Gold Coast development: Varsity Lakes Cr Hermann Vorster slams proposed Varsity Lakes towers

A Gold Coast city leader has slammed a proposed four-tower development, saying it would “put a nail in the coffin” of surrounding streets.

A GOLD Coast city leader has slammed a proposed four-tower development, saying it would “put a nail in the coffin” of surrounding streets.

The Bulletin this morning revealed grand plans for a 1.3ha site in Varsity Lakes which would see residential towers of between nine and 10 storeys built on Capital Court.

The proposed development has been put forward by Capital Court Pty Ltd, a powerful consortium made up of Homecorp, Sunland Group and Condev Construction.

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The Varsity Lakes site.

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Homecorp is led by businessman Ron Bakir while Sunland, which built Q1 and Palazzo Versace, is led by Sahba and Soheil Abedian.

But Varsity Lakes councillor Hermann Vorster has come out swinging, slamming the project as disappointing and warning it would cause a crisis in the area.

“I am deeply disappointed this high-profile site has been used for a near-endless supply of apartments,” he said.

“The developers say they are meeting their car parking requirements but there is a stark difference between a textbook and reality.

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Cr Hermann Vorster. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“The land is owned by Sunland and I cannot help but feel this is not the same standard of development that they are proud of elsewhere on the Gold Coast.

“I hold grave fears that this residential development will push Varsity College into crisis – it is a school which does not have its own oval, where students are already atop one another and adding this many homes into the school’s catchment seems utterly mad.”

PROPOSED SURF-THEMED TOWER

An artist’s impression of a proposed four-tower development put forward by a consortium including Condev, HomeCorp and Sunland Group for Capital Court, Varsity Lakes. Picture: Supplied.

According to plans obtained by the Gold Coast Bulletin, the project will have 388 units and 180 sqm of commercial and retail tenancies.

There would be 99 units each across three of the towers, with the fourth having 89.

The majority will be two bedroom apartments with the rest having a single bedroom.

Cr Vorster said he would represent the community’s views about the project when it goes before council later this year.

“This site is located on a main street and Varsity Lakes definitely deserves a better street appeal and features which would bring people into our central business district,” he said.

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Cr Vorster is unhappy with the development. Picture: Supplied

“I fear that the poor interface to the street will put a nail in the coffin of Main Street and condemn the CBD to poor occupancy.

“I have asked city officers to bring it to the Economy and Planning committee so I can represent the community’s view.”

According to the plans there will be 437 car parks provided for residents and visitors, as well as 164 bicycle parks.

All the parking will be located inside a three-level basement.

The Bulletin revealed earlier this week in Quentin Tod’s On the QT column that the 1.3ha site would likely become home to four towers.