Jaz Realty

21/05/2026

A 104-hectare masterplanned housing development will deliver 450 new homesites on the Sunshine Coast.

Stockland has officially launched Stockland Twin Waters, a masterplanned community that will include homesites across private waterfront, waterfront and dry lots.

The site has been designed to integrate with the existing community, with more than 50 per cent dedicated to open space.

This includes a 17.4-hectare lake, shared pedestrian and cycling paths, walking trails, parks, waterside park areas and a dedicated kangaroo reserve.

Stockland Development director Josh Sondergeld said the project had been designed around its coastal setting in the sought-after area, reflecting its position between the Maroochy River and surrounding natural landscape.

“Stockland Twin Waters has been designed to set a new benchmark for waterside living on the Sunshine Coast, with the masterplan responding to both its natural setting and the way people increasingly want to live,” Mr Sondergeld said.

“The generous homesites range from 500 square metres to 1200 square metres, with average lot sizes of around 700 square metres, giving buyers the flexibility to build their dream home, whether they are relocating to enjoy the coastal lifestyle, upgrading the family home, or right-sizing for their next chapter.”

In addition to its green space, the Stockland Twin Waters community will feature a range of lifestyle amenities, including proposed waterside recreation such as kayak launch pads and pickleball courts, as well as proposed future retail and convenience offerings as the community grows.

Sunshine Coast Business Council Chair Sandy Zubrinich said new residential developments played an important role in increasing housing supply and housing diversity at a time when the region continued to experience extremely tight housing conditions, with the Sunshine Coast rental vacancy rate sitting at around 0.8 per cent.

“New developments like Stockland Twin Waters are important in helping respond to ongoing housing demand on the Sunshine Coast, particularly as supply continues to struggle to keep pace with population growth,” Ms Zubrinich said.

“Supply of large, level homesites is also limited, and releases like this support housing options at different price points and mobility across the market, with buyers transitioning into larger homes helping to create more attainable opportunities elsewhere in the region.”

Stockland Queensland state sales manager Tina Campbell added that interest in Stockland Twin Waters was expected to be strong, with demand for new land on the Sunshine Coast continuing to outpace supply, particularly in established growth corridors.

“Stockland Twin Waters responds to the growing demand for coastal and waterside living that prioritises wellbeing, access to the natural environment and the outdoor lifestyle that the Sunshine Coast is known for ” she said.

Stockland Twin Waters is minutes away from the Maroochydore CBD, Sunshine Coast Airport, the Twin Waters Golf Club and Mudjimba Beach.

The first release of 17 homesites is scheduled for late July, with pricing expected from $1.15 million.

15/05/2026

Housing shortages on the Sunshine Coast could face further pressure, with the building industry warning federal budget tax changes may result in fewer homes being built during the ongoing housing crisis.

The warning comes as the nation’s peak residential building body claims changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax would reduce housing supply nationally.

Housing Industry Association chief economist Tim Reardon said Australia was already struggling to keep up with housing demand.

“Australia’s housing challenge is simple. Consider it as if we are trying to fit 11 million households into around 10 million homes,” Mr Reardon said.

“The solution to a housing shortage is to build more homes. This budget does the opposite.”

The government will limit negative gearing to new builds from July 1, 2027, while replacing the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount with inflation-based cost indexation and introducing a minimum 30 per cent tax on capital gains.

Existing arrangements for current property owners will remain unchanged.

Treasury analysis found the changes could result in about 35,000 fewer homes being built over the next decade while increasing rents by about $2 a week.

However, Treasury modelling also forecast the changes could shift more homes into owner-occupier hands, boosting home ownership by about 75,000 people over the same period.

“The government is stopping 35,000 private homes from being built in order to raise enough revenue to build around 4000 public homes,” Mr Reardon said.

“That is a terrible trade-off in the middle of a housing crisis.”

The Sunshine Coast’s housing pressures have intensified in recent years, with strong population growth, critically low vacancy rates and rising costs continuing to squeeze renters and buyers.

Research from CBRE’s Sunshine Coast Market Report 2025 found the region’s population reached 384,500 in 2025 and forecast it would climb to 440,200 by 2032 – an increase of almost 56,000 residents.

