By Sonia Isaacs
A PROPOSED five-storey, 64-unit social housing development in the heart of Beerwah has sparked concern among neighbouring residents, who say they were given little warning about the project and fear it will permanently change their neighbourhood.
The development at 71 Beerwah Parade, to be delivered by the Queensland Government, has prompted complaints about the lack of community consultation, potential traffic congestion, privacy, property values and the cumulative impact of multiple social housing projects in the area.
Residents living alongside the development site said they first became aware of the project only after trees were cleared and fencing erected, with some receiving letters from the builder just weeks before construction activity began.
Neighbour, Melanie, who owns a townhouse adjoining the site, said she supported the need for more housing but was devastated by the scale of the development.
“My first reaction was anxiety over what this could do to the value of my home,” she said. “When the trees came down it completely changed the feel of the area. We lost birdlife and the quiet, private environment that attracted us here.”
She said residents were later informed the building would rise to five storeys, significantly higher than surrounding homes.
“My biggest concerns now are parking and traffic. There is already only one main access point into town and it can be difficult to get through at busy times.”
A long-term Beerwah resident, who has lived beside the site for many years, said he had expected government representatives to meet directly with affected neighbours before work commenced.
“I thought someone would come around and speak to us person to person,” he said. “Instead, we just got a letter in the mail. There was no opportunity to sit down and ask questions.”
The resident, who has worked in the development industry, questioned whether the project’s impacts on neighbouring properties had been adequately considered and said he believed the value of his home could be significantly affected.
Another neighbouring couple, Morgan and Brent, said they anticipated at least two years of disruption during construction.
Brent who works in the construction industry, said Beerwah Parade would likely be congested by workers’ vehicles throughout the build.
The couple said they searched the Sunshine Coast Council development mapping and online planning information but were unable to locate details about the project before construction preparations began.
In response to questions from this publication, a Department of Housing and Public Works spokesperson said the project complied with Queensland planning laws governing state-delivered public housing.
“As with all state-delivered social homes, the projects follow the planning requirements prescribed in the Planning Regulation 2017,” the spokesperson said.
“This project at Beerwah was determined as being ‘not substantially inconsistent’ with the relevant planning scheme and therefore did not require statutory public notification. “Despite this, the department undertook non-statutory community engagement, with letters sent to adjoining neighbours in October 2025.”
Under the Planning Regulation 2017, public housing developments are assessed by the department rather than local councils. Projects assessed as “not substantially inconsistent” with local planning schemes are exempt from statutory public consultation and do not require a development approval.
The department did not explain why the Beerwah project does not have a dedicated project webpage or consultation material published online, unlike some other proposed social housing developments in the area.
The project forms part of the Queensland Government’s broader program to increase the supply of social and affordable housing amid record demand across the state.
The development comes as several other social and affordable housing projects are planned or underway in the Beerwah area, leading some residents to question whether local infrastructure, traffic management and community services will keep pace with population growth.
A spokesperson for the Queensland Police Service said the service would continue assessing policing requirements as the community expands.
“The Queensland Police Service is committed to ensuring community safety,” the spokesperson said.
“QPS continues to monitor and assess community needs to allocate resources as required to meet any future growth in demand for policing services.”
While construction is expected to proceed under existing planning provisions, nearby residents say they remain frustrated by what they see as a lack of transparency and meaningful engagement before work began.
Member for Caloundra Kendall Hatcher was contacted for comment.
