As we reflect on the key highlights of 2023, it's evident that Aura is not just a place to live but a thriving, dynamic and evolving lifestyle destination. Here are some of the significant milestones we celebrated this year.

Bells Creek Arterial Road connects the community
The 8km Bells Creek Arterial extension road was officially opened by the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, completing the 11km link between the Bruce Highway and Caloundra Road. This $70 million project and significant infrastructure milestone has greatly enhanced connectivity for Aura residents.

Opening of the Aura pedestrian bridge
The 100-metre-long pedestrian bridge opened in March, safely connecting Baringa to Nirimba over the Bells Creek Arterial Road and incorporating the work of local artists. The new pedestrian bridge, which includes dedicated cycle lanes and a separate pedestrian path, provides a safe crossing location for the extensive walking and cycling network around Aura encouraging the community to be happier, healthier, and more active.

The new pedestrian bridge provides a safe crossing location for the extensive walking and cycling network around Aura

Plenty of places to play!
Adding to the already impressive line-up of parks and playgrounds in Aura, we were excited to open several new parks including Space Park, featuring a rocket ship tower, moon-shaped shade sails, space towers and a climbable crater, for all of the young aspiring astronauts to enjoy and Whale Park with its unique whale-themed playground and open green space. Shark Park, with its 6m+ tall shark cage playground dome and Aura Brook Dog Park round out the new additions.

Launch of The Avenues premium precinct
We launched our new premium precinct The Avenues, Aura’s second premium neighbourhood, with generous lot sizes adjacent to the northern Bells Creek Conservation Area. With more than 150 high-end homes on lots ranging from 434 to over 800 square metres, it is one of the most sought-after addresses in the area.

Community celebrations
This year we celebrated our 7th birthday in style with a host of festivities, including the “Flavours at Aura” event headlined by celebrity chef Miguel Maestre, Food Truck Friday, Aura’s Pooch Party and Brouhaha movie night. Monster Machine Day was a definite hit with the locals who had the opportunity to explore the display of monster-sized machines including excavators, dozers and dump trucks that are helping to build our growing community. The Halloween Spooktakula events provided a spine-tingling experience for residents with the Spooky Carnival, movie in the park and plenty of trick-or-treating fun.

There was plenty of fun for Aura residents at the Monster Machine Day

Launch of Solas at Aura
Solas at Aura, our new urban village was launched, setting a new standard in sustainable living, focusing on climate-controlled technology and innovative design – a Queensland first in sustainability. This superior climate response precinct features cutting-edge CoolSeal technology on the roads to lower surface temperatures, creating a “cool” neighbourhood.

Baringa at Aura wins top Australian Property Award
Baringa, Aura’s first suburb, was named the 2023 national winner for ‘Best Masterplanned Community’ at the Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards, setting a new benchmark in residential living. We know Baringa is a great place to live, and we were delighted to receive the recognition from our industry peers.

Construction commenced on the new Aura petrol station and service centre
Construction officially commenced on the new EG Ampol petrol station and service centre in Baringa, located close to the Aura Business Park and joining KFC and the Sparkletown car wash already open on the site. Following the opening of the Bells Creek Arterial Road, this addition will make life even more convenient for residents to access fuel, food and daily essentials.

Acacia at Aura land release
We were excited to launch our latest land release in Banya – Acacia at Aura, offering residents home sites surrounded by nature with wide leafy streets and the longest continuous frontage to Bells Creek within Aura. This precinct also provides easy access to a range of proposed community services including shops, parks and a childcare centre.

Aura kids cycled and scooted their way to success
Our Aura schools continued to actively participate in the RideScore Program with our local Aura kids embracing the opportunity to ride or scoot to school. Nirimba State Primary School was the official winner of the RideScore inter-school challenge in 2023, with over 90% of students taking part and making use of the 109km of walking paths and cycling veloways already constructed in Aura of the planned 200km to be delivered on completion.

Aura comes alive with mural artwork
Stockland teamed up with local Sunshine Coast artist, Hannah Poida, to commence work on a series of hand painted artworks to beautify electrical boxes throughout the community. The artworks showcase Sunshine Coast wildlife including Aura’s resident frog species, the rare Wallum Sedge Frog.

Construction of Aura’s new emergency services precinct underway
Local residents had reason to celebrate with a significant milestone in the region's infrastructure development achieved, with ground breaking on the site of Aura’s brand new emergency services precinct. The precinct will house a $7.9 million state-of-the-art ambulance station, a $13.5 million purpose-built police station and $8.5 million modern fire and rescue service station upon completion, which is forecast to be late 2024.

After a busy year, we look forward to 2024 and delivering additional key amenity projects including the Aura Farmers Markets and Aura Brook, to continue to meet the growing needs of the community.