Gold Coast development: Ridong plans massive Tallebudgera Valley hotel and housing project on inland lake

A FORMER poultry farm will be transformed into one of the Gold Coast’s largest developments, featuring a six-star hotel, a giant inland lake and an art gallery in the style of the famous Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

A FORMER poultry farm will be transformed into one of the Gold Coast’s largest developments by the creators of the $1 billion Jewel tower.

The Australian wing of Chinese developer Ridong wants to transform 47.5ha Tallebudgera Valley site into a “wellness and tourism gardens’’ project that would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy.

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Artist impression of Ridong's Tallebudgera Wellness and Tourism Gardens project

According to plans filed yesterday with city hall, the project would include:

* A six-star, 98-room hotel that would include a five-storey building and the property’s existing mansion.

* A four-storey 14,885 sq m gallery to house contemporary European art and sculptures, a 100-seat theatre, an entertainment lounge and automotive museum similar to Tasmania’s Museum of Old and Modern Art (MONA).

A five-storey tower would be part of the hotel complex

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* Some 113 private luxury villas, including a six-bedroom, two-storey dwelling on a private island.

* A 16ha man-made inland lake.

* One of Australia’s largest and most luxurious day spas.

* Three restaurants and two conference centres.

* A waterfront chapel for wedding services.

An overview of the whole project

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The project would cater to the growth of inbound tourism and an increasing global interest in health and wellbeing, according to Ridong Group chairman Riyu Li, who said it was a vitally needed new tourism venture for the Gold Coast.

“The aim is to create a unique tourism destination that celebrates nature, wellness and healing,” he said.

The art gallery and museum.

The project has been put forward by Ridong

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“It will be sensitively integrated into a beautifully landscaped setting to attract local wildlife, and offer a unique holiday and visitor experience centred around the principles of the environment and healing.”

The project is earmarked for a site owned by Mr Li fronting Tallebudgera Connection Rd and Tallebudgera Creek Rd near the council’s Coplicks sports precinct, which is being redeveloped, and Coplicks Tallebudgera golf course.

Waterfront villas

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It will be targeted at international visitors, including the thousands coming in from China – a tourism market that is expected to grow annually at a rate of more than 6 per cent.

“To remain a leading Australian leisure tourism destination, the Gold Coast

needs to develop new experiential products,” says a report to councillors on the project.

The chapel.

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The development, if approved by council, would be a major economic driver for the city’s south, according to development manager Chris Alston.

“With the construction of new waterways and the rehabilitation of marine plants, the development seeks to enhance the natural environment by promoting connectivity along the

A luxury villa.

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Tallebudgera Creek and increasing aquatic plant biomass and fish habitat,” he said.

“The project will also bring key economic benefits through the generation of 300 jobs during construction and then substantial long-term employment benefits for the tourism sector with 380 on-going operational jobs created by the development.”

The fig tree restaurant.

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Area councillor Gail O’Neill said she did not expect the project to go before the council’s planning committee until late 2019.

“It will be assessed by the major project team and they will do the due diligence,” she said.

“It does seem to be a huge project and we will have to look at it closely, but I would say there are at least 12 months of assessment ahead.”

The main luxury villa will be on its own private island.