Gold Coast development: Construction begins on Paradise Centre’s $30m redevelopment plans revealed

A Surfers Paradise eyesore has finally been demolished and work has begun on its $30m replacement. But locals say they are unimpressed.  SEE THE NEW PICTURES.

A Surfers Paradise eyesore has finally been demolished and work has begun on its $30m replacement.

The derelict beachfront section of the 40-year-old Paradise Centre on The Esplanade has been cleared ahead of its transformation into a new dining and shopping precinct.

Work on the “world-class” public plaza, with million-dollar views of Surfers Paradise beach, is expected to take two years to compete.

But Bulletin readers have reacted with fury to the project, which was announced in 2020.

"Who are the councilors that are letting this happen. That design just looks cheap cheap cheap. The developers should be told to come back with a more world class design," wrote Nick.

Reg38 wrote: "Cheap and nasty instead of attractive. Honolulu's International Market Place should be the model. This will do nothing for Surfers nor for Paradise Centre. How about some shade trees, or anything to hide its ordinariness ?"

Christian said he thought the idea was "terrible": "Looks absolutely terrible - and this is meant to be situated in our tourism jewel? The following words spring to mind - generic, bland, cheap. Shame on you GCCC (again)."

Demolition works at the Paradise Centre. Picture: Josie Tod

The council controversially voted in October last year to grant a new lease to the building owner. The original lease was due to expire in 2031. The new agreement gives Challenger Group lease rights of the site until 2050.

It is the first step in a major overhaul of Surfers Paradise, spearheaded by area councillor Darren Taylor.

Challenger Group is required to give the precinct a facelift every 10 years.

Council’s rent will dramatically increase from $26,000 a year to $420,000.

FEBRUARY: New details of Paradise Centre’s $30m redevelopment plans revealed

Work is expected to begin later this year. It will include transforming the existing beachfront,a dubbed an “eyesore” by city leaders, into a new dining and shopping precinct.

Gold Coast development: Nerang Town Centre’s massive expansion plan

An artist’s impression of the Paradise Centre upgrade in Surfers Paradise

FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $1 FOR FIRST 28 DAYS

New plans filed by site leaseholder Challenger Group reveal many of the proposed tenancies for the extended area have been reconfigured to “improve pedestrian thoroughfare and consolidate tenancy layouts in an orderly and more visually appealing manner”.

Proposed timber framing as part of the facade and cladding have been dropped and replaced with metal to reduce the risk of being a fire hazard.

The council is expected to give the minor changes a green light before work begins on the two-year construction project.

FIRST LOOK: NEW TOWER ‘INSPIRED BY BEACH HOUSES’

Changes have been made to the proposed redevelopment.

CAFE D-BAH TOWER TO HAVE ‘COAST’S BIGGEST EVER ARTWORK’

The existing area which fronts The Esplanade will be demolished to make way for a public plaza and “world-class” dining precinct.

The council controversially voted in October last year to grant a new lease to the site’s owners which will expire in 2050.

Work is expected to begin later this year.

SUNLAND’S GREENMOUNT BEACH RESORT SELLS FOR $42.3M

It replaces the previous lease that was to expire in 2031.

To honour the new lease, the beachfront area must be demolished and work begun on a new public plaza and dining precinct within a year of the new lease being signed.

The site’s owner has two years to finish the project and is required to give the precinct a facelift every 10 years.

Council’s rent will dramatically increase from $26,000 to $420,000 annually.

Originally published as Gold Coast development: Construction begins on Paradise Centre’s $30m redevelopment plans revealed