Four Towers Mooted in Gold Coast Change of Plans

A Brisbane developer is seeking major changes to a Gold Coast residential project that would create four towers up to 25 storeys—17 levels higher than already approved.

Cadmium Development, based in South Brisbane, has filed material change-of-use plans that add at least 350 additional homes to its project at Coomera in the Gold Coast’s north.

The four towers of between 16 and 25 storeys would house at least 720 units, plus restaurants, retail and commercial tenancies, a gymnasium and a medical centre along Foxwell Road.

In documents now being considered by the Gold Coast City Council, Cadmium warned it was “abundantly clear” additional residential density was needed because of a decade-long shortfall in the delivery of homes in Coomera and adjoining suburbs.

“This site is one of the only areas in the city where both an increase in height and density can be approved without a significant amendment to the city plan,” town planners Tactica Planning and Development said in supporting documents.

“Pertinently, it is noted that several development sites that are zoned for high density residential development or were previously approved… have achieved less residential density than envisaged.

▲ Cadmium argues the extra height is needed to address a critical housing shortage in the area.

“Or in some instances include no residential development and are limited to commercial land uses only.”

Cadmium’s application is the third stage of its Urbana development on a 38,820sq m site at what was 215 to 233 Foxwell Road. The latest stage is planned for about 15,200sq m on the southern part of the property.

There are street frontages to Foxwell Road and Urbana Boulevard.

Cadmium’s vision dates to November 2012 when the council approved the Coomera Town Centre Master Plan. In 2020 the developer was green-lit for 272 apartments, a lot sub-division and 81 attached and detached homes.

In August of 2022 it won approval for an increase in building height to eight storeys.

“In order to achieve the residential density required to make a meaningful impact to the number of dwellings available in the locality, it is necessary to provide an increased building height…” Tactica argued in the latest application.

▲ The developer says two of the buildings will be used as rental properties.

The four towers wuld rise between 72m and 97m and house between 144 and 225 apartments each. There would be a total 1760 bedrooms. Four basement levels will allow parking for about 1300 vehicles—920 of them for residents.

Tactica concedes the project is an ambitious one, but argues the size is justified: “…research of all existing comparable approvals on Foxwell Road and the immediate locality has demonstrated that the development will be relatively consistent with emerging character…”.

“Two of the four buildings proposed will be built for the purpose of being exclusively used as rental properties, ensuring that the supply of housing to be delivered equitably addresses the shortage of rental properties as well as properties available for purchase.

“The landowner intends to retain ownership of both of the above-mentioned buildings to ensure this vision is achieved.”

Archidiom is behind the design of the four buildings.

Meanwhile, up the road, a 3ha site approved for 140 townhouses has come to market.

The site at 240 Foxwell Road, Coomera, is opposite Foxwell State Secondary College and is zoned as high-density residential.

Chris Fort of agent Avanti Commercial Property said he had received 75 inquiries on the site in two days. He would not be drawn on a price.

Muyao Investment is believed to be the current owner.

An expressions-of-interest campaign is due to close on April 11.