Gold Coast development: 68-storey twin super towers lead multi-billion dollar building wave
A giant 68-storey twin super tower project is leading a multi-billion development wave in a Gold Coast beachside suburb and is just one of at least seven major projects.
Gold Coast
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A GIANT 68-storey twin super tower project is leading a multi-billion development wave in a Gold Coast beachside suburb.
Veteran developer John Potter has unveiled a drastically revamped version of the long-dormant high-density Main Place tower which was once planned for Broadbeach.
Under the new plans, the single-story row of shops would be replaced with two twin super towers with room for nearly 1500 residents.
MORE THAN 23,000 DEVELOPMENTS APPROVED
Now known as Central on Broadbeach, the tower would include 64-levels of units, three levels of mixed-use commercial and retail space and a rooftop garden level.
It would have 506 units and 418 serviced apartments for a total of 1446 beds.
The application was lodged earlier this week by Mr Potter through his Mermaid Beach-based company, Main Place Developments Pty Ltd and has been welcomed by city leaders.
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Area Councillor Paul Taylor said the new project, coupled with other high rise developments breaking ground, showed enormous confidence in Broadbeach.
Cr Taylor, who recently met with Mr Potter, said interest in the dining precinct remained strong.
“Main Place really needs doing up and this project will absolutely add another feather in the cap of Broadbeach, along with the development at The Star and everything else which is happening at the moment,’ he said.
$1.4 BILLION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FAST-TRACKED
“There is so much confidence in this area, it’s not even funny and these guys are really serious — they see the opportunity and think that now is the time to do it.
“You will see 2019 is going to be a year of action, while all the doom and gloom is happening in Sydney things are happening here on the Gold Coast — the market conditions are right.”
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Mr Potter and staff have met with council planning staff and representatives from the Office of the Queensland Government Architect at least five times in the past year to workshop the project
City planning boss Councillor Cameron Caldwell said Broadbeach was an area of increasing activity.
“Broadbeach is emerging as a central business for business, tourism and living,” he said.
“This project is located adjacent to the light rail, the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Pacific Fair and The Star.
“With several other applications received in the past year, it indicates that 2019 will continue to show strong activity.”
The proposed tower would have a total of 1620 sqm of retail floor space divided into 14 individual tenancies plus a further 600 sqm for corporate offices.
If approved, it would be built in three stages — the basement and podium, the southern tower and finally, the northern tower
But not everyone is welcoming of the plans, some locals have expressed concerns the area will not cope with the number of towers rising in Broadbeach.
According to plans there will be six levels of parking in the latest tower, four of which will be underground.
The subterranean levels will be built under the project, as well as an access point from a section of the Gold Coast Highway service road, the developer secured from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines.
It will give the towers a total of 777 car spaces, which if approved, would sit just 50m from the nearest light rail station.
Cr Taylor said existing road infrastructure would be upgraded to cope with an influx of traffic from new Broadbeach projects.
Main Place traders told the Bulletin they would be forced to relocate if the monster development went ahead.
Vape Haven owners Octavian Voegele and Karsten Kobbing said they would not survive during construction of such a big project.
“I like how old-school Broadbeach looks now, it’s for the locals, whereas Surfers Paradise is for the tourists,” Mr Kobbing said.
He said retailers already faced issues in the area and would be badly affected by more construction.
“Parking is already a big problem, with people having to pay for parking and being fined, it drives people to the shopping centres,” he said.
“It’s tough, you look at how many ‘for lease’ signs there are in windows in the area.”
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The original Main Place project was lodged with council in 2010 and approved under a court order in 2013.
Under that proposal, it was to be a 52-storey mixed-use tower with 520 units, a 173 suite resort hotel, offices, cafes, restaurants, commercial services and a carpark.
However, the project stalled and never went ahead.
WHAT’S COMING UP IN BROADBEACH
The Star (Broadbeach Island)
More than $2 billion will be spent realising this project which will eventually see up to seven towers rise on the site. The second tower, the 19-storey boutique Darling was completed earlier this year and ground was recently broken on the $450 million Star Residences and Dorsett Hotel, a 53-storey project. The State Government has approved development of the remaining four towers, with the Star tipping work to begin on at least one more tower in 2019.
Class Broadbeach (Corner of Old Burleigh Road and Charles Ave)
A $100 million project put forward in May by developer Broadbeach Joint Venture
The 54-storey Class Broadbeach is planned for a 756sq m site on the corner of Charles Ave and Old Burleigh Road and will have just 46 “ultra high-end” units.
Replacing the two-level Kurrawa Lodge, the tower will feature 34 full-floor three-bedroom units, a three-level penthouse, five two-floor skyhomes and six two-bedroom apartments.
More than $7 million was spent over the past three years securing the seven units in the Kurrawa Lodge building to allow the tower to proceed.
Class was designed by Palm Beach firm RH Frankland and Associates and would eclipse the beachfront view of the neighbouring Oracle beach tower.
Infinity tower (Corner of Surf Parade and George Ave)
A proposed tower with a floorplan shaped like an Infinity symbol.
Developer Bassar Group filed plans for The Infinity Tower in August.
It is a 40-storey ‘skyhome’ high-rise in central Broadbeach which will have just 61 units.
Proposed for a site on the corner of Surf Paradise and George Ave, the tower will have 194 bedrooms and a ground-level shop or food outlet.
31BB (Broadbeach Boulevard)
A $65 million luxury unit tower planned for Broadbeach Boulevard.
Ground broke on 31BB last month after more than half of the 22 units inside the tower were sold.
The 20-storey tower was put forward by Melbourne-based Optimus Developments and construction is expected to be completed in 2020.
272 Hedges Ave (Hedges Avenue)
A $250 million tower, construction began on Sunland’s 45-storey project last month.
The first stage of work will create a basement and foundations over the next year before the skyscraper will rise from the ground in early 2020.
Featuring just 97 units, the first residents are expected to move in once the building is complete in 2022.
Private resident amenities include a dedicated concierge service, lounge, boardroom, function room, swimming pool, spa, gym, sauna, Turkish steam room, and treatment rooms.
Qube (Jubilee Ave)
Construction was recently completed on this 40-storey residential tower which was built by the Morris Property Group on the corner of Jubilee Ave and the Gold Coast Highway.
Replacing a Gold Coast City Council carpark, this tower features a pool deck and close access to the light rail.
Signature tower (Philip Ave)
A $220 million project, developer Little Projects went to market on this 35-storey, 263-unit tower this year after getting approval from the Gold Coast City Council in late 2017.
Signature Broadbeach will be built on a site in Philip Ave, replacing low-rise housing.
The tower will feature a lap pool on the roof of its podium as well as a shop on its ground floor.
It is expected to cater towards the residential and short-term accommodation sectors.
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