Gold Coast development: Chevron Island traffic jam woes

More than $500m worth of tower developments are in the pipeline for Chevron Island as traffic jams continue to get worse. Council have now revealed what it will do to fix the issue.

Chevron Island’s old bridges are unlikely to be widened even if the council eventually decides to do something about heavy congestion.

In the meantime, the exclusive enclave will remain open slather for developers with the state government dragging its feet on approvals to the City Plan.

Twenty new towers worth more than $500m are lining up to be built on the island as developers race possible new height restrictions.

Trafiic Chaos at the intersection of Bundall Rd and Thomas Drive, Chevron Island. There are no plans to currently widen the bridges. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Residents are concerned the character of the Thomas Drive shopping village would be “lost for good” because infrastructure will not be built fast enough.

The Gold Coast City Council says it is in no rush to widen the two, two-lane traffic bridges, which are more than 50 years old.

Area councillor Darren Taylor said a traffic study was at least a year away from being completed.

Traffic jams on the bridges at Chevron Island have been a long-running issue for years.Pic by Richard Gosling

He cautioned the study would not necessarily bring a widening of the bridges as the council did not want the island to become the key thoroughfare into Surfers Paradise.

“The goal is that Chevron Island will remain a boutique (location) for local residents and we want to make sure they can get on and off,” he said.

“We do not want to encourage it to become a thoroughfare. The proposed changes to the City Plan will reduce the height limit in the area to around 10 storeys, but this will not slow the impact of the citywide growth on the island.”

Gold Coast Councillor Darren Taylor Picture: Jerad Williams

The proposed City Plan amendments were delayed again by the state government in March, meaning developers can continue to propose and build high-rise towers without restriction.

Chevron Island residents are calling for the council to drastically improve traffic choke points, saying the developments would put an extra 2000 cars on island roads.

Cr Taylor said the imminent opening of the upgraded Isle of Capri bridge and the expansion of Sundale bridge were designed to improve traffic flow in and out of Surfers Paradise, rather than forcing cars on to Chevron Island.

Development on Chevron Island has long been a controversial issue, with the council abandoning plans for a major revamp of the Thomas Dr CBD in the late 2000s after an outcry from residents.

Business and real estate figures say the development wave had an upside – the revival of the rundown Thomas Drive business district.

Business owner Kane Thompson, who runs streetwear shop Urban World, said a revamp was long-overdue.

“I think it’s a good thing because it is growing the community and leading many people to discover the charms of Chevron Island,” he said.

Clark Property Partners managing director Steve Clark, whose agency has negotiated several leases in the village in the past year, said he had been approached by business owners keen to relocate to the island once the new builders were finished.

“Businesses want to relocate here because it is such a central location and is a wonderful place to be based,” he said.

Green light: $110m art tower to transform Chevron Island street

COUNCILLORS have approved a $110m art-themed tower for Chevron Island.

The 22-storey Tapestry high-rise is earmarked for a 1518sq m site on Darrambal St. It is Brisbane developer Siera Group’s first foray into the Gold Coast.

Siera founder Brent Thompson said the tower, launched to the market this week, was inspired by its location next to the Home of the Arts (HOTA).

The tower has been greenlit by councillors.

“The name tapestry evolved from our desire to embrace the architecture, arts and culture that HOTA brings to Chevron Island, mixed in with our focus on community and creating a sense of place,” he said.

“A tapestry is continually woven, connecting its threads until the true artistry of the entire piece is revealed, which is how we have approached this project.”

The development’s 113 units will be mixture of two and three bedrooms.

Units start from $697,900. The largest is selling for $1.9m.

Tapestry is the latest in a crop of new towers approved or beginning construction on Chevron Island.

Artist impression of the new tower.

Council this month approved the $90m, 23-storey Nina tower, to be built on Parneno St, and construction has begun on the 41-storey Chevron One project.

$650m: Every tower development approved this week

More than $650m worth of towers have been approved or received financing this week, setting the stage for a major shake-up in beachside suburbs including Palm Beach and Chevron Island.

The transformation of Chevron Island is ramping up, with Aecore Group getting the green light for its $90m, 23-storey Nina tower on Paraneno St, overlooking Surfers Paradise.

It will be the developer’s third Gold Coast project and second in the exclusive enclave following its under-construction Allure building.

Aecore project director Roy Skaf said he had already appointed sales agents to begin marketing the project.

“We are extremely happy to have council approval behind us, as we now look to the next phase of delivering our signature dose of luxury to Chevron Island,” he said.

“Nina offers us the opportunity to build on the success we witnessed in Allure, while bringing a newer, differentiated product to a marketplace of buyers eager to call Chevron Island home.

“This pocket of the Gold Coast has a unique character that you can’t replicate elsewhere – its exclusive, its vibrant and its quickly becoming one of the most sought-after residential enclaves on the Coast.”

Meanwhile, the council has also approved the $113m, 14-storey Monterey tower to be built on Coolangatta’s Musgrave St, overlooking Kirra Beach.

