Council approves $140 million 1 Grant Ave Hope Island plan by developer George Mastrocostas

PLANS for a $140 million residential development at Hope Island have been approved by Gold Coast City Council — which will disregard 56 public submissions opposing it. Here’s why

An artists impression of 1 Grant Avenue, the development proposed at Hope Island by George Mastrocostas's Aniko Group. Photo: Supplied

PLANS for a $140 million residential development at Hope Island have been approved by Gold Coast City Council — which will disregard 56 public submissions opposing it.

Aniko Group, headed by developer George Mastrocostas, is ready to launch its waterfront 1 Grant Ave, which has been before the council since April.

It was to incorporate 240 apartments in two buildings on the 8390sq m site — but today the

published a decision approving the project, as long as the developer lops two storeys off each building, reducing the number of apartments in the project by at least 60.

The Gold Coast Bulletin has contacted the developer for a response to the conditions.

Despite the project not requiring public consultation, 56 locals wrote to the council saying it was too high and dense and would impact the liveability of their suburb.

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A map of 1 Grant Ave Hope Island, where the development is planned. Photo: Google

The company lodged its plans as a major change to a 96-unit development application lodged for the site in 2008 and subsequently approved.

Initially, the new development included 266 units with 577 bedrooms in two buildings between eight and 10 storeys up to 33.8m high at its highest point.

After consulting with the council, the developer reduced the density to 240 apartments with 528 bedrooms, and the height to a maximum of 26m, saying that meant it was no longer a major change to the approved plan.

While a major change would be impact assessable and subject to public consultation, a minor change would be code assessable, which means the public would not need to be consulted.

The council’s decision has agreed the application was code assessable, declaring matters raised in the public submissions are “not applicable”.

More in tomorrow’s Gold Coast Bulletin.