Council green lights Assana
ONE of the Gold Coast’s most infamous “bomb sites” will be demolished to make way for Broadbeach’s tallest tower despite protests from residents. Sydney-based developer Macquarie Development Group has been given the green light to build the 52storey tower on the corner of Gold Coast Highway and Rosewood Ave on the former site of Oriental Garden Restaurant.
The tower, Assana, Irish for waterfall, will feature 146 units and will be two storeys taller than the Oracle towers. Broadbeach residents opposed the tower because of fears it would worsen existing parking problems as businesses would lose clients and the suburb would be less attractive for investors and renters.
But Macquarie development and construction head Peter Galvin said the project had been altered to address resident concerns.
We set out to improve on the existing (development application) to provide a better outcome not only for us, but for the community as well,” he said.
“We wanted to build a beautiful building that we could be proud of – now and in 15 years’ time and beyond. “We had a number of meetings with Council and councillors which were invaluable in understanding and being able to respond to community concerns with the previous application.
“We took all of that on board, resulting in fewer apartments, more parking, increased setbacks, and a better facade.”
The project, approved by council last week, will go to tender next month, while its sales suite is built and it is taken to the market before Christmas.
It replaces a now shelved tower which council had approved in 2016.
Macquarie bought the site in late 2020 and developed a new plan.
It will be aimed at downsizers and residents of Sydney and Melbourne keen to move north after months in Covid lockdown.
The City Plan allows for unlimited height in the area.
Area councillor Darren Taylor helped negotiate the project’s approval and said changes had been made to address residents’ concern.
“Our officers worked hard to get a better outcome from previous developments, what was first proposed here and it’s no worse than what we have now,” he said.
“We all understand there are going to be developments but it is a challenge to get the right ones and this shows we can work with the community to get the right outcome.”