It’s not just by the beach that you’ll find the Sunshine Coast’s best waterfront properties.

The region’s various water supply dams also provide acres of shoreline for hinterland property owners to enjoy a waterfront location or water view. Baroon Pocket Dam, which can be accessed from both Montville and Maleny, Ewen Maddock Dam between Landsborough and Glenview, Wappa Dam between Yandina and Image Flat, and the Cooloolabin Dam near Yandina all provide waterfront living opportunities.

The Maroochy River has created plenty of fantastic waterfront sites as it meanders towards the rivermouth

The Maroochy River and its tributaries have created plenty of fantastic waterfront sites as they meander towards the rivermouth past the towns of Yandina and Bli Bli. Other hinterland estates feature man-made lakes or take advantage of creeks feeding into the main river systems. On the western side of the range, the Obi Obi valley has properties on dozens of picturesque watercourses. However, it’s not just its diversity that makes the hinterland an appealing property proposition; it also offers more real estate for your dollar.

Anyone prepared to accept living a greater distance from the beach and the major shopping amenities can get a far bigger allotment for the price they would pay for a 600-square metre block in a prime beachside pocket. A 2.5-acre property with a creek, waterfall and fruit trees on a large acreage can be picked up for around $700,000 or even less on the western side of the highway, and the cost benefits are ongoing. Rural-residential property owners can expect to pay about half the rates of their urban cousins. Price, nevertheless, hinges on the location and size of a property.

The region’s various water supply dams also provide acres of shoreline for hinterland property owners

Some areas of the hinterland, such as Rosemount, Diddillibah and Chevallum, attract better resale values while others, such as Yandina Creek and North Arm, have larger tracts of land for around the same price, for running cattle or horses. Typical rural-residential estates, with lots ranging from 1.5 to three acres, come with underground power, kerb and channelling, phone connections and lighting. Mobile phone black spots are also disappearing. While urban hinterland areas are connected to the municipal water and sewerage schemes, 90 per cent of other properties come with their own water supply.

Fortunately, a 10,000-gallon tank is generally adequate in a high rainfall area such as the Sunshine Coast. Subdivision potential is no longer the great consideration it was in the past. Only a handful of areas are available for sustainable rural-residential subdivision under the town plan and with major decisions now resting with State Government rather than the local government, it is much tougher to cut off a block. This means land is limited and there are only so many zonings for acreage living, making hinterland land a highly valued commodity. Nevertheless, property prices are holding their own.

HINTERLAND NEWS

Cooroy park upgrade
Cooroy’s Apex Park is getting a major makeover from Sunshine Coast Council. “After receiving a petition to improve the park from Cooroy residents, and in consultation with council staff, I secured $85,000 in funding for this revamp,” Division 12 councillor Lew Brennan says. Last month old fencing was removed and new playground equipment installed as part of the makeover. The fencing was rearranged to include the total playground footprint so all playground equipment is now secured. Cooroy resident Kate Rush, who presented the petition to the council, was delighted with the response. “My aim was for council to make better use of the park layout and get some new play equipment for local kids,” she says. In February work will start on stage one when the old playground will be upgraded to include a multi-age climbing structure. Existing play elements will be relocated and new trees will be planted to provide park-goers with more sun protection.


Precinct taking shape
Sunshine Coast Council has mapped out a number of priority works for the Maleny precinct, which will be ready to go this year. Division five councillor Jenny McKay is pleased to see it starting to take shape. “The Maleny Community Precinct masterplan is a culmination of many years of community and council collaboration to provide community-use facilities on former agricultural land,” she says. “The three-year staging of the plan is now well underway, and 2012 will be a year of delivery with $2 million to be invested in precinct works.” One of the first projects will be the walking trails scheduled to start construction after April. The first stage of works on the historic Pattemore House have now also been completed. Further works planned in 2012 include construction of the first part of the Parkland Drive access road into the precinct. It is also hoped Maleny Golf Club’s Material Change of Use for the first nine holes of its golf course will be finalised in the next few weeks.