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<p>Developer-builder Mayd Group has filed plans for a $350-million five-star hotel and residential development at North Kirra on the southern end of the Gold Coast.</p><p>The beachfront proposal is earmarked for a 4742sq m site across eight amalgamated lots fronting Pacific Parade, Golden Four Drive and Musgrave Street.</p><p>It would comprise a 10-level tower with 60 apartments, including two penthouses, as well as five double-storey beach houses and a 160-key hotel.</p><p>The scheme designed by architecture firm MAS Studio features two, three and four-bedroom residences, many with multipurpose rooms.</p><p>Resort-style amenities include a private pool area with sunken lounge, sauna, spa, yoga lawn, barbecue as well as a lounge, bar and cinema.</p><p>Targeting the high-end owner-occupier market, the apartments also will have access to the hotel’s five-star facilities including a valet, room and laundry services as well as the hotel pool, lounges and restaurant.</p><p>Gold Coast-based Mayd Group director Todd Mould said given the site’s position only 1km from the Gold Coast Airport, which has been undergoing an expansion to cater for additional international and domestic flight connections, there was a recognised need in the area for a five-star hotel.</p><p>As well, he said the apartments had been designed to meet demand from global travellers and people who worked remotely.</p><p>“We were fortunate to have been able to acquire eight adjoining sites to create one large beachfront site for our signature masterplan at North Kirra,” Mould said.</p><p>&nbsp;“The opportunity to develop such a large beachfront site in North Kirra is a rare one … [and] we have been working with Gold Coast City Council on lodging the development application to deliver a landmark building of high distinction for such a prominent site.”</p><p>The site has a 90m beach frontage and is a short walk to restaurants, cafes and shops.</p><div id="carousel-root" data-reactroot=""><image-carousel-remove-button><div class="rm-carousel-wrapper"><button id="rm-carousel" class="rm-carousel-btn">Delete</button></div></image-carousel-remove-button><div class="slider-wrap"><image-carousel><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="3 (3).jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/27GpkELYSqrNXnBXSEj5b6/f21f04338b25302b01bc677a967894f6/3__3_.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/27GpkELYSqrNXnBXSEj5b6/f21f04338b25302b01bc677a967894f6/3__3_.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="1 (5).jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/16wnqS6Jn1Rx7KtxURaqp6/28a9919ecb34bd793e6c97d3c21194af/1__5_.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/16wnqS6Jn1Rx7KtxURaqp6/28a9919ecb34bd793e6c97d3c21194af/1__5_.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="2 (4).jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5CKpPOa8wicOqhPF3amEBw/124bd8ce98d2915e6ac723fa913eb712/2__4_.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5CKpPOa8wicOqhPF3amEBw/124bd8ce98d2915e6ac723fa913eb712/2__4_.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div></image-carousel></div></div><p><br>MAS Studio director Nick Symonds said the prominent position at the gateway to Kirra—one of the Gold Coast’s famed surfing destinations—had inspired the masterplan design.</p><p>“From the outset of our design process, we have been aware of the importance of this highly visible site and the obligation to create a statement entrance to Kirra, while at the same time blending in with the surrounding built forms,” he said.</p><p>“The design is strongly influenced by local context, reflecting the unique beauty of North Kirra beach and relaxed beachside lifestyle, elevating it with luxury dwellings for those who share the passion of this unique lifestyle and location.</p><p>“Abundant greenery on the podium will cool the street where a row of beach houses, complete with their own private green courtyards, will provide a residential scaled address to the street.”</p><p>The Gold Coast Airport strip—including Tugun, Bilinga and North Kirra— has emerged as a development hostpot in recent times with a string of medium-sized residential towers going up and planned for the area.</p><p>It is also along the proposed final stage of the Gold Coast light rail section, which is progressing from Broadbeach South to Burleigh.</p>

Developer Mayd Group wants to build the southern Gold Coast’s first five-star hotel plus 60 units on its eight-lot amalgamated site…


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<p>Another boutique residential tower proposal has landed in the booming Gold Coast Airport strip of Bilinga.</p><p>Byron Bay-based developer Molti Group is behind the latest plans, which comprises an 11-storey beachfront tower with 19 apartments—including two double-storey penthouses.</p><p>The proposal is earmarked for a 1124sq m site at 307 and 307A Golden Four Drive.</p><p>If approved by the Gold Coast City Council it would replace a block of four units and a two-storey house.</p><p>The scheme designed by BDA Architects features a slender tower with cascading planters and a “floating” roof form.</p><p>“The tower’s form when viewed from the beach is simple and minamalistic, with large cantilevered balconies and high-quality materials that help to promote connectivity to the beach and ocean beyond,” a design statement said.</p><p>One the ground level, the plans include a main lobby, a four-bedroom apartment and communal recreation facilities including a pool, barbecue and dining area and sauna.</p><p>Two three-bedroom apartments per floor are proposed from levels 1 to 8.</p><p>The double-storey, four-bedroom penthouses would feature private rooftop terraces each with a plunge pool, lounge seating area and tables.</p><p>According to a planning report, the proposed 34.5m tower would exceed the site’s building height limit of 23m but was “achievable” under the strategic framework with a 50 per cent building height uplift applied.</p><div id="carousel-root" data-reactroot=""><image-carousel-remove-button><div class="rm-carousel-wrapper"><button id="rm-carousel" class="rm-carousel-btn">Delete</button></div></image-carousel-remove-button><div class="slider-wrap"><image-carousel><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 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2023-09-19T153652.031.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/515u5KwTYyJqwfQ21tdcL6/1cc8e79cc659464d57a91940da3ff91f/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-19T153652.031.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/515u5KwTYyJqwfQ21tdcL6/1cc8e79cc659464d57a91940da3ff91f/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-19T153652.031.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-19T153809.045.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5LeuzoP7IpEBNIBN7X33Rl/0c765f495501ba40db74b969bc901991/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-19T153809.045.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5LeuzoP7IpEBNIBN7X33Rl/0c765f495501ba40db74b969bc901991/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-19T153809.045.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div></image-carousel></div></div><p><br>A total of 41 resident carparking spaces would be provided within two basement levels.</p><p>Molti Group’s proposal is among a rising number of development applications filed for the beachside precinct at the southern end of the Gold Coast.</p><p>Nearby, plans were recently filed by Cielo Group for <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/cielo-airport-bilinga-light-rail-gold-coast-queensland" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/cielo-airport-bilinga-light-rail-gold-coast-queensland" target="_blank">a 10-storey tower with 20 apartments</a> and rooftop pool to replace two beach-shacks on a 1012sq m site at 90-92 Pacific Parade.</p><p>Other developments include seven-storey plans by a former Socceroo player and nine-storey plans by a strip club baron, which have both been approved.</p><p>Bilinga will be along the final Gold Coast light rail section, which is currently progressing from Broadbeach South to Burleigh.</p><p>The Queensland government also has identified the suburb as a potential site for an aerotropolis as well as expanded retail and commercial opportunities near its light rail station.</p>

