It was a successful start for the 2022 Infrastructure Series when the Flinders Foundation hosted 70 guests from the Flinders community and wider Sunshine Coast last Thursday, 24 March.
Guests gathered in the Flinders Performance Centre Upper Foyer over canapés and drinks to learn more about ‘The Bright City’ – the new Maroochydore City Centre, which is set to shape the future by creating a cleaner, greener, dynamic city centre.
Principal Stuart Meade opened the evening, welcoming speakers and guests and thanking them for supporting the Flinders Foundation in its important work to deliver key College projects for the benefit of students, now and into the future.
The event was emceed by communication consultant Jennifer Swaine, with presentations by Murray McCarthy, Walker Corporation’s Project Director for the Maroochydore City Centre and Dirk Long, a Director of Queensland-based development company Evans Long.
The event sponsor was Pacific Law, a national law firm with a local office in Maroochydore.
The speakers gave insights into the historic agreement for The Bright City, signed between the Sunshine Coast Council, Walker Corporation and SunCentral Maroochydore Pty Ltd.
Murray began by sharing the vision for the Walker Corporation’s $2.5 billion investment in the 53-hectare city centre as Australia’s only current greenfield CBD, located 10 km from the upgraded Sunshine Coast Airport.
Guests learned The Bright City will feature a major parkland and lake, including close to eight hectares of quality urban park with open lawns, shaded picnic areas, play equipment and public amenities.
The development will feature 160,000 square metres of commercial and retail space and 4,000 apartments, and create more than 15,000 jobs and massive training opportunities over a 15 – 20 year period.
Designed for the 21st century, the new Maroochydore CBD is a ground-breaking development, embedded with smart technology throughout and boasting Australia’s fastest data connection to Asia from the East Coast.
The next Infrastructure Series 2022 event will be held on Thursday, 13 October 2022 about the plans for Australia’s first food and agribusiness precinct on the Sunshine Coast.
The Flinders Foundation aims to connect, support and engage the community and to encourage philanthropic support for the College to benefit students, current and future.
This is the second year of the Flinders Foundation presenting the Infrastructure Series, with successful sold-out events in 2021.
About the Flinders Foundation
The Flinders Foundation aims to connect, support and engage the community and to encourage philanthropic support for Matthew Flinders Anglican College. This enables the Foundation to support key projects at the College, including student scholarships, information events and building infrastructure projects, including the newly opened Wonderarium learning centre. The Wonderarium is wholly funded by the Flinders Foundation for the long-term benefit of students, current and future.
Speaker Biographies
Murray McCarthy | Project Director, Maroochydore City Centre, Walker Corporation
Murray is the Project Director for Walker Corporation on the Maroochydore City Centre development, a $2.5 billion project between Walker Corporation, SunCentral and Sunshine Coast City Council. Murray has held positions at a range of major property development companies in the UK and Australia, including Stockland and Multiplex. During this time he was responsible for the design and delivery of numerous built form projects including Strata SE1 - one of London’s tallest and most iconic residential towers. He has also worked in a corporate and legal capacity at QGC and Allens Arthur Robinson (now Allens Linklaters) in Brisbane.
Dirk Long | Director Evans Long
Dirk is a Director of Evans Long, a Queensland-based development company he founded in 2011 with his business partner Matthew Evans. Evans Long has offices in the Maroochydore City Centre and Brisbane and has delivered a diverse range of projects, including commercial, medical and multi-residential facilities throughout Queensland. Dirk Long has a wealth of experience in commercial property and auctioneering.
Jennifer Swaine | Marketing and Communications
Jennifer is a communications consultant to Regional Development Australia, Sunshine Coast; Chair of the Sunshine Coast Business Awards; Vice President of the Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance; and a Non-Executive Director of Visit Sunshine Coast. She is a regular columnist in the Sunshine Coast Daily and Hello Sunshine and works hard to actively promote, connect and collaborate with others to promote and increase the profile of the greater Sunshine Coast.
Flinders Foundation
Contact:
Rachel Sotiropoulos
Flinders Foundation Liaison
Email: foundation@mfac.edu.au
Website: https://www.mfac.edu.au/community/flinders-foundation/
CONNECT | ENGAGE | SUPPORT
