Developer to build after long standoff
A BATTLE between a developer, Gold Coast City Council and a group of residents in the city’s most exclusive island is over, with work set to begin on a set of units within weeks.
Diggers will start the mammoth job of removing 5000 cubic metres of sand from a waterfront block of land on the Sovereign Islands, starting a year-long build on eight luxury units, valued between $2.6 million to $5.3 million each.
It hasn’t been an easy road to the sod turn for developer and director of Vested, Ian Chester who claimed the council pulled the deal out from underneath him at the 11th hour, kicking off a legal battle that cost him upwards of $80,000.
“There was a 45-day decision period for us to go back and forth between one another (council and developer), to make sure if there’s any changes that need to be made, that we make those changes together, then we both agree on one decision notice at the end,” Mr Chester said.
“At the last minute of the 45th day, we then got another letter from council, saying someone in the higher regime asked us to give them another two weeks.
“Legally I can say no, that’s what the rules say, and I said no.
“Then I had another letter saying they’ve refused the development application altogether.”
Mr Chester said he had never gone through a development application process like this before.
“Never, never (has this happened before), it’s a complete waste of time for me. I’m a father and a poor developer and these rich people are out here trying to stop someone like me, but it’s never happened like this ever.
“We had to go to the planning and environment court … to basically work out why there were grounds for refusal. We went three times … and on the third court case the judge threw it out within two minutes saying they were wasting taxpayers’ money.
“It was basically approved in court, but the whole process took about four months and was about $80,000 to me.
“From the get go, someone should have stepped in and just approved it. It’s a code assessable DA, that’s what legislation is there for.”
He said it wasn’t as if they were building high-density unit towers, these would be luxury units, going as far as having master jeweller Mark Cotterell collaborate on the project, with the hype around the units, leading to sales already.
“There will be marble throughout, 733sq m, moorings for personal boats and the ability to really live a life of luxury on the Sovereign Islands.
“We’ve actually got a couple of sales from local residents. This is an exclusive opportunity for the elite and the downsizers looking to live like a king or queen.”
Sovereign Islands Owners Corporation chair Ann Glenister yesterday said residents were disappointed by the decision, but it wasn’t a case of sour grapes and it was nothing personal.
“The mood generally is one of disappointment, because we don’t feel it belongs, it’s not what Sovereign Islands is about,” she said.
Council could not provide a comment by deadline.