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<p>The Southport CBD still may be—as one local property pundit puts it—the “sleeping giant of the Gold Coast market”.</p><p>But if all had gone to plan during the past decade it would already be wide awake.</p><p>In October, it will be 10 years since the Queensland government declared the Southport CBD and its surrounds a Priority Development Area.</p><p>Covering almost 200ha, the PDA was meant to establish Southport as the city’s “definitive centre for commerce” and be the catalyst for billions of dollars in projects through the cutting of red tape and fast-tracking of development approvals.</p><p>“This will be the ‘decade of Southport’,” a local politician enthused at the time.</p><p>And for a while it was a prophecy that seemed like it just may unfold.</p><p>CBRE Gold Coast senior director Tania Moore concedes even she had high hopes to start with.</p><p>“Significant delays through the town planning process were an obstacle for new business to come here,” she says. “And people were excited the PDA was going to be the catalyst for things to happen, whether that was residential or commercial development.”</p><div id="5h1OYzax8cduupU46IMTmu"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7zF3rL3jLzkvmgJLz8CQ7r/8b6565c14a88d87b086a18b6f22a0971/2.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7zF3rL3jLzkvmgJLz8CQ7r/8b6565c14a88d87b086a18b6f22a0971/2.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ A decade on, the Southport PDA has delivered precious little.<br><br></span></div></div><p>Within 12 months of the PDA’s introduction, 29 development applications with a combined end value of at least $2 billion were filed with the Gold Coast City Council.</p><p>But few of the projects have been realised—and many of them likely never will be.</p><p>Instead of being a driving force for development, the PDA created the means for an opportunistic play to use the new planning instrument—and its unlimited building height—to gain maximised approvals for large-scale mixed-use developments and then capitalise on the uplift in property values by on-selling the sites.</p><p>“Some sites have traded, some haven’t … but realistically, no one has actually delivered on any of those DAs,” Moore says. “You can put like a gazillion apartments on some of them but no one’s ever probably going to build them.</p><p>“It was all about flicking them to someone else to deliver.”</p><p>Meanwhile, she says, land values have been pushed up so high—from $1000 or less per square metre pre-PDA to more than $2500 per square metre— that “it is no longer feasible to build an office building on land in Southport”.</p><p>The only major commercial addition has been Queen Street Village with some retail and medical space on the former Gold Coast Hospital site.</p><p>“Highest and best use is for residential at current land values … it’s not creating a commercial hub. It just doesn’t work,” Moore says.</p><p>In fact, the Southport CBD office market—now second in overall space to Robina-Varsity Lakes—has reduced in size by 12,352sq m since the PDA was declared, as older-style buildings have been removed from its stock.</p><p>Moore says, however, with most of its office assets more than 30 years old, Southport is the only precinct on the Gold Coast—one of the nation’s tightest office markets with 6.3 per cent vacancy—where there is potential for growth.</p><p>“But currently it just doesn’t make sense financially ... and a lot of&nbsp; those owners are not spending much money on their buildings because they see them as future development sites ”</p><p>As well, with a number of landowners sitting on large empty undeveloped sites throughout Southport, history is repeating itself on the Gold Coast. Down the road about 4km, abandoned so-called development “bomb sites” have been a blight on the Surfers Paradise landscape since the mid-1980s.</p><p>Rider Levett Bucknall Gold Coast director Jim Krebs says the other challenge with Southport is “trying to define exactly what that CBD looks like”.</p><p>“The Gold Coast has evolved from a more village-based scheme and it has continued to have fragmented areas of mixed use, commercial and residential.</p><p>“So, it's really about trying to find what that identity is and leveraging that combination of uses to help create a vibrancy,” Krebs says.</p><p>“The intent of creating a CBD is a challenge when you've got competing land interests. On the Gold Coast, residential generally still wins out as the highest and best use and it makes commercial harder to stack up.</p><div id="6PwMoxFVL04684DVqANmjd"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2Dh1zhdzMFNHYtCu7Cbq0a/53f8237546453b55992d4f40ec5be662/1.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2Dh1zhdzMFNHYtCu7Cbq0a/53f8237546453b55992d4f40ec5be662/1.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ The PDA may have had the opposite effect of its aims, says councillor Brooke Patterson.<br><br></span></div></div><p>“The Gold Coast has evolved from a more village-based scheme and it has continued to have fragmented areas of mixed use, commercial and residential.</p><p>“So, it's really about trying to find what that identity is and leveraging that combination of uses to help create a vibrancy,” Krebs says.</p><p>“The intent of creating a CBD is a challenge when you've got competing land interests. On the Gold Coast, residential generally still wins out as the highest and best use and it makes commercial harder to stack up.</p><p>“Certainly, Southport is a much stronger and more vibrant place than it was a decade ago. The PDA has probably enabled some projects to happen in a more streamlined way than would have otherwise been possible.</p><p>“But whether it has achieved the original intent that's probably questionable.”</p><p>Southport councillor Brooke Patterson says the PDA so far has failed to deliver on its promise.</p><p>“It’s devastating what has not happened in Southport during the past 10 years,” she says. “It’s a really extraordinary opportunity lost.</p><p>“In fact, [the PDA] has actually possibly done the opposite of what was intended … it incentivised landbanking.</p><p>“And government can take the blame for that as much as anyone. There was good intent but they hadn’t actually just worked through what needed to happen to incentivise the right kind of [development] behaviour.”</p><p>Patterson says her focus is now on the next 10 years with a review of the Southport PDA under way that will sharpen its ability to deliver on the original intent of creating “a dynamic and unique CBD with a high-quality urban environment”.</p><p>The revised PDA will be “much more rigorous and much tighter”, she says, with height limits potentially being reduced in some of its four precincts “so that it incentivises [development] behviour where we want it”.</p><p>Crucial to its success will be “gamechanger commitments” to key landholdings such as the long-dormant 1.5ha former Star of the Sea College site on Marine Parade. It was acquired in 2014 by Garuda GC—the Australian arm of China’s Huixin Real Estate Group—which had plans for a multi-tower residential and retail project.</p><p>“Those sites need to change hands and for someone to come and make a real commitment to do something quite spectacular,” Patterson says.</p><p>Emerging as a beacon of hope for the rise of the Southport CBD is the ambitious $400-million Park Lane “vertical neighbourhood” comprising two slender supertowers—a 100-storey apartment building and a 60-storey office building.</p><p>It is earmarked for a vacant 1245sq m site next to the Southport bowls and tennis clubs, and would deliver 193 apartments to be home to 580 people and 12,693sq m of office space to accommodate 500 workers.</p><div id="7eTVa9hkbr9bRs71tfovmO"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1SAKYcu0Q0EVWRqyDQoYLk/99cfada6938c876bd44f20156a5fb537/7.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1SAKYcu0Q0EVWRqyDQoYLk/99cfada6938c876bd44f20156a5fb537/7.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ Renders of the proposed Park Lane development that includes a 100-storey super-tower.<br><br></span></div></div><p>Last week, the developers behind the proposal—a Melbourne consortium, including property group Baracon and funds manager Payton Group—were on the Gold Coast indicating they are pushing ahead with their plans after an access issue relating to adjoining state-owned land was resolved.</p><p>“They are committed,”&nbsp; Patterson says. “They’ve got the money and they are serious.</p><p>“And because it’s a very sensitive build—it’ll be a huge tower on a tiny block and something the Gold Coast really hasn’t seen before—they’ve just had so many issues to get to the starting line.</p><p>“The biggest hurdle for them now is will they get the tick from the council.</p><p>“But once people see a group like that come in and commit, it just shifts the way everybody sees the Southport CBD ... one or two of those and it’s going to be an a-ha moment.”</p><p>As well, Patterson says, the touted future relocation and centralisation of the Gold Coast City Council Chambers from Bundall to the Southport CBD is also still on the table.</p><p>By the end of 2024, a recommendation on the long-term strategic plan for staff accommodation will be brought before the council. The redevelopment of the Mal Burke Carpark, opposite the Southport Courthouse, into a local “tower of power” is one of the favoured options.&nbsp;</p><p>“We’ve got 4000 staff, so that will be another gamechanger for Southport,” she says.<br></p><div id="4XqWkVYvZgZA0Mo7d7xge"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1fATfCU2eWZnyOTwo50Ytu/3b42c0dfe5c3bc4f8f9d58d98c877796/6.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1fATfCU2eWZnyOTwo50Ytu/3b42c0dfe5c3bc4f8f9d58d98c877796/6.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ Meriton Sundale at Southport—one of the few major projects during the time of the PDA.<br><br></span></div></div><p>Southport development and business identity John Howe agrees.</p><p>And he adds despite the challenge of “swathes” of land in Southport being under private ownership and controlled by overseas interests, there are also “massive amounts of government and council land, which could be utilised for the big flavours of the month—build-to-rent and student accommodation”.</p><p>“What it needs is for the council and the state government to get together, consolidate their sites and put together a big masterplan for the area,” says Howe, who heads up engineering advisory and project delivery firm iEDM.</p><p>&nbsp;“And the bones of that have started now with the review of the PDA.</p><p>“But we just need to focus on putting some economic drivers into the area.</p><p>“The Southport PDA was a great idea ... but the PDA we got wasn’t the PDA we wanted. It morphed into a planning instrument, which wasn’t required for Southport as you can basically build whatever density you want to and you always have been able to.</p><p>“So the PDA that’s required needs more of an economic development impetus to spur development on … not just getting approvals through quickly. Developers want surety and they want to know the proper economic outcomes to develop a property.”</p><p>Nonetheless, Howe says even with its faults, the original PDA declared back on October 4, 2013 was “not a negative”.</p><p>“Yeah, people have got some pretty wild plans going for big buildings and things like that …</p><p>“But, I mean, you’ve got unlimited height, unlimited density, you’ve got a light rail system, you’re next to hospitals, next to major schools and next to the water. Come on, it’s not hard really when you think about it.”<br><br></p><hr><p><strong><br>You are currently experiencing <em>The Urban Developer</em> Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. </strong><a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans"><strong>Click here to learn more.</strong></a></p><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div>

