Tide of Tower Tweaks to Stack Up Gold Coast Projects

Tower tweaking is still the name of the game for developers on the Gold Coast with myriad revised plans being filed to counter prevailing industry challenges and ensure project feasibility. Melbourne-based developer Jinding is among the latest to submit a reworked proposal, adding five levels to an approved highrise project at Surfers Paradise. Earmarked for a 1012sq m site at 9-11 Thornton Street, the proposed upscaling takes the planned tower scheme from 28 to 32 storeys and includes an additional basement level. Interestingly, the number of apartments has been reduced from 129 to 101 units, with the developer seeking to scrap the short-term accommodation use designated for the majority of the proposed units under the existing approval in favour of “a wholly residential” tower. As well as a third basement level, to accommodate the additional carparking demand associated with the change of use, three levels of podium parking space have been added to the proposed development—increasing the number of car spaces from 87 to 163. “The proposed changes to the development preserve the overall scale, bulk and appearance of the existing development approval with exceptions mainly arising in relation to the overall building height of the tower and the incorporation of above-ground podium levels,” a planning report said. “The above-ground parking levels adopt an architectural form and design that complements and integrates with the architectural language, form and appearance of the tower levels above, whilst integrating feature landscape planting to complement and enhance visual interest in the built form of the development.” Spanning two lots of 607sq m and 405sq m, Jinding secured the site in early 2022 for a combined $4.7 million. According to the documents, the proposed new scheme designed by architecture studio Fraser and Partners represents an increase in building height of 17.7m from the existing approval granted in 2021 but only one additional storey compared to a 31-storey proposal given the nod in 2017. ▲ Renderings of Jinding’s upscaled tower proposal for 9-11 Thornton Street, Surfers Paradise. Overall, the tower would accommodate 4 two and three-bedroom units per floor across levels 5 to 28, above which would sit two half-floor apartments on each of levels 29 and 30 and a four-bedroom penthouse on level 31. Communal recreation space spanning 427sq m on level 4 would include a pool, spa, sun lounge terrace and outdoor showers, gym, barbecue and dining area, indoor kitchen, dining space and lounge as well as a library. Meanwhile, 5Point Projects has been given the green light for an uplift to its well-advanced Ophira midrise development at 105-107 Jefferson Lane, Palm Beach. Under the approval, the partially constructed development will be increased from 10 to 12 storeys—taking its yield from 7 to 9 full-floor three-bedroom apartments plus a two-level, four-bedroom penthouse. The Brisbane-based builder-developer filed the change application in December of 2023 and won council approval in July the following year. An appeal was subsequently lodged against the decision in the Planning and Environment Court but last week was rejected and the approval upheld. Managing director Damian Dove said the legal stoush had slowed progress for a couple of months. ▲ Renderings of 5Point Projects’ uplifted 12-storey Ophira tower at 105-107 Jefferson Lane, Palm Beach. “It’s taken the best part of a year from when council approved it to getting the judgment,” he said. “But we were able to maintain the workforce getting it to level 8 and then effectively full fitout up to level 6. “So now we’re all good to go again. We’re back on track to pour the remainder of the structure with a view for a run home just beyond Christmas.” Dove said with a scheme of full-floor apartments Ophira was always about “maximizing the opportunity for a luxury project” on the 1110sq m site. “And by the time we got through the development hurdles and costings we were looking for the uplift of the additional floors to be able to achieve that optimal outcome for the development and give the buyers that luxury product,” he said. Ophira is 5Point’s eighth project in Palm Beach and just up the road at 171-173 Jefferson Lane site works have begun on the nine-storey Palm Shores , its ninth development on the beachside hotspot.

Tide of Tower Tweaks to Stack Up Gold Coast Projects

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