Plan to transform Sunshine Coast farm into music festival venue by 2025

Hospitality firm the Comiskey Group have unveiled plans to turn a farm site on the Sunshine Coast into a ‘world-class’ music festival and event venue by 2025.

Comiskey Group have lodged a development application with the Sunshine Coast Council for an outdoor music festival and event site covering around 150 hectares at Coochin Creek.

Comiskey Group Director Rob Comiskey said the group envisaged the project as a “world class theatre” that would be the largest outdoor event venue in Australia.

With the location to be set up for events, including spaces for international guests, Australian artists and local acts, Comiskey told The Courier-Mail that it will offer “everything and anything” in terms of music, from country and contemporary tunes to heavy metal and classic rock.

Comiskey said the “unique” venue will be the only dedicated festival site in South East Queensland, with hopes it will host the biggest music festivals in Australia.

The group also planned to use the facility to generate support for the tourism sector in terms of accommodation and the Sunshine Coast Airport by hosting events at times of the year with little tourism activity.

Advising that the plan followed a long process involving consultation with community, environment and business groups as well as industry experts, Comiskey added “we are excited to have it with council and we are really happy with the design.”

Documents reveal it is expected the site, with a capacity of 35,000 patrons per day, will host up to six events annually including multi-day music festivals and exhibition events.

Located away from urban areas but still close enough for convenient travelling, the project will include removing the turf and strawberry farm currently occupying the space, and instead planting thousands of trees, implementing wildlife corridors and a recycling program for a positive environmental impact.

Caloundra Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, Brady Sullivan said the venue could propel the region onto the national stage for events, telling The Courier-Mail “it will be a vital milestone towards achieving the Queensland Government‘s Towards 2032 tourism target of $44 billion in annual overnight visitor expenditure.”

Images: Plans for Comiskey Group’s Coochin Fields project have been lodged with the Sunshine Coast Council (top) and the design concept for the site's festival layout including parking, stages and art installations (below). Credit: CUSP/Comiskey Group/Open Architecture Studio.