Supertower for Iluka site to spark economic boom but councillors furious they were left out

COUNCILLORS are furious they did not get a say in approving the largest project to get the green light from the Gold Coast City Council.

GCB Artist impressions of the $1.2 billion 88-storey tower earmarked for the former Iluka site. Source: Forise Holdings.

AN 88-storey, $1.2 billion building set to dwarf Q1 has been approved and will be the first of a new generation of supertowers to sweep into Surfers Paradise.

However, the new project, the largest passed by the Gold Coast City Council, is already ruffling feathers, with councillors furious it was ­approved under delegated authority, meaning they had no say in it.

Plans show the new tower, planned for the former site of the Illuka high rise, on the Esplanade, Surfers Paradise, will have a private infinity pool and recreation deck on the 88th level, allowing patrons to party and enjoy a drink while looking down on Q1’s famous skydeck.

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While the project is set to inject more than $2 billion into the economy, its approval under delegated authority meant most councillors were either aware of the ­development being appraised or were not able to have their say.

The 88-storey tower is expected to generate $70 million a year in visitor expenditure. Source: Forise Holdings.

Burleigh councillor Greg Betts, who led the committee that created the city plan and has played a major role in shaping future development in the city, said he was unaware of the highrise put forward by Chinese developer Forise until he saw a report of it on the Bulletin’s website.

He and other councillors were left gobsmacked to discover the project had been approved.

“It is unusual and unprecedented that’s for sure and I would have expected something of its magnitude would have gone to committee,” Cr Betts said.

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Labrador councillor Margaret Grummitt said she was left shaking her head.

“Why are the councillors even here, if this can be approved without us?” she said.

Carrara councillor Bob La Castra said the decision to approve it without allowing councillors to give the project oversight was “staggering”.

Construction of the project will begin as early as March and will be completed by early 2020.

Despite having a higher number of storeys than Q1’s 78, the Sunland project’s giant spire will allow it to hold on to the title of the southern hemisphere’s tallest residential tower.

The project, the largest approved by the Gold Coast City Council, is now on the fast track to allow for rapid turnaround, with whispers in the industry that several billion dollars worth of Chinese-backed projects are set to come down the pipeline within months.

Artist impressions of the $1.2 billion 88-storey tower earmarked for the former Iluka site. Source: Forise Holdings.

According to senior city councillors, the project will set the benchmark for future Surfers Paradise developments in terms of height and density, with the tower alone expected to bring at least $2 billion of economic benefit to the Glitter Strip.

It will have 693 luxury world-class apartments, three separate recreation deck levels and three podiums which are expected to have high-end shops.

Acting Mayor Donna Gates made the announcement yesterday and said it was “exciting”.

Cr Gates said the development met all planning ­requirements for approval.

“Along with Jewel and the Sheraton Mirage, it is a great indicator for how the city is going,” she said.

“The delegated approval will allow us to fast track it and get it delivered quickly so we can get something smartly on the beach.”

Burleigh Councillor Greg Betts says he was unaware of the project’s approval.

It will annually generate more than 830 full-time equivalent jobs according to Forise, with a further 230 in the development services area.

If the project begins on time it is expected to open in early 2020, generating 65 full-time positions in its retail sector, 100 in its restaurants and 480 across its residential and accommodation sectors.

An economic analysis of the project by Macroplan ­Dimasi and provided by ­Forise suggested the project has the potential to annually generate up to $70 million in visitor expenditure based on an expected 280,000 visitor nights in short-stay accommodation each year.

Forise spokesman and lawyer Tony Hickey welcomed the news and praised Mayor Tom Tate.

“This will be a major economic driver for the city that would not have been possible without the … advocacy of the mayor who met with Forise a year ago in China and encouraged the group to invest on the Gold Coast,” he said.