Hope Island Twin-Tower Retirement Village Greenlit

Plans for a twin-tower vertical retirement village rising 13 storeys have been approved for Hope Island on the Gold Coast. Developer Phil Usher’s Odyssey Lifestyle Care Communities is behind the project, which will comprise 188 independent living units and 23 aged-care suites. Under the approval, the original proposed development has been amended and its yield slightly scaled back. The initial application filed in June last year included two 14-storey towers—plus private rooftop terraces for eight penthouses—accommodating 208 independent living units and 23 aged-care suites . Community concerns relating to building height, carparking and other matters were raised in more than 120 submissions received by the City of Gold Coast Council. The 4639sq m vacant holding at 8 Marina Quays Boulevard in the city’s suburban north has a height limit of 33m but through performance outcomes a 50 per cent uplift to 49.5m can be achieved. Council officers noted “the proposed development clearly defies the community’s reasonable expectation for the subject site” and deemed it failed to comply with specific assessment benchmarks. Zone Planning Group, on behalf of the developer, argued otherwise and that despite the “perception of any non-compliance” on balance the project warranted support for approval. ▲ A rendering of the approved Odyssey Lifestyle Care Communities’ Hope Island vertical retirement village. “The city is in the midst of a severe dwelling supply crisis,” it said. “The proposed development will provide for housing in the city’s north for a vulnerable population, and in doing so, also typically free up additional family sized homes able to accommodate in the order of 500 to 600 people. “Additionally, the proposed development will provide for a significant community benefit. “The project in its current form is economically viable because it achieves the economies of scale necessary to provide sufficient staffing, has construction finance, has access to a builder and does not need to be pre-sold to satisfy bank lending requirements.” As part of the approval conditions, one upper level accommodating 20 units has been removed from the scheme designed by O’Neill Architecture. As well, to comply with the site’s mixed-use requirement, a planned ground-floor community room and workspace is to be converted to a minimum 200sq m of gross leasable area that supports ancillary commercial tenancies. Carparking ratios for residents, visitors and staff within the basement and ground levels also have been amended. ▲ Renderings of the approved Hope Island retirement towers. Overall, the twin towers will provide a mix of one, two and three-bedroom independent living units occupying levels 4 to 13, including eight penthouses on the top floors. The aged-care suites for residents requiring a higher level of care are planned for level 2. Ancillary healthcare services to deliver specialist support/care also would be available to all residents. On the ground floor and level 3, communal open space will include a public plaza with shaded seating, dining room serviced by a commercial kitchen, outdoor terraces, pool, lounge areas, putting green and virtual golf room, meeting rooms and other activity rooms. An architectural statement said the design of Odyssey’s proposed Marina Quays development had drawn inspiration from its surroundings, in particular two nearby golf courses. “By incorporating these considerations and including the design inspiration of the free-flowing nature of the golf course, Marina Quays will be a development that … integrates seamlessly with the surrounding area, and offers residents a beautiful and tranquil living environment,” it said.

Hope Island Twin-Tower Retirement Village Greenlit

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