Gold Coast development: Council votes to delay decision on Gold Coast Titans clubhouse

Big budget plans to create a supporters club for the Gold Coast Titans have hit a snag at a council meeting this morning. Now the project is set to be delayed.

COUNCILLORS have deferred making a decision on a report which recommends approving a new community club for the Titans on the northern Gold Coast.

The application sparked a marathon debate at a planning committee meeting which stretched for almost three hours, with councillors at one point going into a closed session.

When the committee moved back in open session, a majority of councillors supported a recommendation by committee chair Cameron Caldwell to defer the item until full council on July 30.

Council officers will be required to obtain “independent legal and planning advice” about the assessment of the application.

Titans co-owner Darryl Kelly, outside the meeting, said the original plan was for the community club to be operating by late 2020.

The delay in the planning process means the club was unlikely to open before March 2021.

Earlier, the Bulletin revealed council officers have given the tick of approval to the Titans establishing a supporters club in the north of the Gold Coast.

The club is proposing a one-storey building on a 29,000 sqm site on Oberon Way, just south of the Oxenford commercial centre on sporting fields and open space fronting the Pacific Highway.

Artist impression of Gold Coast Titans Leagues Club planned for Oxenford.

The application reveals the licensed club plans to operate between 10am and 10pm Sunday to Thursday and between 10am to 2am Friday to Saturday.

The officers in their report said: “The proposed development will contribute an alternative leisure and entertainment activity on the periphery of the Oxenford Park Precinct. The development will provide a space for Titans members and guests to celebrate the highs and lows of supporting a national rugby league team. The club will activate this area of Oxenford Park and provide an opportunity for social congregation.”

Darryl Kelly and Rebecca Frizelle. Picture: Regina King

In December last year, Gold Coast Titans co-owner Darryl Kelly revealed why Oxenford was chosen as the potential site of the NRL side’s proposed leagues club because it would help the local community.

The club had approached the Gold Coast City Council to lease or buy a parcel of land at Oxenford for a 2500sq m facility.

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The headquarters will be built in Oxenford if approved. Picture Mike Batterham

The facility would provide up to 80 new jobs, and if backed by council would be ready for the 2021 season. Construction would take two years and the club needs to secure liquor and gaming machine licences.

“A process of analysis by external consultants and ourselves inspected many sites and in the end this was viewed as the best available site,” Mr Kelly said.

“One reason for the selection of this site was the lack of facilities there now that the club will provide to the adjacent community.”

The Titans will seek a leased agreement similar to those in place with Burleigh Bears Rugby League Club at Pizzey Park, Broadbeach Bowls and Community Club and Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club.