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National developer Stockland (ASX: SGP) is gearing up for construction of the Aura Town Centre early next year in the latest phase for the $5 billion Aura development, Australia’s largest master-planned community which is transforming the southern edge of the Sunshine Coast.
Stockland has appointed FDC Construction & Fitout to build the first stage of the centre which will comprise 16,300sqm of retail space when completed.
The Sydney-based FDC is a specialist in commercial projects, most recently completing Suntory Oceania's new 2,700sqm headquarters in Darling Park and topping out Macquarie Data Centres' IC3 Super West project at Macquarie Park.
While Stockland has yet to reveal any lease agreements struck for the new Aura Town Centre, the company says the project will be anchored by major supermarkets, two mini-majors, 55 specialty shops and kiosks, and three non-retail tenancies, which could be occupied by health and wellbeing services or other businesses.
The project will also deliver 680 street-level and basement car parking spaces.
The Aura master-planned community, which spans three suburbs on the Sunshine Coast south-west of Caloundra, will ultimately comprise about 20,000 homes that are expected to house around 50,000 people.
Described by Stockland as Australia's largest master-planned community, Aura will deliver a mix of housing, retail, employment and extensive green spaces over multiple stages.
Stockland’s development director Josh Sondergeld says the appointment of FDC takes the group a step closer to creating a key retail destination for Aura residents and the broader community.
“We know the importance of having shops, dining and services within easy reach for our residents,” says Sondergeld.
“Aura Town Centre will be a high-quality retail, dining and entertainment precinct just a short drive, cycle or walk for the community.”
Baringa, the first suburb established by the Aura development, already has a retail centre anchored by an IGA supermarket.
Nirimba, the second suburb developed, will be the site for the new Aura Town Centre to be built next to the Notre Dame College which took its first students at the beginning of this year.
Stockland began construction at Aura about a decade ago and is now selling lots in new releases at Banya, the third suburb in the project’s master plan.
Construction of the Aura Town Centre is expected to start early next year with Stockland targeting completion in late 2027.
Once complete, the town centre will connect with the 5.3-hectare Aura Parklands, a leisure destination including a swimming lagoon, barbeque and picnic areas, and event spaces, which started construction in June 2025.
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