Gold Coast NEWS!!

[lotec]

Those ceilings look pretty low for a high end residence.

[finn]

Originally Posted by nathandavid88

Talk about decadence...or kitchiness! And apparently it doesn't need presales to be built!

Wow, looks truly hideous!

[nathandavid88]

It's not really my cup of tea either to be honest. For the sort of money thrown around in that article, I'd rather get a nicely restored old Queenslander in inner suburbs Brisbane.

[nathandavid88]

Plan to re-route the highway at Southport to double the size of the Broadwater Parklands... interesting idea to say the least!

Plan to double Broadwater Parklands
Shannon Willoughby, chief reporter | April 10th, 2013


There are plans to expand Broadwater Parklands. Pic: Brendan Radke

THE Gold Coast Highway at Southport could be re-routed, doubling the size of the Broadwater Parklands to allow it to host events as large as the Big Day Out and the Gold Coast Show.

Secret plans envisage the Gold Coast Highway repositioned to Marine Pde, directly in front of Australia Fair, a move which would see the parklands transformed in to a "world-class" waterfront entertainment precinct.

The Committee for Southport has had the plans drawn up and is lobbying the State Government for approval before the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

It estimates the cost of diverting the highway and expanding Broadwater Parklands at $100 million.

The proposal comes as the redevelopment of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre continues and the next stage of the Broadwater Parklands is under consideration.

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Committee chairman John Howe, the engineer who designed the V8 track at Surfers Paradise, said reshaping the highway would bring major benefits to the region.

"This could be one of the world's greatest entertainment precincts," he said.

"It would more than double the venue, which already attracts 10,000 during the weekend of the V8 Supercars when it hosts the rock concert," he said.

"This would be a major win for the local community.

"This could be part of the legacy left from the Commonwealth Games.

"We support what the council did to the northern end of the Parklands and we'd like to see the southern end transformed."

Both the BDO and Gold Coast Show have been left homeless as Parklands Showgrounds is being handed over to the State Government to make way for the Commonwealth Games athletes' village.

The Bulletin understands the BDO is just "days" from making an announcement about its new home after signing a five-year deal to stay on the Gold Coast.

It is understood it is supportive of the Broadwater as a future location.

Show society president Dennis Standfield said he would support a move to the Broadwater Parklands if the highway was reshaped.

He said the show would like to secure a long-term home and in the interim would reshape its size depending on the temporary venues available.

The society was already in discussions with the Gold Coast Turf Club about the possibility of the show being held at the Bundall racing precinct.

But that could be years away, leaving the show to look for a "stop-gap" venue, which could include the existing Broadwater Parklands precinct.

A small-scale show could be held at Southport in 2014 as negotiations continue over a permanent home.

Gold Coast Turf Club boss Grant Sheather confirmed early negotiations into the feasibility of the relocation had begun.

The new evaluation will look at cost and what infrastructure would be needed for the show to set up a permanent home at the turf club.

Mr Sheather said the club was interested in becoming a multi-purpose venue.

It is understood a full-scale plan could take "two to three years".

Source: GC Bulletin

[matthew abner]

Police probe Gold Coast deaths

Police will return to a Gold Coast home on Saturday where a mother and son were found dead. The man, 28, was found inside the family's Ashmore home on Friday morning and emergency teams found his mother, 53, inside the car.

Police are treating the deaths as suspicious, but no one else is believed to be involved.

Regional Crime Coordinator Brian Swan told reporters there were no obvious signs of violence but it was too early to determine what had happened.

[crazylad2]

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, SOUTHPORT, GOLDCOAST

[crazylad2]

GOLD COAST UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, GC

[nathandavid88]

Looks like the Iluka's days are numbered...

Surfers highrise demolition on the cards
Shannon Willoughby, chief reporter | 12:01am April 30, 2013

THE crumbling Iluka tower in Surfers Paradise could be demolished as early as next month.

Once a beach front popular holiday resort, the empty, derelict tower in the heart of the city's flagship tourism precinct is set to come down with parts of the building already being dismantled.

The Bulletin understands its demolition could be as early as May, with receivers then set to appoint an agent to market the site.

Receivers Ernst & Young, which took control of the building at the behest of Suncorp following the collapse of a company linked to former owner Jim Raptis, have not been able to sell the site it with the building on it.

It is understood the the bank was owed more than the price buyers were willing to pay for the building at the time it was last on the market.

