The Sheraton Mirage‘s new owners, Pearls Australasia are making good on their plans to restore the restore the resort to its former glory.  The first stage of this process will involve full refurbishment of all 296 rooms in the 24-year old hotel.  The process will take place over the next three years and paves the way for as-yet-undisclosed future stages in what Pearls founder and chairman Nirmal Singh Bhanghoo has called a “dramatic overhaul”.

Pearls bought the Christopher Skase-developed property from Raptis Group recievers last year for $62.5m.

In the wake of submissions following November’s approval of Potter Group‘s proposed Main Place development in Broadbeach,  the Planning Committee have reccomended a number of amendments be approved by Council. The 3275sqm site would still feature a 3-storey retail podium, topped with six levels of hotel space on half the site, as well as a 52-storey building housing 320 apartments.

Importantly, the amendments maintain that the development must achieve a Green Building Council of Australia five-star, Green Star standard for the offices and apartments and five-star National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) rating for the hotel.

When discussing the amendments, Committee Chair, Councillor Ted Shepherd said:

“We want to ensure that Main Place offers its future occupants, and the city, a high standard in sustainability. Added to its proximity to the light rail will make this an attractive place to live, stay, shop and play.”

With the completion of The Oracle building earlier this year and with Hilton and Soul approaching the end of construction, Council view the commencement of work on the site as a priority to the local construction industry and economy as a whole.

Artist's Impression of Main Place Development

Despite announcing last October that a start date for redevelopment of the shopping centre was imminent, owner AMP Capital have admitted that the process is no further along.  A spokeman for the company told the Gold Coast Bulletin

“At this stage, there is no definite start date for onsite construction at Pacific Fair as we continue with planning, design and a range of negotiations. As with many in property development, the global financial crisis did impact our plans for our shopping centre portfolio, and we spent this time preparing for Pacific Fair’s development as well as a number of others.”

It is believed that negotiations between Gold Coast City Council and AMP Capital surrounding infrastructure charges are one factor behind the delay.

Following the recent addition of a ferris wheel to the roof, the interior of the (1989 built) Gold Coast Transit Centre in Surfers Paradise is about to undergo a $1.8m revamp.  The facelift will be targeting food retail and alfresco dining operators to set up in the centre and should be completed by November this year.

With just over one third of the $9m required for a proposed redevelopment of Surfers Paradise’s iconic Cavill Mall already allocated, the draft plan for the redevelopment has gone on display.

Designed to ‘de-clutter’ the space, the redevelompent makes provision for dynamic coloured LED lighting, raised busking platforms and more shade trees.  The need for the upgrade has been almost universally accepted already, as the space is beginning to look tired – especially compared to the freshly upgraded foreshore and new Soul commercial space.

Surfers Paradise Councillor Susie Douglas is hoping that the remaning funding will be allocated in this years’ budget.

With Council’s Economic Development and Tourism Committee allocating a further $1.54m to a proposed revamp to the Cavill Avenue Mall in Surfers Paradise, the revamp is now another step closer.  The timing couldn’t be better, with the Surfers Paradise Foreshore Redevelopment approaching completion.

Committe chair, and Surfers Paradise councillor Susie Douglas has stated that:

“The Committee recommended Council enter into negotiations with the Foreshore redevelopment managing contractor, Abi Group, to get the mall project underway as soon as possible.

“As part of a second stimulus package, Council set aside an initial $2 million and considerable work has now been done, including consultation with key external stakeholders, to develop a comprehensive management plan and delivery strategy for the project.”

As part of the splitting of Tabcorp’s casino and wagering businesses, Jupiters Casino will be recieving a $175 million upgrade to increase its attraction to international and high-roller markets.  The renovation will include an upgrade of the pool and facilities, as well as the addition of new restaurants and a new nightclub.

Despite some public opposition, Council’s planning committee has signed off on Potter Group’s 52-storey redevelopment of Broadbeach’s Main Place.  The current plans include 173 resort hotel suites, 320 apartments, nearly 1800sqm of shops and restaurants and 2346sq m of commercial floorspace – however local councillor Eddy Saroff is lobbying to have the hotel portion of the building reduced in size.

The extent of this reduction could threaten the viability of the project, the construction of which is expected to add nearly 800 jobs and over $700m to the local economy.

Council has signed off on a new 45-storey tower for Scarborough St in Southport.  The new building, Iridium, will be built by Ingles Group and will include over 330 apartments, as well as commercial, retail and cafe space.  The building will be built near the future light rail station, and next door to the existing Little Theatre.  As part of the renewal, the developer will assist with redevelopment of the theatre’s green room and box office.

Rayjon Properties, the owner of the Treetops shopping centre on the corner of Bermuda St & Reedy Creek Rd has lodged plans for the first stage of it’s Urbia development.  The Urbia Burleigh development, to take place on the Treetops plans to include close to 10,000sqm of shopping centre floorspace, 8,700sqm of offices and several hundred apartments.  The plans include buildings up to 20 storeys in height, as well as a cafe and restaurant strip.

Stage 1 will incorporate 70 apartments, nearly 3500sqm of office space and an expansion of the existing Coles shopping centre.  Approval is expected next year, however construction isn’t slated to begin until 2012 at the earliest.