The long-debated Twin Waters West development has officially moved into the early stages of construction, with soil testing and kangaroo protection fencing kicking off a project that’s been more than a decade in the making.
Spanning 104 hectares and promising around 450 new homes, the Stockland-led masterplanned community sits between the Maroochy River and the Sunshine Motorway, on land that’s been at the centre of community discussion since the original application in 2008.
While the site was only approved in late 2023 after years of council resistance and community objection, this week marks a tangible turning point.
What’s happening on site?
Construction crews, led by SEE Civil, are now on the ground between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Their first job? Building three trial embankments to monitor soil settlement before full-scale development begins.
According to a Stockland spokesperson, these trial embankments will help engineers understand how the site’s soil will behave long-term, a critical step for a project of this scale in a flood-prone region.
Temporary fencing is also being installed, including specialised barriers to protect the site’s kangaroo population during the works.
A unique approach to managing wildlife
Perhaps the most talked-about feature of this early phase isn’t the earthworks, it’s the kangaroo management strategy.
The development has been subject to strict environmental and wildlife protection conditions, including a council-mandated kangaroo plan developed in consultation with biodiversity specialists.
Division 8 Councillor Taylor Bunnag confirmed this week that resident kangaroos will be guided away from construction zones by trained fauna spotters and moved toward a slashed reserve area in the site’s south and east.
“This approach has been determined to be the safest and most responsive way to manage the resident macropod population,” Bunnag said.
Importantly, the strategy also reduces the risk of kangaroos dispersing toward high-traffic areas like the Sunshine Motorway and David Low Way.
Fencing will be installed to keep kangaroos within safe zones, while the western boundary will remain partially unfenced to discourage movement toward public paths and roads.
What happens next?
Stockland expects these preliminary works, soil compaction, fencing, and embankment testing, to be completed by September 2025, weather permitting.
Construction access is being directed via De Vere Road, with Stockland noting there may be some localised noise and dust as work ramps up.
This is just the beginning. The final approval for Twin Waters West came with more than 100 development conditions, including water-quality monitoring and the establishment of a flood evacuation centre.
The development has come a long way from its rocky beginnings. First proposed in 2008, it faced two council rejections and significant pushback from locals. But as early machinery moves in and environmental safeguards go up, it’s clear that Twin Waters West is no longer just a plan, it’s becoming a reality.
The TGB Take
Twin Waters West is one of the Sunshine Coast’s most high-profile residential projects, and its early works are already providing valuable insights into how developers can strike a balance between progress and protection.
Whether it’s soil monitoring or macropod management, every step is being watched closely by locals, by environmentalists, and by the broader construction industry.
For builders: why this matters
For builders and construction businesses looking to get involved in major residential precincts, projects like Twin Waters West show how much early-stage groundwork is being prioritised from environmental planning to soil performance.
Now more than ever, developers are seeking contractors and builders who understand the full scope of what it takes to deliver in a regulated, highly visible project environment.
Key takeaways:
- Environmental readiness is a differentiator: Builders who can demonstrate experience with wildlife-sensitive zones or water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) are better positioned for these kinds of projects.
- Noise and dust controls are under the spotlight: With access roads through existing communities, managing public impact from heavy machinery is crucial for maintaining project goodwill.
- Soil knowledge = site speed: Understanding soil compaction rates and having engineers on hand for quick recalibration can save weeks in early phases.
As the project progresses into civil and then residential stages, builders who have a working relationship with councils, a track record of collaboration with environmental consultants, and a tight compliance process will be in demand.
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