Safety concerns have also been flagged as a reason for the 41-year-old building is being demolished with workers already sealing off the building and removing some of the structure.

Sources say the building's demolition needs to happen soon, with parts "crumbling" from the tower.

Surfers Paradise councillor Lex Bell confirmed that the building would come down, saying May was the likely month.

The Bulletin understands the demolition will be a "piece by piece" process and could cost around $1 million.

Since it was emptied, the building -- which has a colourful history, once the home of nightclub Billy's Beach House -- has become a graffiti hotspot and an eyesore in the precinct.

In 2007, the 16-storey, 72-apartment building was gutted to be knocked down to make way for Raptis Group's $750 million, 57-level highrise proposal.

Following Mr Raptis's exit, the rumoured price tags for the site started from about $45 million.

It is understood there are a number of buyers who have looked at the site, including two with Chinese links.

Cr Bell said Surfers Paradise would be better off without the building.

"It has certainly become an eyesore, but the owners have done nothing wrong with the way it has been kept," he said.

"We had people go in and inspect it. At one stage there was a concern about the pool because it was overflowing and we were worried about a mosquito outbreak.

"Technically, they are complying with the regulations."

Source: GC Bulletin

[Dimethyltryptamine]

Southport to be official CBD

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...-business.html


SOUTHPORT has been earmarked to become the Gold Coast's official CBD after council voted to request the suburb be classified a Priority Development Area (PDA).

Mayor Tom Tate will write to the State Government to request that Southport be classified as a PDA which would allow for the fast-tracking of development within the area and stop appeal rights for developments in the precinct. If accepted, it would be the first PDA for Queensland encompassing a CBD.

"If the state accepts my request, the first step will be to create a true CBD in Southport, which would include the old hospital site and the proposed Chinatown precinct," said Cr Tate.

"The creation of a PDA will not only cut red tape and streamline development decisions, it will create capacity for jobs and developer confidence for the area."

Southport MP Rob Molhoek said the move, if ticked off, would pave the way for development to go ahead before the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"It means we are well positioned over the next four to five years to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the Commonwealth Games, the light rail and the old Gold Coast Hospital site," he said.

[nathandavid88]

Apparently a bit of polish is to be applied to Marina Mirage!

New owner has big plans for Marina Mirage

Jenny Rogers | May 3rd, 2013


NEW Marina Mirage owner Con Makris intends to "polish" what he describes as the jewel in the Gold Coast's retail crown.

South Australia's richest man said yesterday that he had big plans for the centre but they did not involve changing it.

"It's not long had $40 million spent on improvements but it's a bit tarnished," he said.

"We intend to give it a bit of polish and bring it back to the standard that existed when Christopher Skase opened it, or even better.

"My wife and I have travelled the world and Marina Mirage is a truly unique property that needs to be harnessed and protected."

Mr Makris said Marina Mirage would turn 25 this year "and we'll have a big party".

"I'd like to invite Mr Skase's widow, Pixie, to celebrate what they achieved with the centre," he said.

Mr Makris's wife Carol is to play an integral part in improving Marina Mirage and attracting shoppers and diners.

She said yesterday that she was in the process of selecting and ordering Christmas decorations.

The couple first visited Marina Mirage more than 20 years ago and were frequently seen there for several years when they holidayed on their boat Lady Carol at the marina in front of the centre.

Mr Makris, whose first job in Australia was in 1965 when he worked in an Adelaide whitegoods factory, said Marina Mirage was on the verge of attracting two new international tenants.

"I try to get the best tenants and to look after them," he said.

"I class myself as one of the best landlords in Australia.

"My tenants are my partners.

"I work to attract people to my centres, which enables the tenants to make money, which means I make money and then my banks make money."

Marina Mirage, built by Mr Skase's Quintex group in the late 1980s and an adjunct to the Sheraton Mirage Hotel, was bought by Mr Makris for $52 million in a deal that settled yesterday.

Its sale was ordered by receivers.

The centre was remodelled and enlarged in 2009 by then owner the Fenix group.

Its international tenancy list includes Tommy Bahama, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Hermes.

Mr Makris has become Mr Positive about the Gold Coast. He is already looking for other "destination'' retail centres in the tourist capital.

He said he had also made a $50 million-plus offer for the retail-office area at Broadbeach's The Oracle, a project he described as fabulous.

