The Maroochydore CBD is the Sunshine Coast’s digitally forward, outdoorsy and sustainable city of the future but you don’t have to wait until then to enjoy what it has to offer.
Australia’s largest greenfield CBD development will be 20 years in the making, with some of the first major projects including a premium highrise hotel and new city hall.
But every new venture needs its pioneers and already the first businesses have opened their doors, adding budding life to the 53 hectare beachside metropolis of tomorrow.
Since stage one was opened to the public in August 2019, the first restaurant has just recently opened and public events are being held in the first of what will be many public parklands.
The first residential towers are rising out of the ground and the first commercial businesses have moved into office spaces in the first commercial tower.
Here are five things you can already check out in stage 1 of the new Maroochydore CBD.
Market Bistro
Tony Kelly is a well-known restaurateur on the Sunshine Coast and the owner of Rice Boi in Mooloolaba.
Earlier in December he opened Market Bistro (pictured above), the first restaurant in the Maroochydore CBD, on the ground floor of Foundation Place – the first commercial building.
Demand has exceeded expectations, with the European-style bistro booked out every night this week and New Year’s Eve.
Mr Kelly said he was excited to be a pioneer and made the decision to open in the CBD because he was confident of its future.
So confident in fact he is only days away from officially opening his second restaurant in Foundation Place, Giddy Geisha, modelled on the popular Rice Boi in Mooloolaba.
Mr Kelly said the response to Market Bistro’s opening had been “humbling” and it was already tracking about 30 per cent above his forecast.
“It’s kind of cool to be a pioneer and be the first food and beverage in the CBD because eventually everyone will be tripping over to get in,” he said.
“The general consensus is that we’re looking forward to 2021 and seeing it coming out of the ground.”
Get more news direct to your inbox by subscribing to our free daily news feed: Go to SUBSCRIBE at top of this article to register.
StrEATside Markets
This is how people envision the perfect day on the Sunshine Coast: A trip to the beach in the morning followed by a relaxing afternoon at the markets.
That’s why the StrEATside Markets at the MET public parklands area changed its Sunday opening hours to 2pm to 8pm.
The markets will resume in 2021 with live music and food trucks selling wood-fired pizza, dumplings, loaded fries and hot dogs, vegan ice cream, authentic French crepes, churros and donuts, as well as Thai, Japanese, Korean and Mexican cuisine.
There is also craft beer, cocktails and wine in a mostly family friendly scene where you can sprawl on a picnic blanket in the afternoon sun.
The StrEATside Market will be closed over the holiday period and will resume in 2021 so keep an eye on their Facebook page.
Market Lane
Why just visit the Maroochydore CBD when you could live there?
Market Lane is the first residential development with two towers of luxury two and three-bedroom apartments and five penthouses.
But you’ll have to be quick because 80 per cent of the properties have sold since coming on the market in September.
At this rate it’s expected the remaining apartments, priced between $488,900 and $1.2m, will be all snapped up a full year before construction is complete.
Market Lane is billed as a new era in luxurious living on the Coast, within walking distance to “everything” – from restaurants to beaches and parks – and its own 25m resort pool.
In fact, you could choose to work from home in one of the six small office-home office terraces.
The top of the highrises will offer vast panoramas of the coastline and hinterland. Across the road is the town square and 2 hectares of parklands.
The Colombian Coffee Co
A popular cafe in Mooloolaba and Buderim has also opened shop in the Maroochydore CBD, with its roasted beans wafting from a shipping container.
Owner Daniel Mejia said he can already see the day when the city centre will be bustling with office workers and visitors.
Of course, they’ll all be wanting a good cuppa and perhaps a snack or two.
The Colombian opened three weeks ago and has been serving takeaway hot beverages and treats such as the Colombian street food known as arepas – a corn bread filled with various meat and vegetables.
It will close over Christmas before re-opening on January with opening hours of 6am to 12pm and opening later on Sundays to accommodate the StrEATside Markets.
“I believe this is an area that will get busier, it’s just a matter of time before there are offices and people everywhere and I wanted to be part of that,” Mr Mejia said.
For now the Colombian is a takeaway service but Mr Mejia said it would grow along with the CBD.
Open spaces
The Maroochydore CBD has been designed for outdoor living and once complete about 40 per cent of the total site will be devoted to outdoor space and waterways.
With most people living in apartments, the parklands, walkways and cycle paths will be their backyard and a meeting point for the community.
The first public parklands which opened in August 2019 are the Metropolitan, known as The Met, and Foundation Square.
Until COVID hit, the idea for The Met was to host events and festivals from its stage and grassed ampitheatre.
When events are not being held, the green space is open to the public for picnics and relaxation.
Every Sunday the StrEATside Markets are held at The Met (resuming in 2021) which is located on the corner of First Avenue and South Sea Islander Way.
Foundation Square is another parkland for public enjoyment.
