Gold Coast Council Knocks Back 32-Storey Main Beach Tower

The City of Gold Coast council has rejected plans to build a $95-million apartment tower at Main Beach.

The 33-storey, La Mer tower was launched in June by Polites Property Group and Descon Group Australia.

Apartments were priced from $2.2 million and the development would have added 30 apartments to 3580 Main Beach Parade, at the corner of Beulah Lane.

The council said the proposed tower was an overdevelopment of the 751sq m site despite its zoning for high-density residential dwellings within the Gold Coast Light Rail renewal area overlay.

“The proposed tower is not responsive to the lot size, site context, the surrounding context and setting of adjacent properties, and therefore represents an overdevelopment of the site,” the signed decision notice said.

“The proposed site cover for the tower form is 47.80 per cent, which results in narrow insufficient setbacks from the tower floor plates.”

The council also cited the impacts on privacy and visual amenity on neighbouring properties, overshadowing, unrealistic landscaping within the podium form and lack of car parking.

An appeal is expected to be lodged with the Planning and Environment Court of development tribunal in coming weeks.

The developers had previously adjusted the original plans by Archidiom architects in response to the council’s concerns.

Last year Ignite Projects’ plans to build a 23-storey tower on a 898sq m block were approved by the council which included “sky garages” due to concerns for car-parking spaces in Main Beach.

Spyre’s plans for an 18-storey tower on a 419sq m site, lodged in July, are still under consideration by the Gold Coast council, as are Bruce Donnachy’s $160-million plans for a 21-storey tower lodged in November.

Polites is also planning to build a $100-million Runaway Bay tower with Monaco Property Group, lodging the 31-storey tower plans in October.

Development applications on the Gold Coast have ramped up due to demand. It is one of the top-performing regions in the country with house prices increasing 31.4 per cent and apartments up 24.4 per cent.

Pricing for the remaining La Mer apartments was around $3.5 million in November and construction was expected to begin in May.