After a tumltuous year, which saw the original developer – Raptis Group – go into receivership, Southport Central is finally complete.

The three tower, $700m project is one of Australia’s largest mixed-use developments, and is being given a lot of credit for revitalising the suburb of Southport.

Settlements in the third and final tower will begin on Monday the 20th of April, however whilst the construction is finished, there remains close to 150 apartments (of a total 788) still for sale throughout the project.

City Plan Partners, a Korean development group have launched their vision for the old Southport RSL building on the corner of Scarborough and White Streets.

The 35-storey, $220 million tower will house 220 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments and – in an interesting twist – will be one of the nation’s first Over 50s strata titled apartment projects.  The building, dubbed ‘Victoria Towers’ will Incorporate a range of aged care and assisted living facilities as well as regular leisure features that are part of most new apartment buildings.

A builder has not been chosen as yet, however completion is expected by May 2011.

After 29 years – in which Robina has grown from practically nothing but bushland into a thriving suburb, and one of the Gold Coast’s business and transport hubs – the Robina Land Corporation has placed their remaining interests in the area up for sale.

The sale – with an estimated value in the vicinity of around $350 million will comprise of around 30 hectares of land, as well as existing commericial buildings.  RLC has made it clear that the sale is not a liquidation, and they plan to complete the projects that are currently under way.

After months of turmoil, and with a number of subsidiary compaines sliding into recievership, Raptis Group has appointed an administrator to assist with its financial woes.

The administrators, from BRI Ferrier, have prior experience with the company – having been appointed recievers of the companys contruction arm last December.

The first creditor’s meeting is expected to take place next week.

While Juniper’s new building, Soul, will not be completed until 2011 – it has been announced that the ground-level shopping and dining precinct, at the beach end of Cavill Mall should be open for business by the end of the year.

Following in the footsteps of Raptis’ Chevron Rennaisance and Sunland’s Circle on Cavill Developments, this third major new development is the next stage in the urban renewal of Surfers Paradise.  Soul is seen by many as a catalyst for the rejuvenation of the Esplanade precinct, and in Juniper’s recently release concept art is anything to go by, it will mark a great leap forward.

The tower itself, due for completion two years hence is 60% sold.

Just a block away, the (currently) Raptis Group-owned ‘Iluka’ tower remains on the market – the redevelopment of which would further enhance the Surfers Paradise Esplanade.

KordaMentha, who several months ago took over as recievers of embattled Raptis Group’s Southport Central project have announced the completion of structural works on the third, and final, main tower of the development.

With only internal works to be completed in the upper levels of the tower, it is likely that Tower 3 will be open in the first quarter of 2009.

With 199 apartments still available, the remaining challenge it to see the project’s remaining stock sold.

Despite recent statements that pointed towards Brookfield Multiplex assisting the financially troubled Raptis Group in the completion of their two-tower Hilton Hotel and Residences project in central Surfers Paradise, a final agreement is yet to be reached.

One major hurdle at present is around A$2 million worth of infrastructure charges which Raptis and Multiplex representatives are negotiating the deferral of with the Gold Coast City Council.  There are some concerns however, that if deferred (or exempted completely) the charges could be extracted from apartment owners in the future, a situation that some councillors want to avoid.  There are also concerns that leniency in this matter will set a precedent for future developments.

The $2m is slated for public art, a tourist information centre, streetscaping and public security cameras.

At the behest of the project financier, the Commonwealth Bank, City Pacific’s development arm, CP1 has placed the 2.49ha Paradise Resort site, at the northern end of Surfers Paradise, on the market.

Initially a joint venture with Azzura, CP1 took control of the ambitious 4 tower project in May.  Billed as the nation’s first fully themed ‘entertainment resort’, the project may still go ahead in its current form if another developer buys the site and decides to proceed with the existing plan.

Purachsed for $61m in 2004, CP1 are hoping to realise a price in excess of $80m for the site.

It has been confirmed that negotiations are taking place between embattled developer Raptis Group and Brookfield Multiplex over a joint venture to complete the Surfers Paradise Hilton Hotel and Residences.

It was rumoured that Brookfield Multiplex would purchase the project outright, however it appears more likely that Raptis will retain some involvement in the development.

Delfin Lend Lease, who have developed the lion’s share of Varsity Lakes have recently commenced earthworks on the first stage of ‘South Bay’, a new $100m precinct on Christine Avenue.

The 1 hectare site on the southern bank of Lake Orr will include around 150 houses and apartments but will consist mainly of waterfront dining, cafes, retail and commercial space.  Completion of stage one is expected in 2010.