A decade after it was identified as a Priority Development Area, Southport hasn’t hit the heights predicted. That may be about to change…

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<p>South-east Queensland developer Graya has won approval for its debut Gold Coast apartment project, Kloud.&nbsp;</p><p>The 20-apartment tower at <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/graya-kloud-palm-beach-gold-coast-queensland-development-application" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/graya-kloud-palm-beach-gold-coast-queensland-development-application" target="_blank" rel="noopener">152 Jefferson Lane, Palm Beach marks the developer’s successful move into the Gold Coast market.</a></p><p>It filed plans for the project with the Gold Coast City Council in December last year, its second planned for the beachside suburb but the first to win approval.&nbsp;</p><p>Graya director Andrew Gray said construction on the 827sq m site was imminent with onsite works slated to start in November.&nbsp;</p><p>The nine-storey tower’s design drew inspiration from the coastal landscape through its curved forms and colour palette.&nbsp;</p><p>The building will comprise two, three and four-bedroom apartments, a pool, wet deck, day beds and poolside social space.&nbsp;</p><p>Gray said expanding to the Gold Coast was a natural progression for the Brisbane-based company he founded with brother Rob more than a decade ago.</p><p>“We have a strong connection with the Gold Coast as we spent a lot of time here growing up,” he said.</p><p>“We were always drawn to the beaches and lifestyle and on the business front the opportunity for growth and further development is unrivalled as more and more interstate buyers look to the lifestyle the Gold Coast offers.”</p><div id="4FqJET5splekMtsjEu1z0v"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/HkKsJ2Wd4j6BwbiJlvZgz/29a019e53563fa0a663cf9631ff0f1c9/Graya_Kloud_MID.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/HkKsJ2Wd4j6BwbiJlvZgz/29a019e53563fa0a663cf9631ff0f1c9/Graya_Kloud_MID.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ Brothers Rob and Andrew Gray are pulling the trigger on their first Gold Coast apartment project, Kloud, with early ground works slated for November.<br><br></span></div></div><p>Gray said he believed Palm Beach was a relatively untapped market. The developer also filed plans last year for Ripple, but Kloud would be the first project to break ground on the coast.&nbsp;</p><p>“Palm Beach, in our opinion, has the most potential—it’s one of the most beautiful stretches of beach and has a thriving restaurant and bar scene while still maintaining that local community feel,” he said.</p><p>“Over the past few years it’s transformed into the lifestyle capital of the Gold Coast so when this opportunity presented itself, it made sense for Graya to expand.”</p><p>Kloud’s unveiling follows a successful few months for Graya, collecting several Master Builders awards in July and <em>The Urban Developer’s</em> small-scale residential Development of the Year for Maison at New Farm. Gray said a laser focus on design was pivotal to the developer’s success.&nbsp;</p><p>“Design excellence is at the forefront of all our projects but with Kloud specifically we wanted a design that fitted in with the natural surrounds,” he said.</p><p>“The name and design of Kloud is reflective of our vision to deliver sky homes that float above the horizon.”</p><p><a data-mce-href="https://kloudpalmbeach.com.au/" href="https://kloudpalmbeach.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kloud is in pre-sales</a> ahead of its official launch.&nbsp;</p>

South-east Queensland developer Graya has received a ringing endorsement of its debut Gold Coast apartment project, Kloud...

