State government gives Star Gold Coast green light for four more towers in Broadbeach

THE State Government has cited surging tourism as the reason after giving The Star Gold Coast the go ahead to build four more towers on its Broadbeach island.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk says the State Government has green-lighted Star Gold Coast building four more towers on its Broadbeach island, citing surging tourism for her confidence in the $2-billion master plan.

The Government’s approval of locks in creation of another 10,000 jobs for the Gold Coast during the 10-year construction and then operational phase once the casino resort and hospitality hub is complete.

It is estimated 1800 jobs will be needed to build each of the four remaining towers to come, amounting to 7200 construction jobs in total.

A further 3000 people will be employed operationally across the four new towers with restaurants, bars, day spas and accommodation.

Star Gold Coast is already home to the original Star Grand hotel and gaming floor plus the new suite hotel, The Darling.

Star Gold Coast is already home to the original Star Grand Hotel, and will now add four more towers. . Photo: Supplied

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Construction began in September on the site’s third hotel tower – a Dorsett, one of the most recognised hotel brands in Asia. The Dorsett tower alone is a $400 million project containing 316 hotel rooms and rising to 53 storeys.

The master plan allows for 3000 new hotel rooms. The final four towers on the site will be 52, 54, 65 and 74 storeys high.

Ms Palaszczuk said the development approval for the mega master plan concept – proposed by Star Entertainment Group and Hong Kong-based partners Far East Consortium and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises – created a platform for further investment at the Broadbeach island.

“This State Government stamp of approval gives The Star and its partners the opportunity to lift The Star’s profile with international tourists to even greater heights,” she said.

“Over the past four years Star has demonstrated its confidence in Queensland’s tourism outlook by making significant investments to drive economic growth and job creation on the Gold Coast.”

Asked about the process for approval, which came after the Gold Coast City Council endorsed the master plan, she said: “It went through a rigorous State Government process. It is now up to Star to release these stages as they see fit.”

Star Gold Coast will be home to more than 50 bars and restaurants once the project is completed. Photo: Supplied

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Asked if there was concern about oversupply of apartments or hotel rooms on the Gold Coast given the booming development sector, she said: “No, because of the great tourist numbers coming into Queensland.”

Star Entertainment Group CEO Matt Bekier and chairman John O’Neill will announce the approval at Broadbeach this morning with Ms Palaszczuk.

Star Gold Coast has a proposed timeline to build one new tower at its Broadbeach island site every two years, starting with the Dorsett build, until all seven are completed by 2028.

On completion, Star Gold Coast will be home to more than 50 bars and restaurants and employ 6000 people in total on site to run it.

“We are delighted to receive the State Government’s support for our vision at The Star Gold Coast,’’ Mr Bekier said.

“Our site at Broadbeach is the perfect location for further large-scale development that will deliver to the Gold Coast a global tourism destination capable of competing with the best on a domestic regional and worldwide basis.

An artist’s impression of the megaplan upon completion. Image: Supplied

“This would be a project of incredible scale delivering substantial economic benefit to the state from jobs and increased tourism visitation.

“Our vision is to be Australia’s leading integrated resort company and our plans for the Gold Coast are completely aligned with that positioning.”

The Bulletin asked Ms Palaszczuk how the approval would affect progress on developing a second new casino resort in the city.

“The Government hasn’t even considered it,’’ she said.