Gold Coast development: Kirra development wave to transform beachside suburb

Plans for a new tower at Kirra have revealed the sheer size of the development wave sweeping the beachside area, with 10 more high-rises on the agenda. SEE THE PLANS

Plans for a new tower at Kirra have revealed the sheer size of the development wave sweeping the beachside area.

The location of one of Australia’s most famous surf breaks is set to become home to at least 10 new residential towers which will transform the low-density area into its own mini-suburb.

Some, including the $380m, four-tower Kirra Point are under construction or are partially completed, while others are due to be completed or begin construction this year.

The latest tower, earmarked for a 2044sq m site fronting Churchill, Miles and Winston streets, will have 14 levels and 97 units and is being pitched by Sydney-based boutique developer PYCO Group.

Artist impression of a new tower planned for Kirra by PYCO Group.

Most will be three-bedrooms, with 18 to have two bedrooms.

It will have 147 carparking spaces.

A planning report lodged with the council puts the project into the context of the changing suburb.

“The site is situated in an area that is subject to and anticipates taller apartment buildings,” it reads.

“The proposed development will contribute to housing choice and affordability in Coolangatta. “The proposed development will deliver a mix of two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings (long stay accommodation) therefore contribute to the housing choice and diversity within Coolangatta.”

The PYCO project, along with other recent proposals, will go before the council’s planning committee after the March elections.

Artist impression of a new tower planned for Kirra by PYCO Group.

Among the 10 projects on the drawing board are:

* Elan (nine-storeys)

* Del Ray Kirra Beach (14-storeys)

*Emerson Kirra (13-storeys)

*Kirra Palms Holiday (6-storeys)

*Aria Del Mare (four-storeys)

* Iconic Kirra resort (16-storeys)

* X Kirra Apartments (13-storeys)

* Kirra Beach Apartments (seven storeys)

* Nirvana by the SEA (23-storeys)

*Kirra Point (Four towers of differing heights)

Kirra is changing dramatically.

Real estate figures say they will be just the beginning of a raft of big changes coming ahead of the light rail’s extension to the border.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) Gold Coast boss Andrew Henderson said Kirra and Coolangatta would become increasingly dense as the city’s population grows.

“I think we will see more of this down that way and the light rail will be a bit catalyst as well,” he said.

“We’ve already seen this start to happen in Coolangatta while Kirra used to be the quiet area on the other side of the hill.

“Where they have been successful so far is aiming up-market with the commercial operators on the ground floor and the ability to have mixed-use on these sites has been great.”