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<p>A boutique cafe-top residential development has been given the nod to rise from one the Gold Coast’s most popular beachside eateries and coffee pitstops.</p><p>It is earmarked for a 809sq m site that has been the longstanding home of health cafe BSKT, at the corner of Albatross Avenue and Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach.</p><p>The cafe was founded in 2013 by former Gold Coast Titans rugby league players Greg Bird, Nate Myles, Selasi Berdie and Mat Rogers.</p><p>In the planned redevelopment approved by the Gold Coast City Council the cafe will share the ground level with a three-bedroom apartment.</p><p>Another four three-bedroom apartments—two per floor—will occupy levels one and two.&nbsp;</p><p>Bayley Property Group, led by local developer and landlord Ron Bayley, is behind the project, which will replace an existing two-level commercial building.</p><p>The scheme designed by BDA Architects is capped by a two-level, four-bedroom penthouse—including a private rooftop with a pool, sundeck, sunken terrace and barbecue area with dining as well as lounge seating.</p><p>“The proposed development will deliver an exemplary boutique style apartment building with an integrated cafe,” the planning report supporting the project said.</p><p>“The design and appearance of the proposed development delivers a positive addition to the prestigious character and quality of the Mermaid Beach neighbourhood.”</p><div id="carousel-root" data-reactroot=""><image-carousel-remove-button><div class="rm-carousel-wrapper"><button id="rm-carousel" class="rm-carousel-btn">Delete</button></div></image-carousel-remove-button><div class="slider-wrap"><image-carousel><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-14T134233.849.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7jQFuFbSW2IF8vu5NjK1Tk/5b1dadb7705249dfe545496d083456a1/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-14T134233.849.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7jQFuFbSW2IF8vu5NjK1Tk/5b1dadb7705249dfe545496d083456a1/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-14T134233.849.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-14T135546.405.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1YN3f2wb9Jih3X8gK8YpJ4/5296928eaf49b20f58d3fc4fc2239d99/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-14T135546.405.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1YN3f2wb9Jih3X8gK8YpJ4/5296928eaf49b20f58d3fc4fc2239d99/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-14T135546.405.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-14T135622.656.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7oj9Mstc9Lq0aSr4q8ICc9/63c83de7b531465529973c63a8be2376/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-14T135622.656.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7oj9Mstc9Lq0aSr4q8ICc9/63c83de7b531465529973c63a8be2376/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-14T135622.656.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div></image-carousel></div></div><p><br>The application also noted the development “responds positively to the applicable provisions of the South East Queensland Regional Plan, delivering housing growth in the form of a ‘missing middle’ typology within a well-serviced urban neighbourhood of the city”.</p><p>Overall, the report said, the proposal would deliver “a residential building of a contemporary, minimalist coastal form and character” with clean sleek lines, fluted concrete and generous outdoor living spaces that create “a lightweight sense of built form presence in the streetscape”.</p><p>“The proposed development is of bespoke architectural design, adopting a modern form, which responds positively to the coastal location.”</p><p>A total of 18 basement carparking spaces would be accommodated within the development at 4 Lavarack Road.</p>

A boutique cafe-top residential development has been given the green light to rise from the site of a popular beachside eatery and coffee pitstop...

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<p>A sprawling eco-adventure development planned for the Gold Coast hinterland would transform pioneering farmland into a world-class, nature-based tourism attraction.</p><p>The proposal is earmarked for a 103ha site fronting Nerang-Murwillumbah Road in Numinbah Valley—about 40km south-west of Surfers Paradise.</p><p>To be known as Numinbah Escape, it would comprise outdoor sport and recreation uses including zip lining, mountain biking, canyoning, bushwalking, rock climbing, abseiling, public park and picnic areas.</p><p>Accommodation options would include 20 glamping tents, 19 “high-end” eco-cabins “to connect with nature in a comfortable and luxurious setting”, an eco-lodge for large groups such as school camps and corporate getaways and 34 caravan sites “orientated to capatlise on the scenic views”.</p><p>As well, the eco-adventure precinct would feature a cafe offering food and beverages made from locally sourced, organic and sustainable ingredients, a function/conference facility and training centre.</p><p>The application filed with the Gold Coast City Council by an entity linked to family-run eco-tourism business TreeTop Challenge, which acquired the site last year, said the development would have “minimal disturbance to the natural environment”.&nbsp;</p><p>“Numinbah Escape is aimed at a holistic at-one-with-nature approach where visitors can enjoy facilities over multiple days with overnight accommodation …[and] is a detour from the usual very high adrenaline offerings currently at other locations where users will be encouraged to slow down and enjoy the natural settings and be active outdoors,” it said.</p><p>According to the planning documents, the development would be staged across the site, which will continue to be a working cattle farm in conjunction with the proposed eco-tourism uses.</p><p>The development proposes one-storey buildings and structures with a site cover of only 0.24 per cent to “protect the site’s landscape, scenic and natural amenity”.</p><p>Dating back to the 1930s, the site was first settled and established as a banana plantation and over the ensuing years has also been used for logging, mining and other agricultural purposes. Rock quarried from the property was used to build the Southport Seaway in the 1980s.</p><div id="carousel-root" data-reactroot=""><image-carousel-remove-button><div class="rm-carousel-wrapper"><button id="rm-carousel" class="rm-carousel-btn">Delete</button></div></image-carousel-remove-button><div class="slider-wrap"><image-carousel><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-13T164839.827.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1Y0eUWtp3XjeCBJC1UAu2t/6c85286f150f5af66285f802cd944cde/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T164839.827.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1Y0eUWtp3XjeCBJC1UAu2t/6c85286f150f5af66285f802cd944cde/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T164839.827.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-13T164036.308.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/F8a1WuQwKFaoNcRSW1vg0/48886774ecde0b1f7ca65608ac6e4eae/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T164036.308.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/F8a1WuQwKFaoNcRSW1vg0/48886774ecde0b1f7ca65608ac6e4eae/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T164036.308.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-13T164131.356.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7vwLr0pZFemX40pDPBFyZC/7af858530d8c5d65b7e3cb972d3aa0e8/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T164131.356.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7vwLr0pZFemX40pDPBFyZC/7af858530d8c5d65b7e3cb972d3aa0e8/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T164131.356.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-13T163935.437.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/K6NijHMpZR2dXvt8fseZ2/1b8bd6a414ec0d878846cbfa5f6ab393/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T163935.437.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/K6NijHMpZR2dXvt8fseZ2/1b8bd6a414ec0d878846cbfa5f6ab393/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T163935.437.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-13T164103.649.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5wVbve2iAqoaXCaOsmbHNT/9a70e8b433574c4f08434056a2c55291/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T164103.649.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5wVbve2iAqoaXCaOsmbHNT/9a70e8b433574c4f08434056a2c55291/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T164103.649.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-13T163954.887.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/184CCuC1zO0VIyo06qMuIL/264215a705bf667d36114a96192304f2/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T163954.887.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/184CCuC1zO0VIyo06qMuIL/264215a705bf667d36114a96192304f2/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T163954.887.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="Untitled design - 2023-09-13T164015.758.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7LFeNP3WYQfH0HfWPlH2FH/31faeff1d5fdfc0aa896e7d92ba68da5/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T164015.758.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7LFeNP3WYQfH0HfWPlH2FH/31faeff1d5fdfc0aa896e7d92ba68da5/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-13T164015.758.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div></image-carousel></div></div><p><br>Rehabilitation of the natural landscape on the “historically very degraded” site would be undertaken as part of the proposed development.</p><p>“The proposal has aimed in all aspects to enhance the natural beauty and retain scenic and social amenity … [ensuring] natural resources on site are sustainably managed for current and future generations,” the submitted documents said.</p><p>Numinbah Escape also would “provide direct economic benefit to the Gold Coast and Queensland via visitors to the attraction as well as local employment and supply chain flow on effects”.</p><p>It was anticipated the proposed development would generate 40 to 50 equivalent full time jobs within 2 to 3 years of its establishment and up to an additional 6778 visitors in the area.</p><p>Another key feature of the proposal was the opportunity for it to used as an accredited registered training facility for outdoor sport, recreation and environmental tourism. Currently staff in the industry must travel interstate to receive on-site training.&nbsp;</p><p>“Having this facility on-site and somewhat ancillary to the nature-based tourism and outdoor sport and recreation uses is a huge benefit to the local economy and eco-adventure tourism industry for the Gold Coast as well as wider Queensland,” the application said.</p>

