The Alfred: Old Mermaid Village shopping centre complex to be redeveloped for new residential and retail precinct

An ageing Gold Coast shopping centre will be demolished and transformed into a giant retail and residential complex next to a light rail station. FULL DETAILS

The man behind Nobby Beach’s revival has unveiled plans for a giant shopping centre and housing development on the light rail route.

Developer Daniel Veitch has been revealed as the new owner of the Mermaid Village complex on the Gold Coast Highway after buying it for $26m earlier this year.

Now he’s planning to redevelop the entire 4095 sqm site to build The Alfred, a “landmark” mixed-use unit apartment and shopping centre.

According to plans lodged with the council, much of the complex, which sits about 100m from the under-construction Mermaid Beach South light rail station, will be retained with the unit block built on top.

Artist impression of The Alfred shopping centre and residential complex on the Gold Coast Highway at Mermaid Beach. It will replace the Mermaid Beach Shopping Village. Picture: Supplied

However two other buildings – containing the Bistro Lamp Japanese Restaurant, Night Owl and Cheese Me Baby cafe – will be demolished.

Designed by BDA Architecture and J.AR, the seven-storey building will have 80 units for a total of 150 bedrooms.

Mr Veitch said he expected the project would have the same impact on Mermaid Beach that his previous development – The Oxley – had on Nobby Beach.

“It will be proper urban renewal at its finest,” he said.

“All of that area on the highway needs to be renewed.

“It will be what a neighbourhood centre should be.”

Gold Coast developer Daniel Veitch

Area councillor Nick Marshall welcomed the project and said it was critical to address the shortfall in residential development for workers who have already been priced out of other suburbs.

“From what I have seen it ticks a lot of the boxes in terms of retail and providing desperately needed accommodation to the area,” he said.

“If you look at the success he has had with the Oxley, Daniel has a real eye for style and the area has already changed so much in term of its clientele, with all the young and cool people coming in.

The site sold recently for $26m Picture: Supplied

“Mermaid Beach is attracting that kind of crowd and he will do something cool for the area, because it does need an upgrade and this is the perfect opportunity to get the accommodation which we are really struggling with in terms of providing it for people so they can afford to live and work in the area.

“This would deliver on both.”

The Alfred Investment Holding, a company linked with Mr Veitch and Paul Weel, submitted a development application to the Gold Coast City Council late last week.

It will sit next to a light rail station. Supplied

A planning report lodged with the council reveals Mr Veitch’s vision to create a “landmark” destination on the light rail route.

“The project offers the opportunity to redefine the existing Mermaid Beach neighbourhood centre and create a mixed-use destination,” the report reads.

“An opportunity exists to create a flagship mixed-use development that redefines the urban experience along the Gold Coast Highway.

“The development also sits in the light rail corridor near a future light rail tram station, which will support higher density development in the near future.”

Mr Veitch is fresh off building The Oxley at Nobby Beach, a shopping centre development which has been credited by traders with helping to revitalise the suburb.

The eastern side of the complex will be retained while the rest will be redeveloped. Picture: Supplied

The site has been held by the previous owner since 2011.

It was sold to Mr Veitch in March in a deal brokered by Kollosche Commercial’s Adam and Tony Grbcic.

Its zoning allows it to be redeveloped into a low-rise tower of up to eight storeys.

The development application comes amid an increasing wave of shopping centres being redeveloped to become mixed-use retail and residential projects.

Council has welcomed the project Supplied

Mr Veitch also built The Oxley at Nobby Beach Picture: Supplied

In March the owners of Benowa Gardens shopping centre revealed plans to demolish its ageing complex and replace it with a giant mixed-use triple tower residential and retail precinct.

Planning and development experts and industry figures, including planning chairman and Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel, said it was unlikely stand-alone shopping centres would be built in the future, with mixed-use projects to be the new standard.

“Research from the work the city is currently doing developing its local growth management strategy is telling us people are more accepting of well-placed residential developments when they are supported by these kinds of amenities,” Mr Hammel said.

“By co-locating housing, commercial and retail offerings within these centres, we also importantly reduce reliance on cars, meaning residents can access services easier within a short walking or riding distance.”