A proposed mixed-use resort development on Queensland’s Fraser Coast has moved forward after the Queensland Planning and Environment Court finalized an appeal concerning the planned Hervey Bay Esplanade Resort in Hervey Bay.

 

The AU$450 million project, proposed by Sunny Beach Land, is planned for a waterfront site along The Esplanade in Torquay and includes a five-star hotel and luxury residential component. The development received initial approval from the Fraser Coast Regional Council in 2024 before becoming the subject of a legal challenge from the Fraser Coast branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland.

The appeal focused largely on concerns regarding potential impacts from artificial lighting on migratory birds and endangered sea turtles along the coastline. During the court process, the developer agreed to a series of modifications to reduce environmental impacts, including lowering the scale of both high-rises and revising lighting and façade strategies. Under the updated proposal, the residential building has been reduced from an originally proposed 21-story to 16-story, while the hotel high-rise has been lowered from 18 to 12 stories. Design revisions also include updated lighting systems intended to minimize skyglow and reduce disruption to surrounding wildlife habitats.

The development is planned to include hotel accommodations, luxury apartments, conference facilities, pools, rooftop hospitality spaces, and approximately 1,000 square meters of retail and dining uses within a shared podium connecting the two towers. Marriott International has previously entered into a memorandum of understanding to operate the hotel under its Sheraton Hotels and Resorts brand.

As resort and residential development expands into ecologically sensitive waterfront areas, projects are facing greater scrutiny around habitat protection, lighting impacts, and long-term resilience within rapidly evolving coastal regions. The project reflects the increasingly complex relationship between coastal urban growth, tourism-driven density, and environmental stewardship.

Read more at The Urban Developer or view the project.