Sherpa Stays Course on Knocked-Back Palm Beach Project

Sherpa Property Group has filed new plans for a 32-apartment code-assessable development for a Palm Beach site after its original plans were knocked back on appeal in August.

The Gold Coast developer went back to the drawing board to find a new way forward for its 1583sq m site at 949-953 Gold Coast Highway.

The Gold Coast City Council approved a 14-storey tower for the site in 2022 but an appeal against the approval was upheld in the Planning and Environment Court in August this year. 

The new plan for the nine-storey apartment building includes two half-floor penthouses, and would be the developer’s 12th project on the Glitter Strip.

Sherpa founder Christie Leet said he had decided to take it as an opportunity to revisit the offering, rather than a setback, and a detailed design process was undertaken with HAL Architects.

It was a superb site next to the beach, Currumbin Creek and the Palm Beach Parklands, Leet said.

“The Gold Coast, especially this Palm Beach location, can deliver a lifestyle that is the envy of the world so we wanted to facilitate and enhance that lifestyle.”

▲ Although the project has been scaled back from 14 to 9 storeys, Sherpa has lost just two apartments across the project, its 12th on the Gold Coast.

Original plans for the site were for a 14-storey tower but these have been scaled back with a reduction of two apartments across the footprint.

“After taking onboard community feedback from the original design, we are now submitting an entirely new proposal that has been scaled back to nine levels to ensure it is a code-assessable development,” Leet said.

“The plans are in line with community feedback and deliver a more boutique look with enhanced design elements such as increased planting and greenery to ensure effortless integration with the suburb’s surrounds.”

Leet said buyers who had signed up for apartments in the Nexus project would be given the first opportunity to purchase in the new development. He expected a strong number of pre-sales after the originally approved project netted $51 million in sales weeks after launching in 2021.

“Many of our earlier buyers have shown faith in our vision for the site and, as a result, we are expecting a number of sales to be secured straight out of the gate prior to market launch,” he said. 

“We will be working with the original buyers first, before releasing the project to the public in the coming weeks.”

The development would comprise two-to-four bedroom apartments, ranging from 112sq m to 661sq m, with upper levels offering views of Currumbin Valley and to the Pacific Ocean.

The luxury development is aimed at owner-occupiers and downsizers. Amenities would include a magnesium spa, outdoor kitchen, sauna, plunge pools and steam room. 

The new plans have added more than 70 carparks for residents and visitors. 

Additional amenities and features of the property will include an electric car charging station, individual apartment storage, car wash bay and parcel delivery storage. 

Sherpa Property Group anticipates approval will be granted in February next year with construction slated to start early next year, for completion in the third quarter of 2025.