REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Thursday, March 1, 2007

HOPE Island was set for an explosion of development with the Gold Coast City Council approving a $3 billion village housing 11,000 residents.

The 100ha site, marketed as Marina Quays, incorporated restaurants, boutiques, office complexes, 800 marina berths, a canal-front boardwalk, college and private hospital.

The development’s population was to be 50 per cent larger than Varsity Lakes.

The council adopted a master plan that millionaire developer John Fish described as “the future”.

Loosely modelled on Florida’s Celebrations community near Disney World, one of the city’s last undeveloped areas was to provide work, recreation and living services. Stakeholders consulted on the plan for four years, starting when the first stages of the 4km canal were being dredged.

Local councillor Grant Pforr said the community would particularly appeal to corporate professionals, who want access to amenities but not the responsibility of a big back yard.

Mr Fish, developer of Marina Quays, said the draft master plan was “as accurate an adoption of the Southeast Queensland Regional Plan as you will find”.

A handful of developers have bought stakes in the area including Australand, Mirvac, APH Properties and Craig Gore’s AGG Group.

“It’ll be significantly bigger than Varsity Lakes in population and have more amenities,” said Mr Fish. “It’s a take from European cities and villages, Celebrations in Florida and the developments at Subiaco and East Perth.”