MORE than 2000 jobs could be cemented on the Sunshine Coast within weeks, with the Big Top Shopping Centre all but sold to national developers.

The massive residential and commercial development unveiled for the site in late 2008 was expected to cost Reed Property Group more than $400 million when it applied for approval from the then Maroochy Shire Council.

However, Reed was hobbled during last year’s economic downturn and six months later, in mid-May, the site was listed for sale.

The site is understood to be selling for between $30 million and $40 million.

When the tender process ended on June 25 last year, there were 10 would-be buyers. Since then the list has been whittled down to just two serious bidders.

Savills Maroochydore listing agent Jerry O’Reilly said yesterday that a signed dotted line was coming very soon.

Mr O’Reilly said the two prospective developers both had the funds and the strength to create a “desired outcome” for the site.

Mr O’Reilly said there was no guarantee what the finished product would look like.

But whatever the new buyer decided, Mr O’Reilly said it would be of a similar scale to the current plan lodged with council, which was expected to create at least 922 construction jobs during the three-year building phase.

Once finished, another 1911 jobs would follow as tenants moved into the retail and commercial tenancies in the 3ha complex.

“You can’t guarantee (they will use the plan) but the development approval that Reed put in – it had a pretty good chance of being approved,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“And this is the key urban renewal site in the Maroochydore CBD – you don’t get much better.”

Master Builders regional manager Stephen Robinson said a quick-moving developer could also ease the wounds still plaguing the building industry after the 2009 downturn.

“Because things have been fairly tight, you just need big projects to create confidence and momentum,” Mr Robinson said.

“A project of that nature and stature is extremely important.”

Councillor Debbie Blumel, whose portfolio is major projects, said not only workers but also the region would benefit.

“I’m sitting here looking at the Big Top at the moment,” Cr Blumel said from her Maroochydore office.

“It’s a tired and rundown site and it’s an eyesore.

“It needs a developer to take control and do something with it.

“And we would be happy to approve any development that would comply with our planning scheme.

Maroochydore News owner Ian “Buschie” Busch, who has been in the centre for “20 years, two months and nine days”, said he just wanted to see something happen after years of talk.

“The last six years, nothing has happened,” Mr Busch said.

“They (Reed) promised big things, but nothing happened.”

Back Beat Records owner Lee Hillman, who operates on a month-to-month lease, said he felt that his shop had “no future” because he would relocate once construction began.

“Your future is up in the air,” he said.

“It’s frustrating because you’re wondering what’s going on.”

Mr O’Reilly’s major concern lies with making sure the deal is finally done after almost a year in discussions.

“It’s taken eight months so far but we will persist with negotiations until we achieve the desired outcomes,” he said.

Or in real terms, it’s not over until the ink hits the paper.