Jon Drew, whose Lagoon towers are rising over Tedder Ave and are more than 95 per cent sold, says the area, which was devastated by pounding surf during March’s Cyclone Alfred, must remain “postcard perfect”.

That’s not currently the case at many of the dunes in Main Beach, with sheer sand walls still found at the back of beachfront properties nearly four months on from the cyclone.

Council has commissioned an investigation into a permanent solution such as a rock wall groyne to prevent similar erosion occurring again.

But with towers rising and business booming in the ’90s hotspot, the Drew Group boss says it’s critical a permanent solution is found.

“The Gold Coast’s beaches are one of our most important natural assets so I do believe that strategies should be put in place to avoid, if possible, the damage caused by extreme weather events,” he said.

“The ocean way from Narrowneck to Broadbeach is fantastic and used by many residents and visitors to our city.

“Any improvement on this will be valued by all who get to experience it but there are obvious hurdles to make that happen.

“Implementing a permanent solution for Main Beach’s erosion issues is a proactive and positive step. I’m hopeful that it will help safeguard the area’s natural beauty and ensure it remains a ‘postcard perfect’ destination for years to come, even in the face of future weather events.”

Lagoon, like all other under-construction towers, was hit by weather delays during the first half of 2025 but is now on track for completion in April 2026.

Area councillor Darren Taylor said Main Beach was the “jewel in the crown” of the Gold Coast and was on an economic upturn after more than a decade of difficulties, including closed businesses and high rents.

“Main Beach is definitely a hive of activity right now and there are a lot of businesses which are thriving and the area is expanding,” he said.

“It is like the late 1980s and 1990s again because everyone seems to want to be in Main Beach.”

Mr Taylor said council’s focus was on repairing the heavily eroded beaches before instituting a long-term solution, a project he said was being investigated by both the city and Griffith University.

“Before the cyclone we were doing a body of work on how to protect it against weather events and this could include a headland somewhere along there to protect those beaches,” he said.

“We are waiting to bring those projects and solutions to the council as soon as possible so once the beaches are restored, we can move forward and having the state on board.”

Mayor Tom Tate has previously proposed a rockwall groyne be built at Narrowneck.

Mr Drew’s Lagoon project is part of a pipeline of more than $1bn of projects currently under construction or proposed for The Spit amid big real estate moves in the beachside suburb.

Sydney-based developer ODUS and its backer Metrics Credit Partners have bought an absolute beachfront site on Main Beach Parade for $55.98m in one of the biggest land sales of the year. They will proceed with an already approved 21-storey, $290m tower called Ari which was put forward by the site’s previous owner, Stamoulis Property Group.

It will be their second project in the area after buying and beginning construction of the La Mer tower.

ODUS boss Byron Sakha said Main Beach was a highly desirable location.

“This is an absolute A-grade site, with 30-metres of frontage to one of the Gold Coast’s most famed beaches and in one of its most exclusive postcodes,” he said.

“It’s a beautifully designed development and, while we’ll make some minor enhancements to the facade and interiors, we’ll largely progress with the existing plans.

“We’re confident the market demand for both properties remains very strong (because) it’s a prime location and the desire for top end beachfront apartments on the Gold Coast is extremely high, with supply low.”

Meanwhile, developer Alroe is putting finishing touches on the $31m boutique Lune building, also on Main Beach Parade, which will be completed in coming weeks.