Gold Coast development: Kirra Beach Hotel tower development fast-tracked three years early
One of the biggest developments in the southern Gold Coast’s history will be completed much earlier than scheduled as new images reveal new details about the giant three-tower project.
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ONE of the biggest developments in the southern Gold Coast’s history will be completed three years ahead of schedule.
Developer KTQ Group has fast-tracked Kirra Point, the next stage of its $380m redevelopment of the Kirra Beach Hotel in a bid to capitalise on the market.
The Brisbane-based company filed new plans with the Gold Coast City Council last week.
KTQ development director Jeremy Holmes said the design of one of the towers, at 13 storeys, had been revamped to include more commercial space and extra basement parking.
“We plan to be a long-term owner of this precinct and we’re committed to curating a mix of retail and commercial tenants who share our vision for this thriving neighbourhood retail precinct that locals love,” he said.
“Extra parking and some more commercial space provides for a better concentration and mix of tenants which will further support the destination.”
Construction of the 16-storey, 118-unit Miles Residences, the project’s first stage, began more than a year ago.
Kirra Point, now three storeys taller than initially planned, will incorporate the new Kirra Beach Hotel.
A third, seven-storey tower will have a 92-room hotel resort.
Mr Holmes said the improved design allowed a more efficient construction schedule, with the removal of the fourth building and the opportunity now to complete the whole project in two stages, rather than four.
“We now expect to finish the whole project by 2026, three years earlier than originally forecast. That’s good news for everybody, with less construction impact on the local community and earlier completion of this thriving new retail and hospitality precinct,” he said.
The Kirra Beach Hotel was closed in February 2021 after 65 years.
Figures lodged with council in early 2021 showed more than 1200 direct and indirect jobs will be created full-time, and more than 840 construction jobs by the project.
Once complete, it is expected to put $61.4 million annually into the Coast economy.
Architect Mark Damant, of Little Boat Projects, has worked on the project masterplan with KTQ since 2018 and said the new improved plan would deliver “an even more vibrant and locally-focused precinct for Kirra, designed with a ‘people-first approach’ – a place for everyone to enjoy living and visiting”.
Controversial tower ‘too big’ for exclusive enclave
BUDDS Beach residents have vowed to fight the building of a 22-storey development that is “simply too big for its boots”.
Developer McNab has filed plans with the Gold Coast City Council to build Elements on a 1012sq m site on the corner of Birt and Oak avenues.
However, the Budds Residents Action Group (BRAG), co-founded by businessman Charlie Green, says it is concerned “about shoehorning a 22-storey tower onto the doorstep of Budds Beach because it is simply too big for its boots,” he said.
“A lot of people in Budds Beach live here because it captures the old Gold Coast – the 1960s housing and the laid-back vibe the Goldie was famous for – but you won’t have that anymore if this is built.
“There’s going to be more than 40 new balconies all looking down into our bedrooms, bathrooms and backyards with things like hen’s nights, buck nights and mad Mondays and they won’t care about us.”
According to documents filed with the council, the tower will feature 70 two, three and four-bedroom units and two penthouses.
The units will be priced from $800,000 to $1.5m, while the penthouses will cost more than $3m.
The tower will be developed by McNab and the site’s owners – movie sculptor Liam Hardy and his wife Yvette.
Mr Hardy’s work has appeared in blockbuster films The Hobbit, Chronicles of Narnia and Fool’s Gold.
Area councillor Darren Taylor said Elements was one of several major towers planned for the area.
“Under the current City Plan, areas around Surfers Paradise are open to high-rise development,” he said.
“Budds Beach, west of Kao Ave, will always have a lower level of development than the east side and with each application we get, we will aim to get a good outcome which will improve upon what was there before.”
Elements will replace a zany 20-storey tower Mr Hardy pitched for the site in December 2018.
A Hobbit-esque “skygarden” with huge art pieces, a giant pair of hands set in concrete, a feature pool and views of the Coast’s beaches and hinterland were the centrepieces of the asymmetric high-rise, which has been scrapped in favour of a less unusual design.
McNab senior development manager Mark Spedding said his company’s project was much smaller than other towers planned for the area.
“We are thrilled to join forces with future residents Liam and Yvette Hardy to deliver an intimate, boutique building in contrast to large-scale proposed developments in the area.
“The city plan strategic vision calls for building heights to change abruptly to achieve deliberate and distinctive contrast in build form within and between low, medium or high-rise areas to enhance the city’s iconic skyline views,” Mr Spedding said.
“Building toward our status as a world-class city, this plan places our tallest buildings in Southport, Surfers and Broadbeach.
“Compared to existing and approved Budds Beach development, Elements is a modest height building which satisfies the strategic city plan framework, height pattern and light rail urban renewal area objectives,” he said.
Ms Hardy said it “meets a large gap in the market for spacious, thoughtfully designed apartments within the Surfers Paradise high-density zone”.
Batmobile sculptor designs new luxury tower for affluent area
He helped design the Batmobile, now an award-winning Gold Coast sculptor wants to help transform his first home into a giant tower overlooking Budds Beach.
Sculptor Liam Hardy, whose work has appeared in blockbuster films The Hobbit, Chronicles of Narnia and Fool’s Gold, has teamed with developer McNab to create a 22-storey tower on a 1012sq m site on the corner of Birt and Oak avenues.
Mr Hardy and his wife Yvette bought the site in 2008 and plan to live in the tower, to be called Elements, once it is completed in 2024.
Work on the project, submitted to the Gold Coast City Council for approval, is expected to begin in late-2022.
Mr Hardy said he wanted to leave a legacy in his future home by creating a sculpture for its foyer and helping to design the tower’s facade with architect Cottee Parker.
“It is important to us to create a beautiful space that complements the Budds Beach community,” he said.
Mr Hardy’s previous projects have included attractions at Tokyo Disney, director Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit film trilogy, rides at Village Roadshow’s Gold Coast theme parks and Suncorp Stadium tribute statues of rugby league legends Mal Meninga and Arthur Beetson.
Elements will replace a zany 20-storey tower Mr Hardy pitched for the site in December 2018.
A Hobbit-esque “skygarden” with huge art pieces, a giant pair of hands set in concrete, a feature pool and views of the Coast’s beaches and hinterland were the centrepieces of the asymmetric high-rise, which has been scrapped in favour of a less unusual design.
According to documents filed with the council, the tower will feature 70 two, three and four-bedroom units as well as two penthouses.
The units will be priced from $800,000 to $1.5m, while the penthouses will cost more than $3m.
“After a soft launch online we have been inundated with demand from locals looking to upgrade their lifestyle,” McNab senior development manager Mark Spedding said. “More than 150 inquiries have been received within a two-week period.
“Of those inquiries, a dozen requested to amalgamate floor plans to convert two two-bedroom apartments into a four-bedroom residence, effectively reducing the number of units available to the market.”
Company director Michael McNab said the company employed about 70 staff who live and work on the Gold Coast - and he anticipated about 100 trades on the Elements site, with 150 workers at peak times of the project.
Elements Budds Beach will be McNab’s second end-to-end development project on the Gold Coast. It follows the success of exclusive one-home-per-floor development, White Main Beach. Only one sky home remains available for sale, White Main Beach is on schedule and due for completion early 2023.
Elements is the second major development to be pitched for Budds Beach in the past six months.
In February, the giant four-tower La Pelago development was approved. It will be built by the Gurner Group.
Elements Budds Beach will be McNab’s second end-to-end development project on the Gold Coast. It follows the success of exclusive one-home-per-floor development, White Main Beach. Only one sky home remains available for sale, White Main Beach is on schedule and due for completion early 2023.
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