Troubled wave park property set to hit the market by end of month
By Kirra Livingstone
A 25-hectare parcel of land earmarked for a $350m hinterland wave park is set to hit the market by the end of the month.
Property owner, Nurrowin Pty Ltd, was forced into external administration in December 2023 owing about $10 million to creditors.
While the value of the land is unknown, a 31-hectare property two kilometres from Beerwah’s town centre sold in late 2023 for $21m.
The company purchased the land at Glenview on Steve Irwin Way in 2015 and despite releasing plans for the project, including a $40 million wave park and 160-villa resort as early as 2016, the concept never advanced to construction.
The long-delayed project was further stalled when Sanad Capital – a Nurrowin subsidiary – appealed a decision by the Sunshine Coast Council to approve a rival wave park at Glass House Mountains.
A judgment by the Planning and Environment Court in June last year dismissed that appeal, with Sanad saying it was “disappointed” by the decision.
Glasshouse Chamber of Commerce president, Tamara Hazelden, said the demise of the wave park was disappointing for the region but that the property was to be sold with approvals in place meaning the area could still be home to a large-scale tourism project.
“The cancellation of the wave park could be seen as a missed opportunity for the community to benefit from a large-scale tourism development project,” she said.
“But the availability of the land could present an opportunity for potential investors to pursue alternative tourism ventures.
“This could lead to the development of new attractions or facilities that could draw visitors to the area and stimulate economic activity in the Glasshouse region.”
Following a long court case between Sanad, and Surf Parks Australia planning to build in Glass House Mountains, with the former appealing council’s decision to approve the second wave park, the region will now only see one wave park go ahead.
Despite this loss in local tourism opportunities for Glenview, the community will still reap the benefits from the other wave park in the Glass House Mountains.
“I understand our region still has a large-scale tourism project to be built along the Bruce which will stimulate the local economy,” she said.
“It will be great to see what happens with this parcel of land after all these years. I know locals were certainly excited to see something happening here.”
kirra@gcnews.com.au