New towers flagged for Surfers Paradise site amid residents’ car park battle
A massive development has been mooted for a central Gold Coast suburb – and nearby residents are set to lose out.
Gold Coast
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A twin tower development is mooted for the Surfers Paradise bowls club site as neighbouring residents appear almost certain to lose access to car parks under the greens.
All councillors at a full council meeting on Tuesday will vote on an officer recommendation to proceed with the sale with the advice to residents to negotiate with the new owner of all the amalgamated blocks.
Mayor Tom Tate is removing himself from council’s debate on the decision but has responded to the Bulletin’s questions about the prime commercial site’s future.
His consortium owns land next to the council parcel and nine years ago gained approval for the 56-level tower, Waterglow. Instead, they decided to sell with settlement expected soon.
“I think it will be a twin tower because it’s easy to build. It will be about 30 storeys,” Mr Tate told the Bulletin.
The Mayor admitted the challenge in building a major project was rising costs and supplies.
“My humble opinion it will be medium rise – two tower. One will probably be aged care style because it’s a great location, and that’s what I would do,” he said.
Mr Tate expects the sale of his consortium’s parcel of land will settle with a buyer in September ending his involvement with the site.
He said he had put a proposal to residents at Surfers Plaza to acquire his group’s holding ahead of entering contract to another developer.
“So I gave them absolutely first right to do that,” he said.
“Apart from that, my attitude has always been that the mistake that was done by council back in probably 1984 to approve that building with no parking is horrendous.
“Really the best opportunity would be that a concept is done to build additional parking for that building next door.”
But he cautioned that the deal would have to be “fair on both sides”
Unit owners would need to understand the car park lease or ownership was at a commercial rate, and that it would add to the value of their apartment.
Former city councillor Eddy Sarroff, who has been campaigning on behalf of residents, said unit owners were “exhausted” from the process.
“The residents were advised by the local councillor (Darren Taylor) to prepare a petition so the matter can go before council,” Mr Sarroff said.
“Obviously that was with the view of putting the sale on hold. The residents are at a point where they believe they are only given lip service by council.
“This is extraordinary. It’s the same council that previously ensured any development on the bowls club included the council sale of land delivered 150 parks.”
After a vote of fellow councillors at the governance committee, Councillor Taylor was unable to take part in debate due to a perceived conflict of interest.
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