Highrise for Hedges
Council’s nod to tower on millionaire avenue
THE Gold Coast’s millionaire residential community in Hedges Ave will have its first highrise neighbour after the council approved a 44-storey tower.
Councillors at the Economy, Planning and Environment Committee yesterday backed an officer’s recommendation to approve the 152m-high building planned by developer Sunland.
The tower will have 99 units and 280 bedrooms. Its 212 car parking spaces will be provided in a four-level basement.
Sunland bought the land for $13.4 million and last year unveiled plans for a $210 million boutique tower, which was supported by city leaders.
The developer’s plan is to attract the owner-occupier market, offering a point of difference to the up-market area that, under the city plan, is largely limited to a threestorey height limit.
Before debate began in the council, Cr William OwenJones declared a perceived or real conflict of interest and left the room.
Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, who like Cr OwenJones also received donations for her election campaign from Sunland, declared a real or perceived conflict but stayed in the room.
A report by council officers notes that the application by Sunland aligned with the intended building height because there was no limit for that particular area.
“Therefore, the proposal is considered to appropriately reflect a desirable building height,” the report says.
The site, from 272 to 274 Hedges Ave, was considered to be within “the frame of the light rail”.
A six-storey building is immediately north of the site and the Broadbeach State School is only 100m away.
Council officers admitted the proposed development had a distinct tower base and tower, which was not present in the Broadbeach area.
But the report says: “Council officers consider the proposed building height will provide for a distinct skyline that clearly defines the higher density locations in the city.”
Committee chairman Cameron Caldwell, outside the meeting, said the highrise was on the edge of the unlimited height zone at Broadbeach and the final location for a tall tower.
“It’s on the northern end of Hedges Avenue. It’s unlikely we would see another building of this scale on Hedges Ave itself,” he said.
“This application is entirely consistent with city plan. Locals in that area will be expecting that there will be some highrise in and around this site but certainly there seems to be a need for a variety of housing choice in that location.”
Councillors at the meeting yesterday also ticked off on a two-tower development in Surfers Paradise.
Officers in their report recommended councillors support an application for a 38-storey and a 50-storey tower in River Terrace and Enderley Ave.