REIQ figures also showed vacancy rates sitting at just 0.7 per cent, well below healthy market levels.

Mr Reardon warned the budget changes risked worsening rental affordability over time.

“At a time when vacancy rates remain critically low, reducing the number of investor-funded homes being built will inevitably place upward pressure on rents,” he said.

“But you cannot tax your way out of a housing shortage.

“The only lasting solution to housing affordability is more homes.”

The federal government defended the reforms, arguing the existing system was failing younger Australians.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government reversed earlier assurances not to alter negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions because maintaining the status quo risked doing more harm.

“The changes would rebalance the tax burden so it was shared more fairly between income from assets – typically relied upon by wealthier, older, Australians – and labour, which younger Australians have a greater reliance on,” he said, according to AAP.

Mr Reardon said the reforms misunderstood how housing investment supported future construction activity.

“Investors are critical to funding new housing supply and commenced around half of all new home builds in the past,” he said.

“If investors leave the housing market, fewer projects proceed and fewer homes get built.

“The government assumes investors will simply redirect their money into new homes, but housing investment doesn’t work like that.

“If the overall attractiveness of residential investment falls, fewer investors participate overall.”

13/05/2026

13/05/2026

A unique retro campervan that has turned heads across the Sunshine Coast – and the country – is up for grabs with its owner hoping someone else can now chase their travel dreams.

Caloundra’s Tarnia van der Helm is selling her 1975 Volkswagen Type 2 converted RV, affectionately known as ‘Peachy’.

And, with a price tag of $95,000, Ms van der Helm believes her camper is the cheapest of its kind in Australia, with similar models selling upwards of $120,000.

The pale peach and white camper, rebuilt in 2022, has become something of a local celebrity, drawing attention wherever it goes.

“A company in Byron Bay made them and its front is from an original Kombi,” Ms van der Helm said.

“They only built 24 in total. It’s beautiful with wind-up screens and is even airconditioned.

“I’ve driven it to Sydney, a few trips around the Coast and been up and down to Byron a few times. No matter where you go, by the end of the night, you’ve made friends with everyone.

“People want to come have a look inside, take photos inside it, outside it, on it. It’s very unique.”

The van features a rebuilt transmission, a Subaru engine and a fully fitted interior with a bed, fridge, sink and off-grid power setup.

But for Ms van der Helm, it’s less about the specs and more about the lifestyle it represents.

“We grew up caravanning,” she said.

“It’s about meeting new people, seeing new places, camping under the stars… just getting out and seeing our beautiful country.”

13/05/2026

Young people entering the housing market face such significant difficulties that the government needs to break a major election promise on controversial tax changes, Treasurer Jim Chalmers insists.

A raid on investment properties, trusts and other investments forms the centrepiece of the federal budget.

The measures are designed to expand access to the property markets and fund a $250 tax offset for wage earners.

In the leadup to the last election, Labor promised not to touch negative gearing or the capital gains tax concession, but the Treasurer argued it was now more urgent to reform the policies.

A clamp down on negative gearing and a winding-back of the 50 per cent discount on capital gains tax will leave the nation’s finances $77 billion better off over the next 11 years, the government says.

Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson blasted the budget, accusing Labor of imposing new taxes and declaring the opposition would not support the changes.

The reforms will also allow more than 13 million workers to receive a $250 payment in every tax return from 2027 onwards.

While house prices have risen more than 400 per cent since 1999, average incomes have increased at less than half that rate.

The treasurer also flagged more potential tax cuts down the line as a result of the government’s savings.

According to the budget papers, Australia will be in a deficit of $28.3 billion this financial year, an improvement of about $8.5 billion from previous forecasts.

While future deficits are predicted to be smaller than previously expected, the nation’s finances aren’t expected to return to surplus for nearly a decade.

Under a clamp-down on wealthy investors, negative gearing – where a landlord can deduct losses on a rental property against their wages at tax time – will be limited to newly built homes from July 2027.

Homes bought before the announcement will be exempt from the changes until they’re sold.

