Old Burleigh Arcade battle: Council’s plan to save the facade and interior of much loved building

The Bulletin can reveal council has been moving quickly to preserve both the façade and parts of the historic interior of the Old Burleigh Arcade, employing a rarely-used procedure to save the site.

Developers plan to replace the Old Burleigh Arcade with an apartment tower.

COUNCIL is moving quickly to save both the façade and parts of the historic interior of the Old Burleigh Arcade before it is demolished.

The Bulletin can reveal councillors at a recent economy planning and environment committee went into a closed session where they supported a plan which seeks to preserve the historic site.

Exterior photo of Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade.

A committee recommendation shows Councillor William Owen-Jones moved that council prepare a “temporary local planning instrument” which will control development on the site.

Weiya Holdings intends replacing the 90-year-old Goodwin Terrace brick building with 14-level luxury apartment tower which has a new arcade at its base.

The Sydney-based property development company bought the site for $18.5 million when it went on the market in April.

The developer says expects it could take 10 months to get approvals.

Councillor William Owen-Jones moved a recommendation to help save parts of the historic building. Picture: Richard Gosling.

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But the committee’s recommendation, which was moved by Cr Hermann Vorster and seconded by planning committee chair Cameron Caldwell, gained the backing of councillors when it went to full council.

“A temporary local planning instrument allows council to move swiftly, to recommend necessary changes to the city plan in advance of city planning amendments. It is used when council needs to act quickly,” a council source said.

The recommendations included CEO Dale Dickson writing to State Development Minister Cameron Dick to seek approval of the temporary local planning instrument to be effective from July 30.

Another recommendation directed the Office of City Architect to proceed with entering the property on the Gold Coast Local Heritage Register.

The temporary planning instrument is regarded as an “effective tool” to control developments before the City Plan can be amended, and enables council to “defend enforcement actions” with upcoming applications.

Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer backed the move, aware that former Nerang Shire chairman Samuel Robert Andrews had opened the building. Their family home is at Mudgeeraba.

Councillor Glenn Tozer — this building means so much to the local community. Photo: Jerad Williams.

TOP ARCHITECT CALLS FOR OLD BURLEIGH ARCADE TO BE SAVED

When approached by the Bulletin today, Cr Tozer said: “We considered a report at council that dealt with that site and its heritage significance.

“I was supportive of development of the site in such a way that it recognised the heritage significance — for a building that means so much to the local community.

The Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade at 64 Goodwin Terrace in Burleigh Heads.

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“The building itself is almost 100 years old. Some of the internal architecture and the external façade, the De-Luxe Theatre brickwork, they are important to the Gold Coast community. It’s an important memory for our local area.”

Councillors with their recommendation at committee believe it would be the best way forward to protect both the façade and internal walkways.