Gold Coast development: New crane index shows slight dip in numbers on Gold Coast

The latest Crane Index — which tracks construction activity on the Glitter Strip — has revealed a major development for the state of the city’s building industry.

Cranes like these still dot the Gold Coast skyline but they’re working on smaller projects than two years ago. Photo: iStock

THE latest Rider Levett Bucknall Crane Index — which tracks construction activity on the Glitter Strip — shows the first fall in numbers for the heavy moving machinery in three quarters.

The index for the third quarter of this year (July to September) shows a fall from 213 to 193 following two quarters of growth.

The total number of cranes, which encompasses civil, commercial, education, health and residential construction activity, fell from 32 to 29. Twelve cranes were added to residential projects and 18 removed leading to a net loss of six.

A new crane has been added to Morris Property Group's Koko development at Broadbeach.

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New residential cranes were spotted at Serenity in Surfers Paradise, 31 Broadbeach, Boheme Apartments in Robina, Adore in Southport, KOKO in Broadbeach, Hedges Ave in Mermaid Beach, Southbreak in Bilinga, Vantage Building in Benowa, Summit in Labrador and Waterpoint in Biggera Waters.

Cranes were removed from Bluewater at Bilinga, Zinc at Coolangatta, Anchorage Apartments at Hope Island, Marine Parade at Labrador, Otto and Ocean at Mermaid, the Canopy, the Jefferson and 17 Jefferson Lane at Palm Beach, South Lakes Stage Three at Reedy Creek, 6 Meron Street and 23 Railway Street at Southport, Northcliffe, La Riviere on Cannes, Peninsular at Surfers and Bay Grand Apartments at Tweed Heads.

A new crane has been added to the Gold Coast’s tally for Sunland's Hedges Ave tower at 272 Hedges Ave.

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RLB said both One16 in Surfers Paradise and Magnoli in Palm Beach added an additional crane to their projects, while one crane remained on the Gold Coast North Medical Hub within the health sector.

Two new retail cranes were added to Sunland’s Lanes Retail Village in Mermaid Waters.

The hotel sector gained one at Gold Coast Airport with construction of the $50 million Rydges Hotel.

Report author Jim Krebs, director of the RLB Gold Coast office, said the next report would reflect a greater diversity of projects as it would include one going up for construction of the Dorsett tower at The Star Gold Coast and two at Gold Coast Airport for the terminal expansion.