The current 50 per cent discount on capital gains tax will also be overhauled, with the measure on existing properties to be linked to the current rate of inflation from July 2027, and a minimum tax rate of 30 per cent to be imposed.

So the changes don’t impact Australia’s housing pipeline, investors in new builds will be able to choose between the old and new tax schemes.

Gains on properties built before 1985 – which have previously been exempt from CGT – will also begin being taxed from July 2027 at the inflation-adjusted rate.

Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn said even though new properties were effectively quarantined from the changes, construction rates would still be stifled.

A 30 per cent minimum tax will also be imposed in discretionary trusts, which are often used by wealthy families to split income between family members and minimise tax.

Together, the changes to investment taxes will rake in an extra $8 billion, to be spent on the $250 “Working Australians Tax Offset” and the reintroduction of loss carry-backs for businesses and startups.

From July, companies earning less than $1 billion will be able to offset the current year’s tax losses against taxes paid up to two years earlier.

The government says the change will encourage businesses to invest and make them more resilient in a bid to boost Australia’s economic growth.

The government is now preparing for a pushback from landlords and wealthy Australians who will be unhappy about its negative gearing, capital gains and trusts reforms.

Winners and losers:-

-Winners

First-home buyers: a clamp-down on property investment is expected to help around 75,000 people into home ownership. Tax concessions for landlords and investors – including negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount – will be wound back.

Workers: anyone who earns a wage will get a $250 bonus on their tax return from July 2027. The payment will be made permanent and comes on top of other tax relief announced in previous budgets.

Hospital patients: Another $25 billion in federal money is being poured into public hospitals, while $5.9 billion will be spent making more medicines cheaper through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Small business owners: the current $20,000 instant asset write off for small businesses will be made permanent from the start of July.

Public transport users: billions of dollars have been set aside for infrastructure, with the budget including funding for Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop, upgrades for the Sydney-to-Canberra railway line, development works for high speed rail between Newcastle and Sydney and the electrification of Victoria’s Melton Line.

Motorists: Under a $12 billion fuel security package, the government will secure extra supplies of petrol, diesel and jet fuel in a bid to better insulate Australia from future oil price shocks.

-Losers

Future property investors: changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax will begin hitting investors from mid-2027, but properties currently owned will be grandfathered.

NDIS recipients: changes to eligibility for the National Disability Insurance Scheme will claw back around $15 billion by 2030.

Older Australians: a Howard-era decision to give people over-65 a more generous health insurance rebate has been scrapped to save $3 billion.

Wealthy families with trusts: a 30 per cent minimum tax will be imposed on discretionary trusts, which are often used by wealthy families to split income between family members and minimise tax.

Unskilled migrants: while Australia’s overall migrant intake will stay the same, more places will be allocated for skilled migrants, leaving less room for those without crucial qualifications.

Future electric vehicle owners: the fringe benefits tax exemption for electric vehicles is being made less generous over time, amid record-breaking EV sales.

12/05/2026

A long-established Sunshine Coast town has emerged as one of the state’s top locations for house sales.

Buderim had the third most house sales in Queensland during the first three months of this year, according to a property market analysis by InfoTrack.

The hilltop town trailed only growth areas Caboolture and Springfield Lakes.

InfoTrack COO Lee Bailie explained why the town was likely among the top spots for house sales.

“Buderim stands out because it offers a rare combination of lifestyle appeal and relative affordability within the Sunshine Coast market,” he said.

“Buyers are consistently drawn to established, family-friendly suburbs that provide space, strong amenity access, and coastal proximity without the premium price tags of beachfront locations.”

Mr Bailie said Buderim had long been a popular choice for homebuyers, especially now.

“Sustained demand is what keeps Buderim appearing among the state’s highest-volume suburbs for house sales,” he said.

“Buderim’s performance has been characterised by consistency, with periodic surges in demand that see it reappear in Queensland’s top-performing suburbs for house sales.

“What remains clear is that underlying demand for Buderim housing remains strong and resilient.”

Buderim was established in the late 1860s and was initially favoured for timber and agriculture.

The town is notable for its house designs, including classic Queenslanders and cottages, along with ocean-view mansions.

Mr Bailie said house turnover was likely to continue there.