The sprawling tourism development at Numinbah would transform pioneering farming land into a world-class nature-based attraction…

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<p>One of the Gold Coast’s few remaining greenfield development precincts has been unlocked as the big squeeze continues within the fast-growing glitter strip’s constrained urban growth boundaries.</p><p>Developer HB Land has been given the nod by the Gold Coast City Council for a 196-lot residential subdivision at Upper Coomera in the city’s north.</p><p>It is earmarked for an amalgamation of five rural properties spanning a combined 18.85ha acquired in December 2021 from Gallery Group by the subsidiary of Singapore-based Ho Bee Land.</p><p>The initial development application was lodged several years ago and remained in limbo pending city plan amendments being endorsed by the Queensland government.</p><p>Led by the council, the precinct was identified as an urban release area more than a decade ago, and rezoning of the land from rural to residential was undertaken.</p><p>“This is the first DA to be approved in the Courtney Drive precinct, which ultimately should yield approximately 700 dwellings,” HB Land national development director Peter Johnson said.</p><p>“We believe it’s a rare opportunity because there won’t be that many more behind it down the track or anytime soon.&nbsp;</p><p>“Greenfield land is dwindling … [and] demand is just massively outstripping supply and has been for a while and will do for the foreseeable future.</p><p>“So we’re expecting reasonably strong uptake when we come to launch the project later this year.”</p><p>According to a recently released industry-led report entitled Gold Coast Dwelling Supply Study, under its existing urban footprint the city was forecast to run out of developable land in just over a decade.</p><p>The analysis was prepared by Zone Planning Group, BIOME Consulting, Matusik Property Insights and Zone Landscape Architecture.</p><p>It indicated, based on the application of current planning controls, the Gold Coast’s few remaining greenfield sites could only viably deliver an additional 17,564 homes by 2041—well short of the benchmark of 19,212 homes set in the draft SEQ Regional Plan.</p><p>But property analyst Michael Matusik warned only about half of the report’s estimate, or 10,542 homes, had a “high chance of being developed”.</p><div id="3WpOfzDAEJvHdebxluHkVg"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1cSCtdePb5W9bOW5MiCsy8/33e869ebd07429a37b54629bb41d368c/Untitled__800___900px___800___600px___800___750px___800___900px___800___450px___800___950px___800___925px___800___900px___80.jpg" alt="The approved 196-lot residential subdivision at Courtney Drive, Upper Coomera." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1cSCtdePb5W9bOW5MiCsy8/33e869ebd07429a37b54629bb41d368c/Untitled__800___900px___800___600px___800___750px___800___900px___800___450px___800___950px___800___925px___800___900px___80.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ The approved 196-lot residential subdivision at Courtney Drive, Upper Coomera.<br><br></span></div></div><p>“Based on that forecast, the Gold Coast expansion area provides just 10.5 years of dwelling supply based on historical demand,” he said.</p><p>Matusik said further analysis showed the situation was even more dire for the Gold Coast’s low-density housing supply.</p><p>Of the dwellings with a high chance of being developed by 2041, it was estimated the existing expansion area was likely to yield 4808 house-and-land products and 5734 high-density dwellings.</p><p>“Based on these high-chance figures and the annual average dwelling demand for new housing stock over the past 10 years, the Gold Coast expansion area provides approximately 6.3 years of supply,” he said.</p><p>“Significantly, with the increased demand for detached housing stock, those of 25 dwellings per hectare or less, there is less than four years of supply of land remaining within the Gold Coast expansion area.”</p><p>Overall, Coomera would provide the majority (44 per cent) of the city’s dwelling supply, the study found.&nbsp;</p><p>HB Land’s Peter Johnson said dirt would be turned on the 60-lot first stage of its Upper Coomera subdivision in the Courtney Drive precinct later this year, with a view to the first titles being in place by the third quarter of 2024.</p><p>Lot sizes would range from 400sq m to 1300sq m and the plans also included 4627sq m of public parkland and the rehabilitation of 2.69ha of environmental reserve.</p><p>“It’s incredibly well positioned,” Johnson said. “It has got all the existing schools, amenities, employment and green spaces around it and it's in the northern Gold Coast, which is quite a tightly held area. So we’re expecting a lot of upgraders from surrounding areas.”</p>

One of the Gold Coast’s few remaining greenfield development precincts has been unlocked as the glitter strip’s big squeeze continues …

