Surfers Paradise triple towers Jewel close in on completion

New drone footage of the shimmering Jewel development has revealed its impressive centrepiece pools and dining areas on the sand edge.

The ambitious Jewel triple towers on the Gold Coast beachfront - dubbed the city’s Sydney Opera House - are nearing completion even if ownership and the end date remains a bit of a mystery.

New drone photos of the shimmering Surfers Paradise high-rises show impressive progress on its centrepiece ground-level pools and dining areas on the sand edge.

New drone photos of the Jewel towers’ ground floor installations at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

Extensive landscaping has been taking place and the fit-out of the $1.4 billion three towers is nearing completion.

Construction was to finish by late 2019 but that moved to mid this year. It now appears September is the new end date for the project, which has faced a raft of problems, including workers walking off the job, suspending construction more than two years ago.

That occurred during a messy dispute between major contractor Multiplex and developer Yuhu Group.

But a source with close links to Yuhu Group said September is when construction may finally finish: “I’ve been told the apartments will be ready by September meaning the internal work,” he said. “(Regarding) the hotel prior to COVID-19 (Yuhu) was still in discussion with Langham but I don’t know where that would be now. I suspect that is their timing, September (for apartments to go) back on the market.”

A source says a September completion date is ‘likely’. Picture: Jerad Williams

Sydney-based Landscape Solutions was contracted for outdoor ground-level works, including 6000sq m of stone tiling, 500sq m of timber decking and 200 linear metres of concrete seating. A 100-tonne crane was brought to the beach to lift 1800 cubic metres of soil and 80 palms to a level-three recreation area.

Mayor Tom Tate, who successfully lobbied State Government in 2015 to help fast-track its development, welcomed the progress.

“The timing is perfect – it shows regardless of the pandemic, the Coast is still showing that having-a-go spirit and bringing to fruition what will be regarded as one of the world’s iconic buildings.

The Jewel towers stand at 34, 40 and 47 storeys each with a 169-room hotel earmarked for one. Picture: Glenn Hampson

MORE NEWS

30+ Gold Coast restaurants taking bookings

Luxury Coast rooftop bar confirms opening date

Iconic retreat ‘pummelled’ with new bookings

‘I don’t like prison’: Lizard man’s best mate

“A project this size has faced various hurdles which have been surpassed. Sure there has been changes in ownership but to me it doesn’t matter who owns it as long as it is here on the Coast.

“Having it open for summer will be good and another celebration of the ambition.

“It will be here forever and it will be like the Q1 or the Sydney Opera House by becoming one of the postcard pictures of the Gold Coast.”

Jewel measures 34, 40 and 47 storeys with a 169-room hotel and 521 separate apartments. Prices have ranged from $4 million for three-bedroom units to entry prices from $675,000 to $799,000.

The latest version is Jewel is managed by Yuhu but owned by AWH Investments. China’s Yuhu Group acquired it from Dalian Wanda in 2018 but come May last year full ownership moved to AWH Investments which has a director linked to big China developer Evergrande.

Last year Yuhu Group then-chairman Huang Xiangmo was exiled when his Australian citizenship application was rejected and residency axed due to Australia’s spy agency holding security fears. His Sydney-based son Jimmy, aged in his 20s, was made chairman.

Jewel is being built by Multiplex and was designed by DBI Design.