigger scheme than before
A previous owner proposed a 12-storey, 104-apartment tower on the site in 2023. Rivianne replaces that plan with a taller building and 76 more homes, plus street-level shops facing Aerodrome Road and First Avenue.
Who is Habitat?
Habitat Development Group is an established Sunshine Coast developer. Its other local projects include Esperance, The Corso St Clair, Market Lane Residences and The Milwell.
Aerodrome Road is changing fast
Rivianne is not alone. In May, Devcon Property Group applied to replace the former Sizzler at 41–43 Aerodrome Road, a 4,178 sqm site it bought for $12 million about 13 months earlier. Its first stage is 13 storeys with 165 apartments and short-stay units, ground-floor retail and 286 car parks. Office investors are also active nearby, with RM Capital buying strata suites in the Plaza Links building late last year.
Why height is being approved
Maroochydore is the Sunshine Coast's main city centre, with a new CBD being built nearby. More homes close to jobs, transport and shops support that vision. Approving buildings above the height limit on key corner sites shows how much density the council is prepared to accept in the right places.
The Sunshine Coast housing squeeze
The Sunshine Coast has some of the tightest rental markets and fastest population growth in Queensland. Much of the existing housing is low-density, so adding apartments in the city centre is one of the few ways to supply more homes close to jobs and services without expanding further into rural land.
For investors and owner-occupiers, central Maroochydore apartments offer walkability to the beach, the river and the new CBD. For developers, the challenge is getting construction costs and sale prices to line up, which is why approvals with extra height and more dwellings can make the difference between a project that stalls and one that proceeds.
What it means for the market
- Older low-rise commercial sites in Maroochydore carry significant redevelopment value
- Mixed-use towers with ground-floor retail are the preferred model
- Developers are competing for corner sites with strong street presence
Lessons for developers
- Approvals drive value: a strong design can unlock more height and more homes
- Early marketing matters: off-the-plan buyers need renders, views and floor plans long before construction
- Precinct stories sell: showing a project within the growing city centre builds buyer confidence
What to watch next
Watch for Rivianne's launch and pre-sales, the Devcon decision for 41–43 Aerodrome Road and more low-rise sites along the corridor coming to market.