Resort plan gets the nod

Rules changed to allow Royal Pines redevelopment

THE Queensland Government has approved a major development at the Gold Coast’s Royal Pines Resort for a child care centre, swim school, food and beverage outlets, and offices.

The state has overturned regulations which were blocking final touches on the $82 million Marina Concourse precinct at Benowa’s Royal Pines Marina.

Signing off on the changes to Royal Pines Resort’s development scheme, the Palaszczuk Government has paved the way for construction of the additions to begin.

The luxury twin-tower concourse is the jewel in the crown of the master plan for the marina. Developer Sunland Group had hoped to have the new amenities available by October last year.

Minister for State Development and Planning Cameron Dick said alterations to the Royal Pines Resort Approved scheme (under the Integrated Resort Development Act 1987) would allow new uses within the marina precinct of the resort.

“These proposed uses reflect the changing needs of the resort and its residents and will allow commercial uses for the area that are not significantly different to existing uses,” he said.

“When the Act was written in the 1980s, the existing planning, titling and body corporate management legislation could not facilitate a largescale mixed-use resort development like Royal Pines Resort.”

The resort’s body corporate management put forward the proposal after consultations with residents – 100 per cent aggred with the plan.

“Residents were also consulted via public notification signage throughout the development and to each of the resident body corporates,” Mr Dick said.

“By approving these amendments, we have changed the future of Royal Pines Resort for the better.”

But any of the amentities that come to fruition will still need to follow the resort’s development control by-laws, managed by the resort body corporate.

“This amendment is about ensuring that young families have the option to access child care close to their home and will enable a diversity of services to be located locally,” Mr Dick said.

“The Queensland government is committed to delivering a planning system that will help shape wonderful places for people to live, work and play.”

“By responding to the changing needs of the Royal Pines residents, we aim to create stronger, safer, healthier and well-connected communities now and into the future.”

The last waterfront residences at Marina Concourse were on the market earlier this year priced from $699,000