The “sleeping giant” of Main beach awakens as a 50-storey tower unveiled as area’s tallest

THE “sleeping giant” of Main Beach is on the cusp of a multi-million dollar revival as its tallest tower, a 50-storey project is unveiled.

THE “sleeping giant” of Main Beach is on the cusp of a multi-million dollar revival as new towers reach for the sky and increased foot traffic puts the wind back in its sails.

The once-exclusive suburb is on the comeback after a decade in the doldrums and is on the back of a spike in interest from developers and the return of Mano’s restaurant.

SCI-FI INSPIRED MAIN BEACH TOWER

The latest economic injection is set to come from a 50-storey tower planned for a prime 1261 sq m beachfront site on the corner of Main Beach Parade and Woodroffe Ave.

The 160m tower, the tallest proposed for the suburb, will have 143 units spread across 43 levels, plus a six-storey, mixed-use podium and would replace two ageing fibro buildings.

The project has been put forward by low-key Southport developer Brian Heran, who owns several major parcels in central Main Beach.

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According to plans lodged with the city council, its floors would most be two and three-bedroom units as well, as well as four, four-bedroom penthouses.

Its top three levels would be a single five-bedroom “super penthouse”.

The project is earmarked on a site which allows for unlimited height.

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UDIA Gold Coast president Finn Jones said Main Beach was a “sleeping giant” which was now waking.

“It was the place to live and be during those heady days in the 1990s but Main Beach lost a bit of its attractiveness and momentum during the financial crisis,” he said.

UDIA President Finn Jones says Main Beach is a “sleeping giant”. Picture Glenn Hampson

“It will be good to see it come back because Main Beach is a sleeping suburb which is waking with amazing opportunities for high standards of living and access to the Southport business district and light rail.

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“Main Beach is an idyllic place to be and it is good to see it coming back.”

The project was designed by Brisbane-based firm Cottee Parker, which is behind the $3 billion Queen’s Wharf integrated development.

What the corner of Woodroffe Ave and Main Beach Parade would look with the tower in place.

Mr Heran most recently filed an application for a 47-storey tower on the nearby Midwater site which is planned to have a hi-tech car stacker in its basement.

Representatives of the developer have met with council planning staff several times this year, with documents revealing concerns about the project’s density.

The podium was heavily altered following consultation with council planning staff.

The documents show the tower’s design was significantly altered from the initial proposal after council officers expressed concern about its bulk and scale, including its podium.

Most surrounding towers were built during the 1980s and 1990s development boom.

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In the past year, two other high-rises have been proposed for central Main Beach, with a boutique eight-storey tower by developer Katie Page set for completion early next year.

Main Beach Progress Association secretary Georgie Brown said she was taking a “wait and see” approach towards the new project.

A view of the development from the beach.

She said the impact on traffic would be a major factor in whether it, and other developments, would have the support of locals.

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“We need to have an increase in population to help us bring people back here,” she said.

“As long as there is appropriate traffic infrastructure put in place, that is important because one of the biggest bugbears we have here is the congestion during peak and holiday periods.”

Georgie Brown says Main Beach is bouncing back but needs a larger population to maintain its trajectory.

According to planning documents, the new tower would have 267 parking spaces for residents, with 16 for visitors.

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Council planning boss Cameron Caldwell said the development would be assessed early next year.

He said Main Beach was becoming a source of economic good news after several years of tough times.

Cr Cameron Caldwell said Main Beach was bouncing back after some tough years. Picture: Richard Gosling

“It is almost like back to the future for Main Beach because the new wave of retail buoyancy has been led by the recent return of Manos which was absent from Tedder Ave for a number of years,” he said.

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“This has helped bring a level of confidence to the area, as well as the three absolute beach front sites which are under construction.

“The pedigree of the area is now showing through.”

Main Beach projects on the rise

*M3565

(Katie Page)

An eight-level development which as at the centre of a long-running legal battle to gain approval despite objections from locals.

It will have seven apartments, with the smallest on the ground floor and covering 358sq m.

Construction of the Main Beach Parade building is near completion.

* “Sci-fi” tower

(Winten Property Group)

A $100 million silver, 47-storey hotel and residential project planned for a Main Beach site between Woodroffe and Peak avenues.

Its design was inspired by classic science fiction, including the 1982 film Blade Runner.

* Midwater

(York Property Holdings)

A 47-storey project earmarked for a Main Beach Parade site bordering the history Cable Park

It is named for the long-demolished 1960s-era Midwaters building which stood on the site until its 2012 demolition.

According to its plans, the tower would have a fully automated six-storey underground car stacker system in its basement.