A developer hopes to start work early next year on a South Bank-style parkland and lagoon that will be part of a $45m park.
The lagoon will be the focal point of the southern half of People’s Park, which will form a landmark public recreation area within the Caloundra South Priority Development Area being developed as Aura by Stockland.
A report prepared for today’s Sunshine Coast Council meeting says an aquatic centre with a 2100sqm lagoon with graded edges and a maximum depth of 1.8m will be the focal point of People’s Park South.
The lagoon will be accompanied by a lifeguard tower, kiosk, change rooms, first aid room, plant area, manager’s office, staff facilities, barbecue areas, events lawn, pathways and a bridge over Central Avenue.
The lagoon will not be fenced but will be monitored by lifeguard services and an after-hours patrol, although it is proposed that there be provision for programmable lighting, CCTV and anti-drowning devices.
The council is set to take over the aquatic centre as a community asset and has been negotiating the terms with Stockland and Economic Development Queensland, which approved the Caloundra South PDA.
“Since 2018, council officers have been progressing negotiations in relation to the design of the aquatic facility and the terms under which council would accept ownership and responsibility of such a significant asset,” the report says.
“Detailed design has now progressed to a high-level certainty in relation to the infrastructure standards to which the aquatic facility must be constructed, the maintenance and renewal costs over a 30-year period and the provision of all the required plant, equipment and amenities to support the operation of the aquatic facility.”
The report says that a 30-year sinking fund has been accepted as appropriate to cover maintenance and renewal but further details of the fund remain confidential.
It says agreement has been reached to extend the developer’s defects liability period from one year to three years.
The sinking fund, lagoon defects period, lagoon operating fund and infrastructure standards form part of a proposed Deed of Variation to the Caloundra South PDA Infrastructure Agreement, which covers establishment of the lagoon.
“No updates on the progress of the Deed of Variation negotiations between Stockland, Economic Development Queensland and council have been provided to the community at this point in time, as doing so may prejudice the ongoing negotiations,” the report says.
The council officer’s report recommends that councillors authorise the CEO to finalise and execute the Deed of Variation and then make it available.
The report suggests that the arrangements need to be finalised as Stockland plans to begin work early next year and the lagoon will be operational by late 2026.
Stockland was contacted for comment and said it was looking forward to starting work on the lagoon and parkland.
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