Morris Doubles Down with Two-Tower Plan for Broadbeach

Prolific Gold Coast developer Barry Morris is doubling down with a two-tower proposal for a beachside holding in the city’s high-rise development hotspot of Broadbeach.

The recently-lodged plans comprise a 40-storey northern tower and 27-storey southern tower for a total of 348 apartments.

Straddling five lots totalling 3035sq m with frontages to Australia and Britannia avenues, the towers would operate as separate buildings but share communal open space and four levels of basement car parking.

The development application is seeking approval for multiple dwelling and short-term accommodation use to allow owners to lease their apartments on a short-term basis.

But according to the DA, the development is not intended to operate as a full-scale hotel.

It is the latest of a handful of apartment tower projects that Morris Property Group has planned or under way between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.

The submitted plans reveal the 40-storey northern tower at 16-20 Britannia Avenue would comprise 220 apartments and the 27-storey southern tower  at 13-15 Australia Avenue would contain 128 apartments.

Of the 348 apartments, there would be 337 two-bedroom apartments and 11 “premium” three-bedroom apartments.

The 1706sq m communal area spread under and between both towers would include swimming pools and deck areas as well as day beds and lounges, yoga lawns and breakout spaces, barbecue and dining areas, gym and indoor lounge area.

“The applicant originally considered a single tower with a considerable footprint,” a submitted town planning report said.

“This outcome did not promote slender tower form and the decision was made to develop the site with two towers where one is significantly taller than the other to differentiate the buildings’ appearance.”

▲ A render of the Australia Avenue frontage of Morris Property Group's two-tower Broadbeach development proposal.

If approved, the scheme designed by Guida Moseley Brown Architects would replace older-style, two and three-storey apartment buildings currently occupying the site.

“The development has been designed to provide a high-quality architectural outcome where the towers will comprise of similar materials and colours,” the DA said.

“The variation in the height between the buildings provides visual differentiation between the buildings’ appearance.

“Further variation in the tower design includes glazed balconies on the Britannia Avenue tower in contrast to the powder coated aluminium balconies on the Australia Avenue tower.

“Long and deep balconies proposed on the northern, eastern and southern elevations provide visual depth in the tower form and assist to break up the mass of the buildings.

“Overall, the development will contribute positively to the emerging skyline and character of Broadbeach.”

Developers this year have been pushing a heavy load of tower proposals through the Gold Coast City Council in a bid to lock in approvals for future projects ahead of proposed amendments to the local planning laws.

Brisbane-based Mosaic Property has lodged plans for its second Broadbeach project— a 29-storey, 98-apartment tower on a 1420sq m site at 4-6 Rosewood Avenue. It follows strong demand for its nearby Surf Parade tower, Marella.

Other recently filed Broadbeach proposals include two from Morris Property Group—a slender 20-storey residential tower on a 607sq m block at 22 Chelsea Avenue and the other a slim-profile 19-storey high-rise on a 627sq m parcel at 2739 Gold Coast Highway.

On the southern boundary of the area's unrestricted building height overlay, Sunland chairman Soheil Abedian has gone solo, submitting plans for a $255-million, 36-storey residential tower at 35-41 Peerless Avenue, Mermaid Beach.