Site of The Oxley tower at Nobby Beach put to market

A DEVELOPER of a controversial apartment tower at Nobby Beach has walked away from the project. DETAILS HERE >>

A DEVELOPER of a controversial apartment tower at Nobby Beach has walked away from the project.

Daniel Veitch has placed the site of his James St inspired development The Oxley on the market, saying he wanted to focus on other high-end residential apartment projects.

Residents rallied to oppose the 12-storey tower called The Oxley, and a neighbouring tower The Frederick which were four times the height limit for the area, after the plans were lodged with the council in June.

The council has issued a scathing request for information about the project, advising the developers it would have to be redesigned at four storeys before its assessment could continue.

Well-known Gold Coast businessmen George Manettas and Daniel Veitch had originally proposed a three-level high-end shopping centre development for their two neighbouring sites, but later added eight levels of residential space to the application.

The plans appear to have changed again this week, with part of the property being advertised for sale via an expressions of interest campaign.

Mr Veitch said he’s chosen to put the site to market in order to focus on his other luxury projects, including Laani at Mermaid Beach and two upcoming developments.

Previous projects of his Dankav development company include Ivy at Broadbeach, Lanikai at Southport and Mali Residences at Mermaid.

Artist impression of The Oxley at Nobby Beach, as originally approved.

In an information request from the council to Mr Veitch’s company Oxley House 1823, council officers gave scathing assessments of the height, shadow impact, setbacks and even tree selection for the project.

The council asked for the 46.6m proposal to be redesigned to a maximum of four storeys and 22.5m to allow it to be further assessed.

Council officers said the revised project was “unsympathetic” to the important neighbourhood character, describing the 12-storey building as “dominant and bulky” and rejected plans for large fig trees on the site.

Plans for a playground, cabana structures and “sky dining” on the towers’ rooftop were also questioned in the council documents.

The developer has been granted an extension to reply to the information request until February 2022.

An advertisement for the 2406sq m property, planned for The Oxley, describes it as an “extraordinary opportunity to transform this renowned location into a new iconic Gold Coast venue”.

It said the upcoming light rail infrastructure “boldens the future case for increased density along the Gold Coast Highway”.

Designed by BDA Architecture, the mixed-used precinct fronting the Gold Coast Highway and Lavarack Rd was intended to resemble Brisbane’s James St and Noosa’s Hastings St.

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