The Club Parkwood development: First look at giant $300m integrated resort and surf park

A quiet Gold Coast suburb is set for a major transformation with plans unveiled for an integrated resort featuring a giant surf park and golf course.

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A quiet Gold Coast suburb is set for a major transformation with plans unveiled for an integrated resort featuring a giant surf park and golf course.

More than $300 million will be spent redeveloping Parkwood Village to feature a series of towers which will include a hotel, 225 residential units, and a health, sports and recreation project built around the city’s first surf park.

The proposed Endless Surf Wave Lagoon was filed with council on Thursday evening after more than six months in the works, with the hope it will open within two years.

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Parkwood Village managing director Luke Altschwager said the club’s golf course would also be upgraded.

“The objective is that by 2023, Parkwood Village will be an exciting sports and family venue that not only adds value to the Gold Coast’s tourism industry, as well as a fun family destination for locals, but also has the facilities to create an elite training environment for athletes across various disciplines,” he said.

“The Endless Surf technology is at the forefront of wave pool technologies. The variety and quality of waves is going to truly revolutionise the sport.

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Luke Altschwager. Picture: Jerad Williams

“To complement the surf park, we will be completely redeveloping and upgrading the existing 18 hole golf course, with a brand-new golf club house and practice facilities overlooking the 18th hole.”

The park will be built by Canada-based wave pool manufacturer WhiteWorld, which has similar projects planned for sites in Paris, Vietnam and the Dominican Republic.

The lagoon will allow 70 people per hour to enjoy between 12-14 waves each.

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An early artist impression of the Endless Surf Wave Lagoon planned for Parkwood on the Gold Coast.

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It will hurl out waves every eight seconds with an average ride time of 12 seconds.

Mr Altschwager said the proposed integrated resort will incorporate a range of mixed use facilities, including a hotel with some private residences, offices, education facilities, a health, sports and recreation precinct and dining overlooking the wave pool.

The Bulletin first revealed the project in March this year.

It was welcomed by political leaders at the time.

Another early artist impression of the Endless Surf Wave Lagoon planned for Parkwood on the Gold Coast.

Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said in March it was important to develop new tourism products while borders remained closed as a result of COVID-19.

“Not only will this development add to our offering but it’s also a prime example of our private sector backing the Gold Coast through continued investment,” she said.

Mayor Tom Tate in March welcomed the proposal and said: “Renewing our tourism assets is crucial from a local, intrastate and international visitor perspective”.

“On face value, this wave pool fits that bill perfectly,” he said.

“We all know the love affair our locals have with the beach and surfing so I’m sure a facility like this would have them lining up for that perfect left-hander.’’

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