They bought the servo at Burleigh Heads for $8m in October, they had big plans for it but could the light rail ruin it all

THIS developer has $100m plans for its Burleigh site. That is, it did — until State Government decided to plant the Burleigh Heads tram station there.

DEVELOPERS Pointcorp will next week reveal plans to build a $100 million, 41-unit complex on a petrol station site at Burleigh Heads.

But that’s if the land the company bought for $8 million isn’t taken by the State Government for the light rail.

The petrol station at Burleigh Heads was bought by Pointcorp for $8 million in October.

Pointcorp’s plans were missed by the State Government when it commissioned a reference design for Stage 3A of the tram system.

The design, released last month for community consultation, shows the Burleigh Heads tram stop but no sign of a luxury tower or Caltex petrol station on the corner of the Gold Coast Hwy and Goodwin Terrace.

A Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A artist impression released in July shows the land has been taken to make way for traffic.

Instead the land is resumed for two lanes of traffic.

“We have met with (TMR) and there has certainly been absolutely no mention of resumption,” Pointcorp co-founder Chris Vitale said.

“As far as we are concerned we are building a luxury apartment on that site.”

He said Pointcorp would next week submit a development application to Gold Coast City Council for a $100 million, 41 three-bedroom-apartment building on the site.

Pointcorp co-founder Chris Vitale said he has had no discussions about land resumption and as far as he was concerned he would be building a luxury department on the Burleigh Heads site.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads confirmed it needed land at the Goodwin Terrace intersection, but could not say how much and where it would come from.

“A potential land requirement has been identified in the reference design that will allow the Gold Coast Hwy to be reconfigured and widened maintaining two traffic lanes,” a TMR spokesman said.

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It means there will be a pinch for land.

Across the highway, Burleigh Heads Bowls Club president Paul Hynes said they would not give up land.

“The only option presented to us was the terminal on the Gold Coast Hwy, which will push the road up to our eastern boundary which is currently a bus lay-by area,” he said.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads

However, business owner Martyn Frangos said he had discussions with TMR about resumption of the buildings next to the petrol station.

He said his Old Burleigh Arcade was safe. However, his buildings behind at 1823 Gold Coast Hwy might be acquired.

TMR officials had not determined how much land it needed, he said.

He had been assured his tenants, which include the Montezumas takeaway shop (not the restaurant inside the arcade), would be compensated.

The previous plan for the light rail stop at Burleigh Heads was opposite the Burleigh Heads Hotel and Justin Lane near Connors St.

Pointcorp’s Mr Vitale said there had been no conversation like that in relation to the petrol station.

“The department shared their plans with us that they were considering a (tram) station further towards us, so which land they take I don’t know,” he said.

There were two options for stations at Burleigh Heads, during the first consultation. one was outside Justin Lane, the other the trams would go down Connor St and then Park St and stop outside the library.

A TMR spokesman said the proposed location of the station changed to minimise impacts on the Norfolk Pines beachfront and Memorial Park at the Burleigh Heads Bowls Club.

“Any property owners who have been identified on the current reference design for Stage 3A and may be impacted, have been contacted,” the spokesman said.

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“This process allows impacted private property owners to voluntarily elect to participate and this can allow acquisitions to be brought forward at the owners’ request.”

Community consultation for Stage 3A of the light rail started on August 1 and finishes on August 31.

There will be two public drop-in sessions held at Burleigh Heads Surf Club, on Wednesday, August 15, 6-8pm, and Sunday, August 18, 11am-1pm.

Two more will be held at Mermaid Beach Surf Club, on Wednesday August 22, 6-8pm, and Saturday, August 25, 11am-1pm.