No.21 Broadbeach: Council’s warning to developer as new tower begins to rise

The first sod has been turned on a ultra luxury beachfront Broadbeach tower despite warnings from the Gold Coast City Council its building permit is yet to be approved.

The first sod has been turned on a ultra luxury beachfront Broadbeach tower despite warnings from the Gold Coast City Council its building permit is yet to be approved.

Controversy surrounds the 20-storey No. 21 Broadbeach tower which is being built as a joint-venture project by QNY Group and Glennville Developments.

Ground was broken on the project on Wednesday morning, with council saying the work has not got the green light, while nearby residents have raised concerns about fencing which has been put up.

Workers on-site at the No. 21 Broadbeach site after the first sod was turned. Picture: Supplied

Area councillor Darren Taylor said council staff had inspected the site.

“They have a building application in but not had a construction management plan approved yet, which means they shouldn’t be doing any work until this has occurred,” he said.

“We know there is a lot of development going on but we just want people to follow the rules.”

QNY is a Gold Coast-based developer while the project is Melbourne-based Glennville’s first Glitter Strip venture.

Len Warson and Anthony Quinn turning the first sod of No. 21 Broadbeach.

A spokeswoman for the project’s development hit back, insisting no rules had been breached.

“The developer and builder is working under an approved development permit approved on September 13 to carry out stage 1 works for temporary retaining only,” she said.

“(This) relates to temporary excavation support required to enable the demolition works on the existing building to be completed and will allow the existing footings to be removed while maintaining stability to the neighbouring property.

“The construction management plan previously submitted on July 29 relates to the main building works which is planned to be carried out in October and the approval is expected next week for main works.”

Artist impression of No. 21 Broadbeach, which is now under construction. Picture: Supplied

QNY boss Anthony Quinn said the tower would begin rising from the ground in early 2025, with the first residents to move in the building by late 2026.

“I have had ambitions to develop this site for as long as I can remember, so it is incredibly satisfying to officially be commencing construction activity on site in the current economic climate, and to see this development taking shape.

“With construction now commencing this week, and the sales campaign anticipated to be launching in the coming months, the project will soon become a hive of activity, allowing prospective buyers the exciting opportunity to watch their building come to life.”

Artist impression of No. 21 Broadbeach, which is now under construction. Picture: Supplied

The tower is being built on the former Karoola site on Broadbeach Boulevard.

It was originally proposed as a 24-storey building but was revised down to 15 levels before being increased again to 20-storeys.

Mr Quinn bought the 511sq m site for $10m in an off-market sale in early 2022.

He paid nearly $20,000 a sqm after months of aggressive bidding and competition from multiple local and interstate developers.

Glennville boss Len Warson said he expected the tower to be the first of several his company would build on the Coast.

“This project is the first of its kind for Glennville as it represents the first of what I envision to be many successful and enduring projects on the Gold Coast,” he said.

“No. 21 Broadbeach stands in a league of its own with an unbeatable beachfront location on what is one of the best residential sites on the Gold Coast offering an open north-easterly aspect, superb, unobstructed view lines, and a prime beach frontage in a quiet locale. There is nothing quite like it.”

Originally published as No.21 Broadbeach: Council’s warning to developer as new tower begins to rise