Tower ‘parks’ sky garages

THE controversial sky garages at an approved Main Beach tower have been dumped for underground car parking, new plans show.

The Bulletin understands neighbouring residents are unlikely to oppose the changes for the 23-storey tower (pictured) on an 898sq m block on Macarthur Pde near the Southport Yacht Club.

The new reports lodged by the developer to the Gold Coast City Council show landscape areas on the ground floor and podium planters would include large sculptural plantings of big native palm species and dense screening species to property boundaries.

A transport report for the 24-unit development says the project proposed 57 car parking spaces, including three spaces for visitors on the ground level.

“The proposal therefore exceeds council’s acceptable outcome for car parking,” the report adds. “The proposal provides a single-lane ramp system between the ground and basement levels,” the report says. “Given the constrained layout of the proposed car park, convex mirrors are proposed to be provided at each end of the ramp, with warning beacons on the ground level as well as each basement level to assist drivers in getting in and out for the car park. It is proposed that ramp access from the ground level will be controlled by a red stop signal and associated sign to discourage drivers from entering whilst another vehicle is exiting. Whilst a vehicle is actively travelling up or down the ramp system, the yellow warning beacons will flash discouraging other drivers from exiting the parking facility.”

The boutique tower featured sky garages when approved by a majority of councillors in August last year. Only councillors Darren Taylor, Peter Young and Daphne McDonald voted against the officer recommendation for approval.

Sky garages would have allowed residents to sit in their lounges and admire their cars.

Jason Foote, director of Ignite Projects, later parked the idea. The move would enable an increased living space for the apartments, which could cost more than $4m.

Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan said she considered the new changes as minimal with no increases in building height or footprint.

“We will have deep concerns about the adverse impacts on adjacent buildings. It’s far too close to the boundaries,” Ms Donovan said.

She said building the tower would be a challenge with the three levels of basement being “problematic” given the suburb’s water table.