Mariner’s Cove: Sunland puts Spit property on market for ‘international campaign’

A site on the Spit dubbed “the largest coastal strip development opportunity” on the Gold Coast will be put on the market as part of an international campaign which could lead to the Coast’s newest resort on the Broadwater.

A SITE on the Spit dubbed “the largest coastal strip development opportunity” on the Gold Coast is up for sale.

The Spit’s Mariner’s Cove will be put on the market, three years after plans for giant twin towers on the site were scuttled.

Developer Sunland Group will today launch an international expression of interest campaign to see the site which the company has owned for nearly 20 years.

Up for sale will be the retail village and marina across the 3.9ha site which could become the site of a new resort.

Sunland managing director, Sahba Abedian said the decision to take the Mariner’s Cove precinct to market came following the completion of The Spit Masterplan, released in May.

“The Spit Masterplan sets a clear direction for development within this unique and internationally recognised coastal tourism precinct,” he said.

“With much of the Spit to be dedicated to new parklands and tourism infrastructure, Mariner’s Cove presents the last available opportunity to deliver a high-grade resort within the tightly held precinct.

Sahba Abedian and Soheil Abedian. Photo: Richard Gosling

“Capital from the sale of the site will be redeployed to Sunland’s growing southeast Queensland portfolio of residential land, housing, apartment and integrated retail developments, in line with our core business.”

Sunland unveiled its $600 million proposed 44-storey twin resort tower project The Mariner in June 2015.

Designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid, it was to feature 785 apartments.

Sunland’s $600 million tower project which had been proposed for Mariner's Cove.

A “cultural precinct” with a museum and science centre were to be the centrepieces of the project.

But it immediately proved controversial with environmental groups which objected to the project because it exceeded the Spit’s three-storey height limit.

The project went before the Gold Coast City Council’s planning committee in late 2016 but Sunland withdrew it once it became clear the tower development was unlikely to gain approval.

The project has been abandoned in light of the Spit Masterplan.

The international campaign will be managed by James Branch and Mark Witheriff of Knight Frank.

Mr Branch, said Mariner’s Cove’s high-grade marina facilities and location at the main entry into The Spit Precinct would be “advantageous” for a future resort-style development.

“The Mariner’s Cove Retail Village is the largest coastal strip development opportunity on the Gold Coast, combining prime waterfront land with an established and highly popular marina precinct,” he said.

The site is now on the market. Picture: Sunland Group

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“The marina has been the set off point for millions of tourists undertaking a range of water-based activities on the Gold Coast including whale watching, game fishing, and various day tours.

“The offering provides a strong holding income generated from the current retail centre and marina, allowing an incoming developer to analyse and develop a strategic master plan for the site, as well as suitable time to finalise planning approvals.”

The expression of interest campaign will close on November 28.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in March revealed the blueprint for the revamp, which included a superyacht marina, an “iconic” selfie tower, underwater sculpture garden dive site, new low-rise tourist resort accommodation and more than 130 hectares of conservation and open space over seven precincts.

She said the 201 hectare site was set to become the world’s largest Ocean Park and a facility eight times the size of South Bank in Brisbane.

The Spit will be split into seven separate precincts and maintain all of the current features such as the kiosk, marine rescue, the fisherman’s co-op and the boat ramp.

FIRST LOOK AT MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR CENTRAL PARK REVAMP

A fly-through video released by the State Government revealed how the Spit will change under the masterplan, which was created after 18 months of consultation with locals.

New features include:

* A light rail link which travels as far north as Sea World. At least two new stations are planned for the Spit along Sea World Drive.

* A potential cruise ship terminal at Philip Park

* A Broadwater boardwalk.

* A Centre for Coastal resilience.

* New Seaway promenade

* Ferry station on a new Marine Stadium jetty and boardwalk.

* Pavilion buildings at the Seaway tower.

* A new resort immediately south of Sea World.

* A “village centre north’ on land formerly earmarked for the shelved ASF development with superyacht berths and a landscaped arbour.

* An Aboriginal cultural centre and event space.

* A ferry stop at Carters Basin

* Market and retail pavilions for fresh produce and dining.

* Mariner’s Cove would be replaced by ‘village centre south’ — a community hub with overwater dining and boardwalks.

* A new low-scale resort immediately south of Sheraton Mirage.

* A widened and revamped Sea World Drive.

* A giant gateway statement at the lower end of The Spit.

Originally published as Mariner’s Cove: Sunland puts Spit property on market for ‘international campaign’