Gold Coast development: Demands Varsity Lakes unit towers’ scrapping for school expansion

A bigshot developer has erupted with fury after the State Government was asked to intervene and resume land to prevent him building a controversial four-tower development.

THE bigshot developer who delivered the iconic Q1 and Palazzo Versace says a Gold Coast City councillor should be voted out of politics for meddling in one of his mega projects.

A furious Soheil Abedian has blasted the “re-election” motives of Cr Hermann Vorster, who has asked for the State Government to forcibly seize land earmarked for a controversial four-tower complex.

Cr Hermann Vorster says the State Government has a moral obligation to buy the vacant site and expand Varsity College. Picture Glenn Hampson

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Cr Vorster says the State Government had a “moral obligation” to scrap the multimillion-dollar project in Varsity Lakes and buy the land from Mr Abedian’s Sunland Group, so more classrooms and a car park could be added to the neighbouring Varsity College.

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“Varsity College is at crisis point with overflowing classrooms and absolutely nowhere for students to go other than up, up, up,” he said.

Mr Abedian yesterday said the project was needed to revive the struggling suburb and told the first-time councillor “to wake up to himself”.

Soheil Abedian Picture: Richard Gosling

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“(This individual) is making comments just because they are in power and using it for re-election because they want to be popular,” Mr Abedian said.

“The reality is that Cr Vorster knows better than anyone else that the area’s retail sector is dying — half the shops are empty.

“My message to you Cr Vorster is wake up to yourself, the people of the Gold Coast are not dumb and will not accept your baseless argument. I hope at the next election it will be proven you do not deserve to sit on the chair you occupy.”

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The Capital Court site.

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A consortium involving Sunland, Homecorp and Condev Constructions wants to build four residential towers of between nine and 10 storeys each on the 1.3ha site on Capital Court. Sunland owns the land.

The plans drew an angry response from residents when unveiled last week.

The proposed development. Picture: Supplied

Cr Vorster said Varsity College was in desperate need of expansion.

“The State Government has a moral obligation to intervene and forcibly acquire this vacant lot next to the school before we see four towers casting a long shadow over the future of Varsity College,” he said.

“My proposal is very simple — the Department of Education must mobilise the powers of government to acquire this land and use it to build a car park for staff, give the kids open space and deliver state-of-the-art classrooms for this state-of-the-art school.”

The towers were unveiled last week. Picture: Supplied

Cr Vorster said the State Government had recently approached the Gold Coast City Council to discuss redeveloping the neighbouring Central Park to create more classrooms for the school he described as “a jewel in the crown”.

State Education Minister Grace Grace last night said there were “no plans” to purchase or resume the property, insisting Varsity College had “adequate capacity for current and anticipated future enrolment”.

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Ron Bakir. Photo: Regi Varghese

According to the plans obtained by the Gold Coast Bulletin, the Capital Court project will feature 388 units and 180sq m of commercial and retail tenancies.

Homecorp boss Ron Bakir said Cr Vorster’s remarks were “just a publicity stunt” and “outrageous given this project is in the best interests for the area”.

“We are 100 per cent within our rights to develop this site and it is an absolute shame he would make such comments. He does not understand his own electorate.”