Pimpama Old Pacific Highway tower: Full details as local opinion splits on controversial plans
A proposal for an 11-storey tower in the heart of suburban Gold Coast has sparked a furious debate among locals. Take a look at the plans and vote in our poll to tell us what you think.
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A proposal for an 11-storey tower has sparked a furious debate among locals, with a split between those fearing further traffic misery and others saying it is necessary amid a housing crisis.
Developer Escape Homes has applied to council for permission to build the 60-unit tower at a site on the Old Pacific Highway in Pimpama.
Six of the 60 units in the tower are to be allocated as Residential Care Facility apartments to be used by NDIS clients.
The site is close to Pimpama Shopping Centre and the location of a new train station, which is currently under construction.
However many locals have expressed opposition to the proposal, fearing already overloaded local roads cannot take the traffic generated by high-density developments.
“This is ridiculous,” one local resident said. “We’re just getting the roads upgraded to cope with the amount of traffic we already have and they go and build a residential high rise just to add to the overpopulation we already have. Our roads just can’t cope with this.”
The proposal follows hot on the heels of an application for four residential towers in next-door Coomera, which has also sparked controversy.
“So a new one in Coomera and new one in Pimpama. Are we going to be the next Hong Kong where it’s bumper to bumper 24/7?”, another resident asked.
However the proposed development has also attracted some support from people concerned about the housing crisis currently gripping the Gold Coast.
“I swear people need to pick a side. One minute moaning no accommodation, next moaning home development,” one person said.
“The fact is this will be a feature around all transport hubs. It is happening interstate and it will happen here.
“I just don’t understand why people are surprised. It seems sensible to have higher density housing around transport hub’s surely to keep more cars off the road.”
Another person described the proposal as “awesome”, saying: “We need about another 30 of these buildings so we can get families into accommodation and out of cars.”
Plans for the development will now be considered by council after being submitted on March 15.
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