“Looking ahead, Buderim is expected to remain a highly active suburb, underpinned by ongoing lifestyle demand across the Sunshine Coast,” he said.

“While market conditions will naturally fluctuate with interest rates and broader affordability pressures, suburbs that combine lifestyle appeal with established infrastructure are likely to continue attracting strong buyer interest.

“We expect Buderim to remain a consistent performer rather than a volatile one.”

It’s not the only Sunshine Coast town or suburb to see significant buyer activity,

“Maroochydore continues to be a standout for strata, particularly as large-scale development and infrastructure investment, such as the ongoing city centre transformation, support sustained buyer interest,” Mr Bailie said.

“We’re also seeing broader lifestyle-driven demand across Sunshine Coast suburbs, with activity increasingly distributed across multiple centres rather than concentrated in a single hotspot.”

01/05/2026

Construction has started on a 13-storey hotel development that is set to boost accommodation supply ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Work is underway on Crowne Plaza Maroochydore, on Ocean Street in the heart of the Sunshine Coast.

The milestone was marked by a sod-turning ceremony on Thursday, and construction is anticipated to be completed by 2028.

The project comes amid expectations the region will require more than 2400 additional rooms – about 10 new hotels – in the lead-up to the Games and beyond.

Crowne Plaza Maroochydore Sunshine Coast, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium portfolio, will feature 180 guest rooms alongside more than 900sqm of meeting and event space, including a 600sqm ballroom. The hotel will also include a 30m pool, gym, sauna, and secure basement parking across two levels.

Food and beverage offerings will include a 167-seat all-day dining restaurant, a 180-seat outdoor pool bar and lounge, a ground-floor signature dining venue, and a lobby bar.

IHG Hotels & Resorts will operate the hotel under its globally recognised premium Crowne Plaza brand.

Development firm Felix Capital director Michael Maroun said the start of construction was a critical step in supporting the region’s rapid growth.

“This project is about more than delivering a hotel, it’s about supporting the Sunshine Coast’s transformation into a world-class destination ahead of the Olympics and beyond,” he said.

“Maroochydore is fast emerging as a major commercial and lifestyle hub for the region and our project will put Ocean Street and Maroochydore at the epicentre of development over the next few years.”

IHG Hotels & Resorts managing director, Australasia & Pacific, Matthew Tripolone said the Sunshine Coast is evolving rapidly as a business and leisure destination.

“We are seeing strong demand for high-quality, internationally branded accommodation,” he said.

“This project is well positioned to support that growth and meet increasing demand ahead of 2032 and beyond.”

The development also includes AER Residences, which will comprise 24 luxury two and three-bedroom apartments across the top four levels of the hotel with prices starting from $1.65 million.

Mr Maroun said there was plenty of interest.

“While it’s still early days of our marketing campaign, we are seeing strong demand with 25 per cent of the apartments already sold,” he said.

“The majority of sales have been to owner-occupiers who want to be part of Maroochydore’s growth while living in a spacious architecturally designed home with select access to the Crowne Plaza’s facilities while also being within walking distance to major shopping, dining, sporting and medical facilities.”

The Crowne Plaza Maroochydore project was fast‑tracked under Sunshine Coast Council’s Hotel Investment Incentive Scheme, a targeted package of incentives designed to accelerate the delivery of new, high quality hotel rooms across the region.

Crowne Plaza Maroochydore was the second major hotel development approved through the scheme, which was introduced to address a critical shortfall in branded visitor accommodation and support the region’s reputation as a year-round destination for both business and leisure.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the start of construction reinforced Council’s commitment to supporting the region’s growth through enabling more branded accommodation product.

“This development is a significant win for Maroochydore and for the Sunshine Coast economy and Crowne Plaza Maroochydore is a clear example of how Council’s Hotel Investment Incentive Scheme is delivering results,” she said.

“The Sunshine Coast urgently needs more branded hotel rooms to support tourism, business events and continued economic growth, particularly in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and this is now the second major hotel to be approved and progressed through the incentive program.

High quality projects like Crowne Plaza Maroochydore are essential to meeting our region’s current and future tourism and business needs, supporting events, and longer visitor stays.”