New plans for the development of a high-profile site have been revealed, with two apartment towers containing 179 units plus ground-floor commercial tenancies now proposed.
A development application was submitted last week by Gardner Vaughan Group for the project known as Eden Caloundra, at 1-9 Bulcock Street and 45-47 Bombala Terrace, Caloundra.
The prime 5296sqm block in 2021 was earmarked for the $250 million Paloma Paloma development, one of the Coast’s most controversial resort projects in recent times.
But by March 2023, Sunshine Coast News reported that all had gone silent from developer CURA Habitas Pty Ltd, and the owner’s consent for the project was withdrawn in May 2023.
The site was then put up for sale, with SCN reporting in January 2024 that a buyer had been found.
SCN has confirmed that buyer was the Gardner Vaughan Group, which is now behind the latest development application.
A town planning report prepared by Urban Strategies Pty Ltd provides more details about the proposal.
“This application proposes a staged mixed-use development comprising two apartment towers offering 179 units, situated on a one- to two-storey podium containing five commercial tenancies, along with communal open space and car parking area on three levels (one full basement),” it states.
The report notes that the new proposal would not be a hotel.
“Short-term accommodation is also included in recognition of the likely use of individual units for this purpose (limited to leasing as an AirBnB or the like); however, this use will remain an ancillary to the primary multiple-dwelling use and occur solely at the discretion of future apartment owners,” it states.
“Specifically, the development has not been designed in a manner supporting its future operation as a permanent short-term accommodation use such as a hotel.”
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The site comprises nine parcels creating a rhomboid-shaped developable area with frontages to Bulcock Street, Knox Avenue, Bombala Terrace and Canberra Terrace.
The proposed development would be done over two stages and have a total gross floor area of 19,756sqm.
The east tower would be built in stage one and reach 10 storeys, while the west tower would be part of the second stage and reach 11 storeys. The maximum tower height would not exceed more than 30m above natural ground level.
The 179 apartments would be made up of 78 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units, 59 three-bedroom units and 20 four-bedroom units.
The five commercial tenancies would be capable of accommodating a range uses including food and drink outlets, healthcare services and offices. They would have a combined floor area of 904sqm, with three fronting Bulcock Street and two fronting Knox Avenue.
Parking would be provided for a total of 377 vehicles across the basement and podium levels, with 285 resident spaces, 37 commercial spaces, 45 visitor spaces and 10 motorcycle spaces.
The report says the site is currently occupied by a number of established residential and commercial buildings, including R2R Bazaar, an op shop by homelessness charity Roofs to Recovery.
The site is identified in the Caloundra Local Plan as Key Site 1 (Top of Town), which is to be developed as an “exemplar mixed-use development that anchors the eastern gateway into Bulcock Street and showcases the site’s spectacular views and prominent location through outstanding design and public realm outcomes”.
Gardner Vaughan Group is an award-winning property developer and builder with a 100 per cent completion rate and more than 35 years’ experience in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. It has expertise in commercial projects, student accommodation, childcare centres, schools and other residential properties. Over the past 10 years the company’s focus has been on apartment developments.
Eden Caloundra will be GVG’s fourth Sunshine Coast development, following Zinc and Bask at Bokarina and Revive Oceanside at Birtinya.
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Director Samuel Gardner said GVG was fully committed to seeing the project to completion.
“Gardner Vaughan Group is thrilled to be launching Eden Caloundra – our latest vision for coastal living on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“As our fourth project in the region, we have developed a deep appreciation for the local lifestyle and community, and we are excited to further strengthen our presence in Caloundra. This project reflects our commitment to delivering thoughtfully designed homes in sought-after locations, and we look forward to bringing Eden to life.
“We understand that locals have been eagerly anticipating an update on the site, and we sincerely appreciate the community’s patience as we continue our detailed planning.
“Our goal is to ensure that Eden integrates with Caloundra’s unique character while offering a modern, high-quality living experience. We are dedicated to creating a development that enhances Bulcock Street and the wider Caloundra area.
“We are excited to share that Eden will be officially launched later this year, with construction set to commence in early 2026.
“At Gardner Vaughan Group, we pride ourselves on our unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality developments. We only commence projects when we are fully committed, a philosophy that is reflected in our 100 per cent completion rate. This dedication ensures that every project we undertake is thoughtfully planned and successfully delivered.
“We take our opportunities seriously and follow through on our commitments – not only to our buyers, who place their trust in us to create exceptional homes, but also to the communities in which we operate.”
The Paloma Paloma project seemed to polarise the community from the start when the then-unnamed developer coated the entire site on Caloundra’s main street in bright orange as a marketing tactic.
