Dust off your credit cards and get ready to shop ‘til you drop – Aura’s hotly anticipated shopping centre is officially on the horizon, with a development application hitting the Economic Development Queensland portal today, 21 January 2025.

A development application has been lodged for Lot 11 Aura Boulevard, Bells Creek, kicking off Stage 1 of the Aura Town Centre.

The proposal, touted to rival the vibrant West Village at West End, includes plans for two storeys of shops, food outlets, markets, business spaces, healthcare services, and even indoor entertainment and sports facilities.

The application states The Aura Town Centre will be a “significant addition to the Sunshine Coast that is creating a ‘community of communities’”.

Precedent projects used to develop the plan include the West End West Village in Brisbane, New Market in Randwick, and Chermside Westfield.

Expect to see vibrant “laneways” inspired by Melbourne’s iconic CBD as part of the design.

The approval document states the centre is “consistent with the site’s intent pursuant to the Caloundra South Master Plan and Aura Town Centre Priority Development Area by providing employment generating uses supported by complementary services and
amenities”

In basic terms, that’s jobs and shops for us all.

The proposed Stage 1 retail development will deliver the initial phases of the broader shopping centre within the Town Centre Core sub-precinct.

The plan outlines a gross floor area of 71,250 sqm, which is roughly equivalent to 2.5 rugby league football fields.

There is a plan for 403 basement car spaces and 265 outdoor car spaces.

No expected completion date has been tabled, but Urbis has fronted up a whopping $22,735 application fee to officially kickstart the process.