25 Mar 2025
Words AccomProperties

Habitat Development Group defies construction crunch with huge Sunshine Coast pipeline

With current high costs across the construction industry posing significant challenges for new builds, builder-developers have shown that having integrated capabilities brings distinct advantages.

One such advantage is the ability to build at the point of site acquisition compared to what a standalone developer would ordinarily need to do; that is, wait until apartment sales have been secured before tendering for a builder.

The current construction outlook has allowed builder-developers such as Mirvac, Gardner Vaughan Group and Habitat Development Group to flourish.

In mid-2022, Habitat opened its first residential complex in the emerging $2.5 billion Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area (PDA): the 152-apartment Market Lane Residences. In 2024, Habitat commenced another Maroochydore PDA residential complex, the 158-apartment The Corso, which is now in the unit-sale phase.

National accommodation agency ResortBrokers recently brought the management rights of Market Lane Residences and The Corso to market for sale in one line.

“While Mirvac and Gardner Vaughan Group have a stronghold in Brisbane, Habitat has emerged as a significant player on the Sunshine Coast where it is one of the few construction groups to have succeeded in getting developments off the ground,” says ResortBrokers’ Director Tim Crooks, who is handling the Market Lane Residences and The Corso sale with Sunshine Coast Senior Broker Chenoa Daniel.

Habitat presently has under construction The Millwell, also in Maroochydore, which will have 205 apartments.

South of Maroochydore, the group has the 200-apartment St Clair on Lake Kawana under construction, which is scheduled for a Q1 2026 completion. Another earmarked Lake Kawana project is the 155-apartment Esperance.

Habitat’s projects comprise a pipeline of Sunshine Coast developments totalling approximately 560 apartments.

“Habitat takes a long-term outlook,” says Cleighton Clark, Managing Director, Habitat Development Group.

“The Sunshine Coast has excellent fundamentals as a residential market, especially with the billions being poured into the Priority Development Area that will see Maroochydore transform into a world-class urban centre. The Sunshine Coast also has one of the lowest vacancy rates in Australia and is presently undersupplied.” END