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<p>Work on a $97-million twin-tower project on the Gold Coast is poised to resume after it was left in limbo when builder GCB Constructions went into voluntary administration.</p><p>Gold-Coast-based Groupline Constructions has been appointed to finish Marine Quarter Southport by developer BuildCap.</p><p>The 260-apartment towers are the only approved residential development on the Broadwater Parklands.</p><p>The first tower, Oceanic Tower, is under construction and sold out.</p><p>BuildCap director Stuart Biggs announced the appointment of Groupline Constructions, a family-run firm based at Arundel.</p><p>“With the appointment … we’re now absolutely focused on getting the project back up and running and finished,” Biggs said.</p><div id="carousel-root" data-reactroot=""><image-carousel-remove-button><div class="rm-carousel-wrapper"><button id="rm-carousel" class="rm-carousel-btn">Delete</button></div></image-carousel-remove-button><div class="slider-wrap"><image-carousel><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="1.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/79G7sNa6eXUMnhzJBykiWa/4544f05e5df665cc117c6fb219c40171/1.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/79G7sNa6eXUMnhzJBykiWa/4544f05e5df665cc117c6fb219c40171/1.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="2.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/13a92jyfdvlio57rlWi9fD/69e802f87f3b8f03de3e6d81bd413b7c/2.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/13a92jyfdvlio57rlWi9fD/69e802f87f3b8f03de3e6d81bd413b7c/2.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="3.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5gTYxI9YdBlpzBR5qFvsjt/e2936fbd6970758a14cf0e0a39914c0b/3.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5gTYxI9YdBlpzBR5qFvsjt/e2936fbd6970758a14cf0e0a39914c0b/3.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div></image-carousel></div></div><p><br>“It’s not only a huge relief for us to have Groupline Constructions come on board, but also for the many investors in this highly anticipated build.</p><p>“Oceanic Tower was about 80 per cent complete when GCB Constructions went into administration the day after its building license was suspended in July. It’s expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2024.”</p><p>Marine Quarter was one of <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/gcb-construction-sites-returned-gold-coast-builder-collapse" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/gcb-construction-sites-returned-gold-coast-builder-collapse">six major Queensland projects</a> developers took back when GCB Constructions collapsed.</p><p>Groupline Constructions commercial director Scott Widdicombe said Marine Quarter was an exciting addition to the company’s business portfolio.</p><p>The 28-storey Oceanic Tower comprises 105 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and was designed by WallaceBrice Architecture.</p><p>The tower will also include a restaurant and retail space at ground level as well as a resort-style pool and lounge on the podium level.</p><p>BuildCap has also launched 158 apartments in tower two, known Scenic Tower. Work is expected to start on it in the first quarter of next year.</p>

A Coast firm has got the nod for the project, one of six left in limbo after GCB Constructions collapsed into voluntary administration…

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<p>Upsized plans have been filed for the second of two neighbouring towers proposed by developer Gallery Group on the Gold Coast “to maintain financial feasibility”.</p><p>It is seeking to bump up its approved Surf Parade North tower, increasing it by eight levels from 28 storeys to 36 storeys.</p><p>Under the revised proposal, the tower would accommodate an additional 34 units, raising its yield from 93 apartments to 127 apartments.</p><p>The application is the latest in a string of changes for the proposed development of a 2071sq m holding across five lots at the southern end of Surfers Paradise, near the Jewel triple towers and beachfront The Langham hotel.</p><p>Two years ago, the Gold Coast-based Gallery Group led by Adam Barclay lodged plans for its Chalk tower—a 36-storey proposal comprising 99 apartments over the site.</p><p>It was given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council early last year but within a few months it was back before the council, redesigned as a tandem tower development comprising the north tower and a 21-storey south tower with 71 apartments.</p><p>Both towers were given the nod by the Gold Coast City Council—the south tower earmarked for a 927sq m site at 203-205 Surf Parade and the north tower for the adjoining 1144sq m site at 207-211 Surf Parade.</p><p>Subsequently, however, <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/gold-coast-surfers-palm-beach-high-rise-heights" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/gold-coast-surfers-palm-beach-high-rise-heights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the developer filed a change application in June</a> to increase the approved height of the south [Chalk] tower by six levels&nbsp; to 27 storeys to house an additional 19 units.</p><p>Together with the latest proposed changes to the north tower, the additional “dwelling yield” is aimed at improving the viability of the projects under the current challenging market conditions.</p><div id="7vOx3cq5hCbOHkYMhtgWCt"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7gAqPAfURP4SDz3rWzMr9t/90eda8aed5ad6006a2b1f4a5dfb7d2f8/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-07T093556.112.jpg" alt="Render the the upsized Surf Parade North tower." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7gAqPAfURP4SDz3rWzMr9t/90eda8aed5ad6006a2b1f4a5dfb7d2f8/Untitled_design_-_2023-09-07T093556.112.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ Render of the upsized Surf Parade North tower proposal.<br><br></span></div></div><p>“The increased yield has been identified as a necessary inclusion in order to maintain the financial feasibility of the development in the face of inflated construction costs,” the application said.</p><p>Designed primarily for the owner-occupier market, the north tower would provide a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments as well as a four-bedroom, split-level penthouse with private rooftop pool deck.</p><p>According to the planning documents, the Surf Parade project is&nbsp; “targeted at a segment of the market that is currently being underserved by new development in the city”.</p><p>“The proposed apartment product differs from the typical one per floor and two-per-floor luxury apartment typologies currently being proposed, approved and constructed throughout Surfers Paradise and the city more generally,” the report said.</p><p>Communal recreation facilities for residents would span a total of 317sq m across levels 1, 17 and 18—including a pool, spa, sun lounges, barbecue and dining areas, gym and work-from-home space.</p><div id="5v0qtCL36dKTviKwhkql48"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3ET3QrDitE2kxwiAJrFlaf/af7c592faf1bc911f420cc709d791534/Untitled__800___450px___5_.jpg" alt="Render of Gallery Group's neighbouring Chalk tower proposal." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3ET3QrDitE2kxwiAJrFlaf/af7c592faf1bc911f420cc709d791534/Untitled__800___450px___5_.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ Render of Gallery Group's neighbouring Chalk tower proposal.<br><br></span></div></div><p>An additional level of basement carparking also has been proposed for the north tower to cater for the increase in apartments. It would have 148 carparking spaces for residents across five basement levels.</p><p>The scheme has been designed by Brisbane-based MAS Architecture Studio, drawing inspiration “from the movement of water and sand”.</p><p>“Surf Parade North’s articulated form evokes a sense of flow and dynamism,” a design statement said.</p><p>“In tandem, stepping of the form and increased setbacks respond to the positioning of the south tower, reducing overlooking and developing a complementary relationship between forms,” a design statement said.</p><p>“The aim was to create a distinctly recognisable form that integrates into the established character of the area, while complementing its southern neighbour.”</p>

Upsized plans have been filed for the second of two neighbouring towers proposed by developer Gallery Group on the Gold Coast “to maintain financial feasibility”.