It will be developer Marquee Development Partners’ 10th Gold Coast project in four years and will replace a 50-year-old 15-unit block.

Marquee sales manager Azura Griffen said the 35-unit Kirra project would be rushed to the market by April to capitalise on the number of inquiries made by prospective buyers since the tower was proposed.

“Buyers have been closely monitoring our progress with this project, several of which are familiar with other developments and how quickly they have been selling out,” she said.

State’s biggest: Giant penthouse in Chevron mega tower

CONSTRUCTION of a $350m, high-rise on Chevron Island which will feature Queensland’s largest single unit will begin within weeks.

More than half the apartments inside the 41-storey Chevron One – the island’s tallest tower – have already sold but work will now be fast-tracked in the hopes of completing construction by late 2024.

Developer Bensons Property Group has secured the backing of Banner Asset Management which will co-fund the Stanhill Drive project.

Bensons CEO Rick Curtis said the “gentrification and rediscovery of Chevron Island” was accelerating.

“This is the new premium and prestige enclave on the Gold Coast and Bensons is proud that it continues to lead the way in identifying exceptional locations and delivering an ultra-premium product,” he said.

“The relationship with Banner as funding partner on this project is a testament to the strong belief in the Gold Coast property market and the attributes of Chevron One.”

The high-density project will feature 228 luxury units, including a two-storey, 1720sq m penthouse which will become Queensland’s largest unit and is priced at $25m.

Its features include an outdoor lagoon pool with floating cinema, an indoor/outdoor beach, lap pool, spa and sauna.

Banner Asset Management “originations” head Nicholas Lakin said a significant number of sales had come from interstate.

“Demand for residential property on Chevron Island has boomed in recent years, particularly from young professionals who wish to live close to the Surfers Paradise CBD,” he said.

“Recent changes to flexible working arrangements have shifted the priorities of many local and interstate buyers, who are now in search of spacious, luxury apartments in sea-change locations.

“Prices for luxury apartments in the Gold Coast region are booming as a result.”

Giant tower planned for bowls club site

PROLIFIC Gold Coast developer Barry Morris wants to build a 38-storey tower next to one of the city’s most popular bowls clubs.

Morris Property Group has unveiled plans for Crest Broadbeach, a luxury residential high-rise. It will be its fourth project in the suburb in five years.

The tower will be four times the size of a nine-storey tower the Gold Coast City Council previously approved for the site in 2018.

The company spent $8.8m to buy the Armrick Ave site opposite Broadbeach Bowls Club in 2021 and hopes to begin construction before Christmas.

According to plans filed with the council in February, the tower will have 157 units, with five two-bedroom apartments per floor above its four-level podium.

Crest’s top three levels will feature a small number of three-bedroom units.

It will also feature an amenity level including a pool, gym, barbecue and lounge area and a working-from-home area, with meeting rooms and work stations.

The tower will replace a two-storey building, which has six units, and an empty 647sq m block that languished on the market for more than a year, and was listed at $3.35m in March.

Morris Property Group has also developed Qube in Broadbeach, where it also has current projects Koko and Opus, which is on the other side of the bowls club from Crest.

‘Overbearing’: Why council shot down controversial tower

February 27: A proposed luxury $73m residential tower overlooking one of the Gold Coast’s busiest schools has been rejected by the Gold Coast City Council because it was too bulky.

Melbourne-based developer Little Projects Co last year unveiled its 34-storey Aperture tower and put its units on the market ranging from $2m to more than $7.7m.

However, the council this week rejected the project, setting the stage for a battle in the Planning and Environment Court.

The “disappointed” developer says it is planning an appeal.

In its delegated authority decision, council officers said they rejected the tower because

Artist impression of Little Projects' Broadbeach tower

“reduced setbacks and high site cover in proportion to the tower height proposed promotes an overbearing perception of bulk in proportion to the tower height”.

“The development represents an overall dominant outcome which is not consistent with the character and amenity expectations of the local area,” the council decision reads.

“The proposed tower form has been designed disproportionate to the size of the site, detracting from the character of Broadbeach.”

Little Projects, headed by former Toll Holdings boss Paul Little, announced the Mary Ave project in August 2021.

The tower was to feature 29 full-floor and double-storey apartments.

Artist impression of Little Projects' Broadbeach tower

A company spokesman said council’s stance was “disappointing” and vowed to fight it further.

“After endeavouring to work in good faith with council officers over the assessment process, the parties have not yet been able to reach a mutually acceptable outcome,” he said.

“Given that our proposal was code assessable, meaning it complied with the City Plan, we are very disappointed with the decision.

“We remain committed to delivering on the significant investment we have made in the Gold Coast and plan to commence proceedings in the Planning and Environment Court with a view to being in a position to commence our delivery of exceptionally high-quality housing for the city in coming months”.

Aperture was to be Little Projects’ second Gold Coast project following the under construction Signature Broadbeach on nearby Philip Ave.

The 245-unit building, proposed in 2017, sold out entirely and is due to be completed in 2022.

Follow @GCS_Pottsy