In short:
A 39-hectare farm for sale in the heart of the Sunshine Coast would become a ”technology village” under an idea proposed by the region’s former mayor.
The farm was owned and worked by Peter Wise and his family for generations until his death earlier this year.
What’s next?
The Sunshine Coast Council is considering a development application for the site, with those close to the family saying Mr Wise supported the ”best use of the land”.
A working farm in the heart of the Sunshine Coast’s most urbanised area would become a kind of tech-focused Silicon Valley under an idea put forward by the region’s former mayor.
Farm owner Peter Wise passionately advocated for how the properties he worked for close to 60 years would be developed.
Already, sections of his former lands now sit beneath critical motorways and residential projects.
Mr Wise died suddenly in January, and the family’s 39 hectares have been on the market since 2022.
The site had won approval for development more than a decade ago.
A new application, made in 2022, seeks approval to build up to 570 dwellings including retirement living, traditional homes on residential blocks, townhouses, and apartments.
Change comes to Sunshine Coast
Since Mr Wise’s death, the family has gone ahead with a development application on the site to honour his legacy and vision.
He was not the only one who saw big potential for the pastures.
Former mayor Mark Jamieson led the region for close to 12 years as the Sunshine Coast built an international airport, town centre, and international broadband connection.
He paid tribute to the Wise family, saying its care of the site was to be celebrated.
Mr Jamieson, who was not part of any formal development of the farm at this stage, said the site should be developed “reasonably intensively”.
“I would see opportunity for six to eight-storey apartments where there would be a focus on technology,” he said.
“A technology village where people effectively lived and worked in the same environment.
“Not everyone would do that, but that would be the objective.”
Plan could ‘satisfy’ housing crisis
Mr Jamieson said there had been a “massive change” in office culture, and this was an opportunity to have people living, learning, and working in one place.
“It may also include an education facility where the focus is around technology again, so you’re bringing forward the sort of skills and knowledge you want for the future.”
He said there was a need to “satisfy the housing crisis” across the Sunshine Coast and south-east Queensland by ensuring large amounts of residential units were included.
“To under-develop that site with just single or even double-storey homes, I think is at odds with the best interest of the Sunshine Coast in the future.”
What to do with a farm in the middle of a city
Wises’ farm sits at the base of the luxuriously priced Buderim mountain, minutes from the emerging Maroochydore city centre and sands of Mooloolaba beach.
The farm is bordered by a housing estate, a major motorway, and a canal-lined estate of townhouses beyond that.
To give an idea of the land’s value, the council spent $42 million to purchase the 53-hectare Horton Park Golf Club in 2012, so it could develop the Maroochydore CBD.
At that time the median house price was $448,000. It now tops the $1 million mark.
The family’s application aligns with the current council planning rules that govern the site.
It allows the tallest building to be 15 metres high or about four storeys on the northern and eastern parts of the site, and just 8.5m or two storeys on the western side.
Farmer wanted ‘highest, best use’ for land
Town planner James Brownsworth was a close friend and professional advisor to Mr Wise.
He said he suspected few other major centres would have available green space that could be prepared for development.
Mr Brownsworth and his team helped put together and file the application to the council for the Wise family.
He said the work of the late farmer showed he “had a big-picture view of the highest and best use of the land”.
“That was about more than just subdividing it into traditional residential blocks,” Mr Brownsworth said.
“What that ultimately looked like, Peter had his own ideas, but he was also open to the ideas of others.”
Mr Brownsworth said Mr Wise would not necessarily have been against the proposal because he always wanted something special for his farm.
“I think what I can say with certainty is that it was more than just repeating what had happened around it.”
The Sunshine Coast Council is considering the development application.
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