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<p>Sypre Group will go ahead with its slender tower plans after successfully appealing the City of Gold Coast’s of the project.</p><p>The decision in the Queensland Planning and Environment Court paves the way for the developers to build an 18-storey tower on just 410sq m of land on the corner site at 3640 Main Beach Parade, Main Beach.</p><p>In the same neighbourhood, the council had previous approved a 37-storey tower on a 812sq m site and the 25-storey Monaco high-rise on a 888sq m site.</p><p>Spyre lodged the plans with the council in mid-2021 for one of the most expensive suburbs on the Gold Coast where the average apartment price was $1.15m, according to Hotspotting.</p><p>The 63-metre Spyre development comprises 15 apartments, 30 car spaces, podium and rooftop recreationm as well as a ground-floor cafe.</p><p>The council said it was “simply not possible to locate a building of this size on a lot this small and comply with the requirements of the planning scheme in respect of setbacks”.</p><p>The Planning and Environment Court however decided to allow the appeal, subject to the imposition of lawful conditions.&nbsp;</p><p>“Essentially, the respondent contends that the development application will result in an overdevelopment of the site which is only 410sq m in size,” the court documents said.</p><p>“The site is, however, zoned for high-density residential development of unlimited height and the respondent has recently approved multiple dwellings exhibiting a similar intensity in the vicinity of it.&nbsp;</p><div id="7dI94CJ8IMIHOMuAwNNmdQ"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7ycTaXzZWIeH3l3lgRkJmc/98588668cfe77d0052e8fcfcfb1b0007/Copy_of_Mid_article_resizes__49_.jpg" alt="two images, one of the apartment towers on Main Beach on the Gold Coast the other a proposed 18 storey white tower." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7ycTaXzZWIeH3l3lgRkJmc/98588668cfe77d0052e8fcfcfb1b0007/Copy_of_Mid_article_resizes__49_.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ Spyre Group's Main Beach apartment building will be called Mari. </span></div></div><p><br>“This has occurred in circumstances where there is a pathway to approval which does not require compliance with any quantitative design criteria.</p><p>“It will provide for an interesting street frontage whilst not creating unacceptable amenity impacts for adjoining residents.”</p><p>The site is near the Gold Coast Light Rail, which has driven the upscaling of many development proposals along its route, from its beginning at Helensvale to future end of the line at Coolangatta Airport.</p>

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<p>“It’s time for us to roll up our sleeves.”</p><p>No stranger to doing some heavy lifting, Andrews Projects sales manager Sarah Andrews grew up on building sites and spent school holidays in the back of her parents’ car nursing carpet and benchtop samples.&nbsp;</p><p>Her builder-developer father Danny Andrews has built scores of houses, industrial sheds, shopping centres and medium-density apartment developments across the Gold Coast during the past two decades.&nbsp;</p><p>And now he’s firing up the tools alongside Sarah and son Jordan to build their most ambitious project yet, a $270-million, 299-apartment masterplanned community at Robina.</p><p>While so many other DA-approved sites are gathering dust amid a growing builder shortage in Queensland, Andrews Projects is one of a new breed of developers who are taking the bull by the horns to start up their own construction arm.&nbsp;</p><p>“We were working with a builder but the cost ended up being too high. So we set up our new construction company at the start of July, we’ll have better control of our costs now,” Sarah Andrews says.&nbsp;</p><p>“We’re still mapping out what we need (in terms of labour), but we’ve made some significant hires already. It’s a natural progression for us.&nbsp;</p><p>“It’s control of your destiny and control of your work program.”</p><div id="hcpcySOjqUgPnh19XjCZr"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3Jx38p2yQ1Usy67xAe6lun/c5b13e52e8021662738c28a126fce244/Andrews_Projects_MID1.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3Jx38p2yQ1Usy67xAe6lun/c5b13e52e8021662738c28a126fce244/Andrews_Projects_MID1.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ The 299-apartment masterplanned community at Robina is the developer’s biggest project yet.<br><br></span></div></div><p>Cascade is Andrews Projects’ biggest development to date at a scale which Andrews says is not likely to be repeated.&nbsp;</p><p>“We have a finite amount of developable land, we have the beach on one side, and the mountains on the other. The only answer is to go up,” she says.&nbsp;</p><p>“[Cascade] is such a big piece of land.</p><p>“We settled on the site in January last year. The DA was approved late last year and we are hoping to be on site late this year or early next year.”</p><p>New data from PRD demonstrates just how dire the builder drought is in Queensland, particularly in the fraught high-density residential sector.&nbsp;</p><p>The risk profile is not appealing for many of the nation’s biggest builders, including Queensland’s own Hutchinson Builders.</p><p>According to PRD, more than a third of the 196 residential projects worth over $10 million slated for construction in south-east Queensland’s between January 2022 and 2024 do not have a builder assigned.</p><p>As well, more than half the Gold Coast developers with projects in the pipeline are waiting to secure a builder, and about a third of projects in Brisbane are experiencing the same problem.</p><div id="3Iw7cdBRzxZcsyao5ig14G"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4WFVoOkQ4pSz5qOhss218w/b2a343ddb1f8da761720d447499cdedd/Andrews_Projects_MID2.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4WFVoOkQ4pSz5qOhss218w/b2a343ddb1f8da761720d447499cdedd/Andrews_Projects_MID2.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ Sales manager Sarah Andrews says they have made some key hires for their construction firm and will grow further once on site at Robina. </span></div></div><p><br>But it’s not for lack of buyer demand on the Gold Coast, according to Sarah Andrews. She says she has kept a list going for seven years of all the projects that have been shelved on the Gold Coast.&nbsp;</p><p>“It’s really hard to get projects out of the ground,” she says.</p><p>“If your site is not DA-approved and you don’t have a builder, you can’t go to market without a lot of weakness or vulnerability.</p><p>“We’re directly employing a team of people, there will be a site team and an office team … and the team will continue to grow once we get on site.”</p><p>And while labour hire has been constrained in the past two years, Andrews says the market is shifting on the Gold Coast. Andrews Projects plans to run its construction arm, A Construct, indefinitely as it pads out its future pipeline.</p><p>“To my knowledge I think there’s only been one build contract get off the ground this year. A lot of those subcontractors who have been absorbed in projects will be looking for work.</p><p>“We’ve got a tunnel vision for the Gold Coast. I think it’s moved out of the traditional boom-bust cycle … I think it’s got a stronger foundation.”</p><div id="4f1RCHrG6jpPs4au9UHTrJ"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4ZhJ5c9DvaZRxK6aIpww3f/4c212bafff96469521b24f6884fce289/Beach_House_Andrews_MID.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4ZhJ5c9DvaZRxK6aIpww3f/4c212bafff96469521b24f6884fce289/Beach_House_Andrews_MID.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ Buyer demand remains strong on the Gold Coast. Andrews Projects’ Beach House broke price-per-square-metre records at Broadbeach. </span></div></div><p><br>Andrews Projects joins a growing list of developers to launch their own construction arms after the high-profile collapse of ConDev last year and, more recently, GCB.</p><p>And non-bank lenders are rallying to the cause.&nbsp;</p><p>Holden Capital’s Dan Holden told <em>The Urban Developer</em> the specialist non-bank lender sees the developer-builder structure as a benefit.</p><p>“Historically, the traditional banks have seen it as a high risk and been quite reluctant to be involved because if there is a problem, then they see it as having two problems instead of just one.</p><p>“Whereas, we actually look at it as a benefit, particularly at the moment with material costs and labour costs being the hardest thing to manage. If there is a problem, then you’ve got visibility, and you can solve it quickly.”<br><br></p><hr><p><strong><br>You are currently experiencing&nbsp;<em>The Urban Developer</em>&nbsp;Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals.&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans"><strong>Click here to learn more.</strong></a></p><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div>

While so many other DA-approved sites are gathering dust amid a growing builder shortage in Queensland, Andrews Projects is one of a new breed of developers who are taking the bull by the horns to start up their own construction arm...

