Ian Chester hoped to build the first units on Sovereign Islands but his building group has fallen over

A developer who once stirred controversy with his plans to build the first apartments on one of the poshest islands on the Gold Coast has tipped 11 of his companies into liquidation.

His plans to build the first apartments on one of the poshest islands on the Gold Coast sparked plenty of controversy.

Nearly 500 mansion-dwellers on Sovereign Islands signed a petition in 2018 to stop the proposed project by developer Ian Chester, who also had to fight a knock-back from the city council.

Chester eventually won a court battle two years ago for the “Residences on Royal Albert’’ to proceed but it looks like he’s lost the war.

Ian Chester standing in front of an artist’s rendering of the ill-fated project

Construction work on the planned eight units, priced from $3m and spread across two three-level buildings on a waterfront site, never got underway and the land is now up for sale.

Worse still, Chester has just tipped his solely-controlled Vested Property Group Pty Ltd and 10 other related entities into liquidation.

A former McGrath agent, Chester claims on his LinkedIn page that his now-defunct group settled more than $840m in real estate deals and was involved in $300m-plus in property developments across southeast Queensland.

Neither Chester nor liquidator Terry Van Der Velde returned calls seeking comment on Monday.

Ian Chester had planned to build the first aparatments on Sovereign Island.

But records show Chester still retains a half-stake in the company that owns the 2566 sqm development site on Royal Albert Crescent.

That entity, called 19 Royal Albert Crescent Pty Ltd, forked out nearly $4.8m for the land about three years ago.

There’s an expectation the site could now change hands for as much as $6m in an expressions of interest campaign which closes at the end of the month.

Mark Murray, who is the sole director and part-owner of the company, could not be contacted.

ARCHITECT WANTED

The hunt is on for a new Queensland Government Architect.

The position was vacated this month when Malcolm Middleton stepped down after 10 years in the role, which theoretically provides bureaucrats with loads of sound advice on good urban design.

There’s plenty of speculation about who will take on the job, with some industry players telling us a female candidate has the inside running.

Malcolm Middleton

But a spin doctor for Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni couldn’t shed much light on the topic.

“An extensive recruitment campaign has been underway which resulted in a significant number of highly qualified candidates being identified,’’ he told us.

“The applicants are in the process of being evaluated by a panel that includes representatives from within Government as well as the architecture profession. It’s anticipated the recruitment process will be finalised within weeks.’’

Middleton took on the job following a 35-plus year career as an architect and urban planner involved with education, transport, housing and infrastructure projects.

He previously served as the project director for the Roma Street Parklands redevelopment and also had stints on the South Bank Design Advisory Panel and Queensland Heritage Council.

NEW BOSS AT ORDS

The Brisbane outpost of stockbroking and financial planning group Ord Minnett has a new top gun to oversee operations across Queensland.

David Lane started as state manager Monday after an 11 year stint heading up the wealth management division of Pitcher Partners.

Under his guidance, the business grew to control more than $950m of client funds.

It was a performance good enough to win him a ranking this year and last in Barron’s Top 100 Australian Financial Advisors list.