Traditionally ‘lowrise’ Chevron Island could soon be home to a new 21-storey highrise

A TRADITIONALLY “low-rise” part of the Gold Coast is set for its tallest tower yet.

The proposed location of the highrise on Chevron Island.

CHEVRON Island will undergo a development renaissance, with plans for the pocket suburb’s largest highrise on the drawing board.

A 19-level tower is part of plans to develop land surrounding the $350 million Evandale cultural precinct.

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The highrise, which would “technically” be 21 storeys tall, will have 149 units and has been proposed for land between Anembo and Mawarra streets and adjacent to the planned $10 million “green bridge” connecting the island to Evandale.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Chevron Island highrise.

If approved, the project would become part of the planned “art walk” from the precinct to Surfers Paradise.

The building will be nearly twice the height of Chevron Island’s 10-storey height limit. Area councillor Lex Bell said he was aware of the project but could not comment until it was assessed by the city planning committee.

“In general terms the height limits are still in place on Chevron Island under the old town plan, but under the new City Plan 2015 the restriction would be limited,” he said.

The project has been put forward by Brisbane-based Citimark Properties.

Public comment is open until July 2.

Planning documents show the building’s facade would have a multistorey “wind veil”, representing a “high-quality outcome as well as to reinforce an urban art theme” as a gateway to the cultural precinct.

The proposed location of the highrise on Chevron Island.

It is not the first time a development has been proposed for the site.

In early 2009 the council approved an eight-level, 37-unit development but the project never got off the ground and the approval has since lapsed.

The tallest building previously approved was the adjacent $50 million St Thomas Place, which was put up in 2012 by Gold Coast lawyer Tony Hickey.

Council officers have held discussions with the developers since mid-2014 before the application was lodged.

Construction on the $37.5 million first stage of the cultural precinct is expected to begin in November when the existing council buildings are demolished.