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<p>Evolution, nature … and vertiports. The future of city design appears clear in the mind of architect Rafael Contreras.</p><p>Contreras co-founded Contreras Earl Architecture with Monica Earl to “design original, inventive, ground-breaking buildings that contribute to the evolution of architecture and towards a better future for our communities and cities”.</p><p>Speaking at <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/search?text=Urbanity" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/search?text=Urbanity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Urbanity 23</a>, <em>The Urban Developer’s</em> three-day event at the Gold Coast, Contreras said most city buildings were soulless—“buildings that don’t have consideration for the people, for the city … they are basically killing our cities”.</p><p>He said architects had a responsibility for that and “for trying to fix that situation”.</p><p>Contreras outlined his practice’s response to that through its foundations of evolution and nature.</p><p>And revealed a new vertiport design. More on that later.</p><p>“We believe architecture must evolve parallel with technology,” he told the conference.</p><div id="7BethpXU8yVTqzcEd29WOL"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2FXZSAf9tNhwPxjSxS1MUl/59fbea08c09d6bef42457c0ba5072762/Contreras_Earl_Architecture_Livi.jpeg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2FXZSAf9tNhwPxjSxS1MUl/59fbea08c09d6bef42457c0ba5072762/Contreras_Earl_Architecture_Livi.jpeg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ Contreras Earl Architecture’s The Living Coral Biobank, Port Douglas, Queensland. <br><br></span></div></div><p>“Architecture has been stuck in time. Over the past 100 years there has been some very good architecture, but we are seeing the same thing.</p><p>“We believe we must embrace technology and move forward.”</p><p>Contreras said this was also the case in construction.</p><p>“It’s a bit weird to think a 40-storey tower still takes three to four years—in this era we are in now, that is not compatible,” he said.</p><p>“So as architects we must contribute to the evolution of our industry and evolution of our cities.”</p><p>He said architecture must blend with nature. “We are animals, we come from natural environment—we cannot think of just 90-degree angles and walls and boxes, we must go a bit further than that. It needs a connection with nature”.</p><p>Using examples from the practice, many on the Gold Coast, Contreras explained the evolution of design for such projects as the pedestal for Sunland Group’s 44-storey 272 Hedges Avenue and how construction methods had to also evolve so the vision could be realised.</p><p><strong>Evolution in action: 272 Hedges Avenue concept to reality</strong></p><div id="carousel-root" data-reactroot=""><image-carousel-remove-button><div class="rm-carousel-wrapper"><button id="rm-carousel" class="rm-carousel-btn">Delete</button></div></image-carousel-remove-button><div class="slider-wrap"><image-carousel><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="4.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4NtK4u7xqxFb1G8uIkcjtT/1fdea68c824fa58b874752a27d260e8f/4.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4NtK4u7xqxFb1G8uIkcjtT/1fdea68c824fa58b874752a27d260e8f/4.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="3.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6eDquchQTxAYKPhINpvlzY/161c9e22f254666a42c866a969b2c906/3.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6eDquchQTxAYKPhINpvlzY/161c9e22f254666a42c866a969b2c906/3.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="5.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5Pl8yEtimbldj4w1mwGcfy/f350427992f3a4af656fc72b2294320a/5.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5Pl8yEtimbldj4w1mwGcfy/f350427992f3a4af656fc72b2294320a/5.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div></image-carousel></div></div><p><br>In that project, the flowing, sinuous form of the pedestal, to be created in aluminium, had to be fabricated in the Netherlands and shipped to its Mermaid Beach site.</p><p>“Why the Netherlands? Nobody could build this in Australia back in 2018 when we designed it,” Contreras said.</p><p>“When the builder, Hutchies, was engaged for the work … they really hated us for wanting to build this. [Laughter].</p><p>“They brought in some local companies to tender for this, and they weren’t exactly what we were intending.</p><p>“One proposal had too many joins, it wasn’t bad but wasn’t really what we wanted. The developer really supported us to say no.</p><p>“Hutchies said, no one can do this, so we looked overseas. We already had some options so that’s what we did.</p><p>“And by the end of the project, Hutchies understood the real advantages of pre-fabrication and they were very happy. And now we are very good friends. [Laughter].”</p><p>Contreras said some of the companies who in 2018 couldn’t fulfill the brief, now could—they had evolved processes and capabilities because they had been challenged. Evolution had happened.</p><div id="D1vWux2tKkX1GKlwT4Xrd"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1mFHbQb8vGuHukzxFOo1Jg/8b78b3cae3aeb5956aad103b8f94bb1a/2.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1mFHbQb8vGuHukzxFOo1Jg/8b78b3cae3aeb5956aad103b8f94bb1a/2.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ The Contreras Earl-designed vertiport revealed by Rafael Contreras at Urbanity 23. <br><br></span></div></div><p>Contreras also spoke of its well-known design for air taxi vertiports, working with a number of firms including Skyportz, for plans that include a floating Melbourne hub.</p><p>After discussing the process behind the design—how its function and form came together to create a prefabricated structure that can be used to create larger facilities in a variety of configurations—Contreras gave a glimpse of a new vertiport design for a new site, saying “I cannot disclose where”.</p><p>“Hopefully we will be able to publish it soon,” he said.</p><p>“It is a smaller terminal, where the air taxi can land on the top of this structure.”</p><p>More details and, indeed where it is to be built, may have to wait, but as the way we see our cities and what we want from them changes, surely the people shaping them, people like Rafael Contreras, give us hope for cities with soul.</p><div id="1upVFZrYuMpT0kMuW5mJxs"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1ILq9ZpxN8Lngh64COTwAp/096b09e21521c58b3f9aa9fbd4a17200/7.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1ILq9ZpxN8Lngh64COTwAp/096b09e21521c58b3f9aa9fbd4a17200/7.jpg"></picture><div><span style="opacity: 0.8;" data-mce-style="opacity: 0.8;">▲ Contreras Earl Architecture’s Rafael Contreras and 272 Hedges Avenue.</span></div></div>

Architect Rafael Contreras gave a glimpse of a new air taxi terminal as he delved into the foundations of his evolutionary practice…

GOLD COAST