Gold Coast development: Giant $800m three-tower Surfers Paradise mega development revealed

The first images have been released of a glass-bottom pool which will be suspended from the side of a new tower proposed in the heart of the Gold Coast. SEE THE PICTURES >>>

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THE first images have been released of a glass-bottom pool which will be suspended from the side of a new tower proposed for the heart of the Gold Coast.

The pool, which will give swimmers jaw-dropping view of the streets below, will be built as part of a massive $800m three-tower project in Surfers Paradise which will have nearly 800 units.

Put forward by SPG Land, in a joint-venture with Australia developer Gordon Corp, it is the most high-density project planned for the city in 20 years, containing more units than Jewel and Southport Central.

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The pool will be suspended 26 storeys up.

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News of the proposed development, which is to be launched before Christmas, has been welcomed by city leaders, including Mayor Tom Tate.

“That black hole there has been around for nearly 20 years from memory,” Cr Tate said.

“I think they’re going to spend something like over $800 million, I think the timing is fantastic.

“Secondly, it’s part of Surfers Paradise which has been lacking and the good part is it’s less than 100 metres away from a light rail station.”

Mayor Tate also said he was impressed by the plans for the glass-bottom pool - although he said he won’t be trying it himself.

“That’s one thing about the Gold Coast, we have a have a go spirit,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone wants to look up at me swimming in a glass bottom pool, so I’ll stay out of it.”

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How the pool will look from above.

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The three towers will be 38, 40 and 42-storeys respectively, while the Australian-first suspended lap pool will be 26 levels up.

SPG Land chairman David Wang said the project would help revive the northern section of Surfers Paradise.

“This is a transformational development, not only for Surfers Paradise but for the Gold Coast more broadly,” he said.

Ground level of the proposed project.

“We have had a long association with the Gold Coast, and it’s especially exciting that we have been able to enlist the talents of a remarkable local team to bring this project to fruition.

“Our development is not only destined to be an exciting new residential address, but a new public space that everyone can enjoy whether they’re taking a shortcut to the beach or settling in with friends in the plaza for a morning coffee or an alfresco lunch.”

The empty block where the towers will be built. Picture: by Richard Gosling

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The 1.15ha site earmarked for the project sits between Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Ferny Ave and has largely remained empty for more than 20 years. In 2018 it was briefly the home of the city’s first snow park.

Features will include:

• A unique circular infinity lagoon pool on the podium level.

• A suspended glass-bottom lap pool with a clear view to street level 26 storeys below.

• A total of 792 apartments and 1713 sqm of indoor retail space, along with 902 underground parking and 28 on-grade parking spaces.

• Each tower will have its own podium level interconnected by walkways to create an “elevated seaside village”.

• Each tower will have a sky lounge occupying the entire 26th level, each with customised amenities.

• Each penthouse will have a private rooftop gardens and recreation areas.

The podium of one of the towers.

Area councillor Darren Taylor has led the Surfers Paradise masterplan process and said the development would create hundreds of jobs.

“These bomb sites left over from previous (failed) developments have been an eyesore, so a new project like this will provide a huge uplift for central Surfers Paradise,” he said.

“That site has been there for a long time and the community is well aware of it because it has not been an attractive feature of the area at all.

The infinity pool built on one of the towers.

“This project will create a significant number of jobs both in the short and medium-term during construction but long-term once it is operational.”

SPG Land was founded in 1998 and has delivered 58 major projects across Australia and the Pacific including the recently completed $162 million Cambridge Residences at Robina, the $857 million Peninsula Hotel in Shanghai and the Global 188 twin-tower project in Suzhou.

Gordon Corp boss Tim Gordon said the revamp of central Surfers Paradise was overdue.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be involved in this project with SPG Land,” he said.

“This will be a landmark project for the Gold Coast that will be an internationally recognised destination.”

“We believe this is a project for its time, created by looking to the past to find what made Surfers Paradise such an iconic address for generations.”

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