Maroochydore is the Sunshine Coast's regional centre. Sunshine Coast Council is overseeing a Priority Development Area of about 60 hectares being built as a new city centre, with up to $2.5 billion of private investment and a mix of residential, commercial and civic uses. That growth sits on top of housing that was already unusual in 2021: 24.1% townhouses or semi-detached homes, 36.6% flats or apartments, 34.3% lone-person households, and 13.3% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night.
The challenge follows from those numbers. Many pools here are shared, managed by a committee, or attached to a property whose owner lives somewhere else. Queensland rules add pressure: according to the QBCC, a pool safety certificate lasts one year for a shared pool but two years for a non-shared pool, is usually the body corporate's responsibility, and must be displayed near the pool or entrance. A certificate is also required when a property with a pool is leased. A robotic cleaner does not affect barrier compliance, but a consistently clean pool is easier to present.