Turf is now going down on the first four soccer fields at the Honey Farm Sport and Recreation Precinct in Meridan Plains, and local kids are set to run out onto them for the 2027 season.
It might sound like a story for the weekend sports pages, but projects like this have a real impact on how a neighbourhood feels to live in and how it performs as a place to buy. If you live around Caloundra or you’ve had your eye on the southern end of the Sunshine Coast, here’s what you need to know.
What’s being built at Honey Farm
The Honey Farm precinct is a 75 hectare, roughly $100 million sport and recreation hub being delivered by Sunshine Coast Council. It sits just north of Caloundra Road, across from the Sunshine Coast Turf Club, with frontages to Honey Farm Road and Westaway Road.
Once it’s finished, the precinct will include:
- Eight soccer fields, including a synthetic pitch
- Two cricket ovals
- Hardcourts and playgrounds
- Walking trails and wetlands
- A dog park
- Clubhouses, public amenities and parking
Here’s how the timing looks:
- Start of the 2027 season: the first four soccer fields open
- Later in 2027: the remaining soccer fields and the synthetic pitch
- 2028: the cricket ovals come online
Council bought the land back in 2011 with the long game in mind, and the project got a boost in January with $13.6 million from the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Program. Several established clubs will move in over the next couple of years, including Caloundra Football Club, Sunshine Coast Wanderers Football Club, the Sunshine Coast Cricket Association and the Sunshine Coast Scorchers. (Sunshine Coast News)
What it means for residents
For locals, this is a big lifestyle win. The southern Sunshine Coast has grown quickly and plenty of clubs have been working with ageing grounds or squeezing more teams onto the same fields. A purpose built precinct takes a lot of that pressure off.
Here’s what families in the area can look forward to:
- More room to play. Extra fields mean more training slots and less juggling for clubs and parents.
- Everything in one spot. With soccer, cricket, playgrounds and trails together, weekends with kids of different ages get a whole lot easier.
- Green space that isn’t just for sport. The wetlands, trails and dog park give everyone a reason to visit, whether you play or not.
- A community hub. Clubhouses and amenities create a natural meeting place, which is a big part of what makes a newer area feel like home.
There are a few practical things to keep in mind too. Game days will bring extra traffic around Caloundra Road, Honey Farm Road and Westaway Road, so it’s worth thinking about if you’re buying on one of those streets. Construction is also still ongoing, so there’ll be some disruption while the later stages are finished.
What it means for buyers and investors
Big community infrastructure tends to make an area more appealing over time, and that’s good news if you’re planning to buy nearby. Sporting fields, parks and green space are high on the wish list for families, and families make up a large part of the demand in this part of the Coast.
For home buyers, it’s about lifestyle. Being able to walk or ride to Saturday sport, take the dog for a run or meet friends at the clubhouse adds a lot to everyday life. It’s the kind of thing that’s hard to put a price on but easy to notice once you live there.
For investors, amenity like this supports tenant demand. Families renting in the area will look for homes close to schools, shops and places for the kids to play. Properties that tick those boxes usually lease faster and hold tenants longer.
A few things we’d always suggest keeping in mind:
- Don’t buy on the announcement alone. Infrastructure is one piece of the puzzle. The property itself, the street and the price you pay still matter most.
- Look at the street, not just the suburb. Being a short walk away is great. Backing onto car parks or floodlit fields might not suit everyone.
- Check what else is coming. Future stages, road changes and nearby developments can all shape how an area grows.
- Think long term. The full precinct won’t be finished until around 2028, so the real benefit will build over the next few years.
Suburbs to watch
The precinct is well placed to serve a big slice of the southern Sunshine Coast. These are the areas we expect to feel the benefit most:
- Meridan Plains: home to the precinct itself, so residents here are closest to the action.
- Caloundra West: an established family area just down the road, with an easy trip to the new fields.
- Little Mountain: popular with families who want a bit more space, and a short drive from Honey Farm.
Every suburb has pockets that perform better than others, so it pays to get local advice before you commit.
Our take
The Honey Farm precinct is a great example of the long term planning that keeps the Sunshine Coast such a sought after place to live. It’s been years in the making and it’s exciting to finally see it come to life.
For buyers, it’s another reason to look closely at the Caloundra and Aura corridor. The key is buying the right property in the right pocket at the right price, and that’s where local knowledge really helps.
Our Sunshine Coast team lives and breathes this market. Whether you’re buying your first home, upsizing for a growing family or adding to your investment portfolio, we’re here to make the process simple and stress free. Get in touch with our Sunshine Coast buyers agents for a chat about what’s happening in the areas you’re interested in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Honey Farm Sport and Recreation Precinct?
It’s a new 75 hectare sport and recreation hub being built by Sunshine Coast Council. Once finished, it will include eight soccer fields, two cricket ovals, hardcourts, playgrounds, walking trails, wetlands and a dog park.
Where is the Honey Farm precinct?
It’s in Meridan Plains, just north of Caloundra Road and across from the Sunshine Coast Turf Club. The site has frontages to Honey Farm Road and Westaway Road.
When will the Honey Farm precinct open?
The first four soccer fields are set to open for the start of the 2027 season. The rest of the soccer fields and the synthetic pitch are due later in 2027, with the cricket ovals opening in 2028.
How much is the Honey Farm precinct costing?
It’s an estimated $100 million development. The Federal Government contributed $13.6 million through the Growing Regions Program earlier this year.
Which clubs are moving to Honey Farm?
Caloundra Football Club, Sunshine Coast Wanderers Football Club, the Sunshine Coast Cricket Association and the Sunshine Coast Scorchers are all set to relocate there over the next couple of years.
Which suburbs will benefit most from the Honey Farm precinct?
Meridan Plains, Caloundra West and Little Mountain are closest to the precinct. Growing communities in Aura, including Baringa, Nirimba, Bells Creek and Banya, are also well placed to make the most of it.
Will the Honey Farm precinct affect property values nearby?
Quality community infrastructure like sporting fields and green space tends to make an area more appealing to families over time. That said, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. The property itself, the street and the price you pay still matter most.
Is it a good idea to buy near the Honey Farm precinct?
It can be, especially for families and investors looking for strong rental demand. It’s worth looking closely at individual streets though, as homes right next to car parks or floodlit fields may get more noise and traffic on game days.
How can a buyers agent help me buy on the Sunshine Coast?
Our Sunshine Coast team knows which pockets are performing and what’s coming up in each area. We can help you find the right property, check it thoroughly and negotiate the best price, so the whole process is simple and stress free.