Gold Coast’s Glitter Strip moves north with $3 billion of development and precinct plans

THE Glitter Strip is about to move north with secret plans for an entertainment and tourism precinct along with massive residential development in a $3 billion boom starting at Helensvale.

Glitter Strip’s northern exposure

THE Glitter Strip is about to move north with secret plans for an entertainment and tourism precinct, along with massive residential development, in a $3 billion boom starting at Helensvale.

Councillors yesterday approved a $500-million residential project on land next to the Helensvale Town Centre which should create room for 8000 more residents.

But the shock is the development wave will include more hotels and more theme parks in the city’s north — and the reason for the investment is the light rail to heavy rail connection at Helensvale before the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Confidential documents obtained by the Gold Coast Bulletin in a Right to Information investigation reveal Mayor Tom Tate wrote to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in late November last year detailing “my overall vision for the whole region”.

He said the document, titled Gold Coast Resort Sites showed “significant expansion of the Yatala enterprise area eastwards” and the creation of a “water-based enterprise and aquacultural zone in the northern corner near The Rock Point sugar mill.

“As highlighted, I wish to see this area become the job-generation engine room in the northern part of the city, while addressing the obvious challenges and opportunities this land exhibits,” Cr Tate wrote.

“This potential significant investment is welcomed and encouraged. New tourism infrastructure would further strengthen the Gold Coast’s and Queensland’s international reputation as the great place to invest and visit.”

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said she was aware council discussions on several sites for a future new theme park were starting.

“It would be north of the Coomera River. That would be the logical location — fairly close to the existing parks between Pimpama and Coomera,” she said.

She said the announcement of stage two of the light rail linking the Broadbeach-Parklands line with Helensvale was the trigger for the boom.

It comes as ASF Consortium, which plans to develop an integrated resort and casino at The Spit, today unveils its 45-lot Peninsula development at Hope Island.

It will feature 27 townhouses and 115 apartments across three buildings.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland Gold Coast boss John Newlands said the diversity of development in the city’s north was a reflection of the area’s growth.

“People want to move there because the infrastructure is being developed to support the area,” he said.

“It is a growth area because of the availability of land, the infrastructure growth and these new suburbs are well planned compared with those of the past.”

Mr Newlands also backed the push to build a second major arterial road through the city’s north — the Inter-Regional Transport Corridor (IRTC).

Helensvale-based city councillor William Owen-Jones agreed and pointed to the Villawood project as a “very significant residential infill development”.

“It’s been a site highly sought after during the years and it has had preliminary approval for several years,” he said.

“It’s great to see the confidence in the northern Gold Coast.

“It will benefit enormously from the connection to stage two light rail.”

Key northern tourism and residential projects being considered by council include:

• A $500-million, three-tower development including a hotel at Dreamworld Drive and Beattie Road, Coomera.

• A 9-storey boutique hotel on the Movie World site at Oxenford.

• A $500-million Villawood residential project approved yesterday at Helensvale.

• A 747-home detached development by Stockland, expected to begin construction by 2018 at Coomera.

• Villaworld have a 350-lot development at Greenacre Drive at Arundel.

• Helensvale Homeworld has stage two of its development started with soil tests having begun.

• Oyster Cove has major approvals and works for the final stage of its residential and commercial project.

The Villaworld project will go before the final full council meeting tomorrow.

Earmarked for a Helensvale site on Country Club Drive where much of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales movie was shot, it will eventually be home to 2500 dwellings and 8000 people.

Villawood Properties co-executive director Tony Johnson said construction would begin next month should the permits be approved.

The region’s big projects

— COOMERA TOWN CENTRE:

A $1 billion major retail precinct under construction.

— VILLAWOOD RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

A $500 million residential project adjacent to town centre at Helensvale. Approved by council, it will feature 2500 homes, 330 in the first stage.

— COOMERA MARINE PRECINCT

$500 million marine precinct and office complex approved by council in 2015.

— STOCKLAND’S WATERWAYS DOWN PROJECT

747-house residential development approved by the council this year. Will be built from 2018.

— COOMERA INTEGRATED RESORT

Three-tower project planned for land next to Dreamworld. Will feature 12-storey hotel and two residential towers of 22 and 27 storeys.

— RETIREMENT VILLAGE/MARINE PRECINCT

Recently filed Coomera project that will feature more than 260 residential units, a marine industry precinct and berths.

— MOVIE WORLD HOTEL TOWER

Mysterious nine-storey development planned for the Oxenford theme park.

Coomera booms as growth goes into overdrive

LONG-TIME Coomera business owner Shannon O’Malley cooks a mean steak — and says the city’s north is starting to sizzle.

The chef owner of the Coomera Waters Tavern and Shannon’s Steak and Seafood restaurant has seen the area change drastically since opening his doors in April 2001.

Shannon O'Malley is the owner of the Coomera Waters Tavern. Shannon has been in business in the area for 15 years as chef. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr O’Malley said the number of people coming to the northern region was steadily increasing and the growth went into overdrive in the past year as the $1 billion Coomera Town Centre and Exit 54 ­upgrade were approved.

“Exit 54 changed things overnight and the whole of Foxwell Road is getting developed and it is just a matter of time before the Town Centre opens.

“When I first opened up here there was cows and a few townhouses but we are now seeing all these new suburbs and, for me, it has meant I have to continually advertise ­because there are always new people moving here,” he said. “I am really excited about the region’s prospects because things are changing for the better.”

Area councillor and city planning boss Cameron Cald­well said the boom in Coomera and other northern suburbs showed the strength of confidence in the market and the region.