APG have begun marketing their new development to be built on the old Volare restaurant site on the Gold Coast Highway in northern Broadbeach.  Details are still incomplete, but the project is expected to comprise 1+ study and 2 bedroom apartments with pricing indications from $439,000.

Following the successfull sell-out of The Parc at Tugun, and with only a few townhouses remaining for sale at the (still uncompleted) Cassia development in Merrimac, Sunland are preparing to launch their next townhouse project, in The Glades precinct in Robina.  The move underscores the resilience of the middle property market, and highlights the local developer’s shift from highrise back to housing developments.

At the recent UDIA Awards For Excellence, local development Allisee has taken away the gong for QLD’s best multi-level development.  Stockland’s $259m project on the waterfront at Hollywell features a private marina and resort facilities and just under 200 2 & 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses.

It has long been agreed that a new bridge between Hope Island and Paradise Point will be required to keep track with population growth, and to provide additional work to the local construction area.  After past postponements, Mayor Ron Clark has requested that the Gold Coast City Council CEO “bring back a report as soon as possible outlining design, tendering and construction for the initial two lanes for the [proposed 4-lane] bridge, including detailed options for its finance.”

The report is due in early November, and is likely to look at commencing works in the near future, as part of the Council’s economic stimulus package.

While numbers have fallen since the days of the Gold Coast Indy, this years Gold Coast 600 still managed to draw large crowds and provide a big boost to the local economy.  Trackside accommodation was filled, and in general occupancy rates across Main Beach, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach saw a big increase for the three-day motorsport event.  There was concern that the new V8-based format would fail to attract public interest, but on the whole, the event exceeded many predictions and expectations.

The number of high rise apartments on the market has fallen from 1296 to 839 over the last 12 months, according to the latest Midwood Queensland Investment Report.  This is the lowest the figure has been since around 2004.  The fall is largely attributed to a reduction in the number of apartments being built on the Gold Coast – with development approvals having fallen consistently in recent years and the market remaining relatively flat.

Potter Group’s proposed 52-storey apartment building is receiving some opposition from the traders in the area surrounding Main Place where it is slated to be built.  Positioned opposite the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, as well as a future Rapid Transit stop, the developer sees the central Broadbeach transport hub as an obvious choice for increasing height and density, however at 52 storeys, the tower would be the tallest in Broadbeach, eclipsing The Oracle’s Beach Tower at 50 storeys and exceeds Local Area Plan requirements.

A period of consultation with the public and Council will take place, which could lead to a reduction in the height and density of the development.

Ridong Gold Coast Developments, the comapny behind Pacific Beach – a $1bn luxury high rise development to be built on the Surfers Paradise beachfront – has brought in three overseas architects to assist with the building’s design.

The firms, Oppenheim Architecture and Design, Marks Barfield Architects and Llewelyn Davies Yeang from the US, UK & Malaysia respectively, are refining the DBI Design concept plans for the project.  Construction itself remains some way off however, with the developer in the process of refurbishing several of the buildings on the site with a view to renting them out in the short term, while plans are prepared and lodged with Council.

Westfield, the driving force behind the $1bn Coomera Town Centre project has indicated that it’s development application will be lodged with Council after mid-2011. Myer, one of the key tenants has already announced that it would like to be operating by 2013.

Designed as a transport hub, as well as shopping destination, the 150+ store centre will be built near Coomera Train Station on a 35 hectare parcel of land on Foxwell Road.  If the DA is lodged next year, construction could be underway as soon as 2012.

The Queensland Government is changing its stance on the redevelopment potential of the 3 hectares of beachside land currently occupied by the Broadbeach State Primary School.

While the previous line was that no redevelopment could take place unless student numbers were consistently in decline, Education Queensland has conducted an asset managment study which outlined the sale of part of the site as a possible option.

Under the plan, which could include a highrise up to 50 storeys in height, part of the new building would be used by the school, with the remainder forming residential units and possibly some commercial space.  The idea is new to Australia, but in practise in numerous cities overseas.