The Sunshine Coast Council has approved the initial stages of a proposal for a surf park at prominent highway stop Moby Vic’s, which developers say has the potential to become one of the Sunshine Cost’s major tourist attractions.

The $30 million development includes a wave pool, wellness centre, paddock to plate restaurant and surf school using technology developed by American Wave Machines.

The company is responsible for several surf parks around the world, with its technology recently endorsed by the International Olympic Committee for use by surfers training for this year’s Games in Japan.

The site of the proposed surf park on the western side of the Bruce Highway

The chief executive of its local franchise, Surf Parks Australia, Craig Morrison, said the proposed site was ideal.

“We strategically selected the Moby Vic’s location for this project due to its ease of access, proximity to both the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay regions as well as the added benefit of minimal disruption to our community and our local environment,” he said.

The council this month opted to rezone the 13 hectare site from Rural to Tourist Attraction (Surf Park), the first step of several he developers need to ensure the plan becomes a reality.

Deputy Mayor Rick Baberowski said the approval represented a major planning milestone for the project and was potentially a critical step towards the first major new tourism offering on the Sunshine Coast in decades.

“Once completed, this surf park will attract a new range of visitors to our region, visitors who would most likely extend their length of stay and generate a substantial economic benefit,” he said.

The wave pool would be more than 300 metres long and about 90 metres wide and would produce head-high waves for up to 50 surfers at a time.

The development is one of several surf parks planned for the Sunshine Coast, with former world champion Kelly Slater backing a bid for a surf ranch at Coolum.