Read more about Mr Makris, his Broadbeach offer, why he rates the Gold Coast so highly and his thoughts on a cruise ship terminal in today's Bulletin.

[Dimethyltryptamine]

Chinese billionaire looks to Coast for HQ

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...oast-news.html

THE Gold Coast is in the race to become the global headquarters for a Chinese multi-billionaire who made his fortune from instant noodles.

Guancheng Li, from Guangzhou in Guangdong province, was on the Gold Coast yesterday exploring opportunities and locations for a "global headquarters" for his company.

On Thursday he had a three-hour meeting with Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and Treasurer Tim Nichols, and met separately with Southport MP Rob Molhoek.

He is considering opening an Australian arm of his company, Liguangcheng Investment Management Group Limited, in either Queensland or NSW and will today spend time in Sydney meeting state government officials.

Mr Li's business, which in China employs 20,000 people, has expanded from instant noodles to glass manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, investment, engineering and printing.

He wants to replicate his business in China on Australia's east coast, with a desire to build a 40-storey tower to house his operations and employees.

"I want to use Australia for my base to the rest of the world because of its closeness to the east and its cultural similarities of the west," he said.

Mr Li said he is exploring opportunities in infrastructure to and from the mines, and food manufacturing from the ground up to the packaging.

"We want to bring the value-add concepts to the country where we get what comes out of the ground and take it to the end user," he said, plus would also like to explore partnership opportunities with different levels of government.

"Less regulation and subsidies, payroll tax and incentives are what we are talking with governments about."

Mr Molhoek said there was huge interest from the State Government in Chinese investment in the region.

"We are trying to throw the lasso over as many companies as we can," he said.

Mr Molhoek took Mr Li's group for a walk on Main Beach before breakfast at the Marriott.

"I thought while they're here there is no harm in showing them the Gold Coast," he said.

"Walking on the beach here is a lot nicer than Circular Quay."

He said Southport's Chinatown needed a large tenant, such as Mr Li's company, to flourish.

[Dimethyltryptamine]

Hilton Surfers Paradise sales surge

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...oast-news.html


ONE of the towers in the $700 million Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel is close to a sellout and the second has only a handful of apartments left for sale.

Buyers cashing in on price cuts of more than 30 per cent have seen sales of more than $51 million in the landmark dual-tower development since January.

In total, 65 apartments have sold in the Hilton since the start of the year for an average price of $827,000.

Much of the international interest has come from Chinese and Russian buyers, who are picking up apartments to use as holiday homes or investments.

Victorians seeking to flee the colder weather have also been behind the last-minute sales surge.

Agents said a lot more locals were also snapping up apartments and clearing out the entry-level stock.

The Boulevard Tower is close to a sell-out, with the final eight apartments in the 32-level tower, which features 186 residences, now selling from between $665,000 and $810,000.

With a big surge in sales to entry-level buyers, there are now no one-bedroom apartments left in the tower.

There are only a limited number of two and three-bedroom apartments left in the Orchid Tower, which comprises the 169-room hotel and 224 residences, and three and four-bedroom Sky Homes which are selling from $1.7 million.

The last of four sub-penthouses is on the market for $2.75 million.

The two penthouses are still available, with price on application.

Peter Malady, managing director of 360 Project Marketing, which is marketing the apartments, said the Hilton Surfers Paradise had consistently attracted strong interest since its launch to the market, but there had been a significant sales spike in recent months.

"It has had an incredibly solid performance to kick-start the year on the back of the strongest summer sales period since the global financial crisis (GFC)," he said.

"The level of inquiry has sky rocketed on the back of this sale and we expect to see the final apartments in the Boulevard Tower sell quickly.

"Much of the activity over the last 12 months has been price related, but as the entry-level stock was the first to be snapped up, the entry-level prices have been escalating rapidly, bringing with it a sense of urgency."

He said price cuts of up to 36 per cent had helped stimulate buyer activity last year, but there seemed to be renewed confidence in the market.

"Astute buyers who realise that there is a looming undersupply of new apartment stock in Surfers Paradise, have also been coming out in force in recent months," he said.

[lowey]

i took some pics of a new project starting at kirra
it is on the corner of haig and musgrave st if anyone has any info on thiss project feel free to add a new thread and use these iccies if you like

image hosted on flickr

DSC01958 by lowey86, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

DSC01957 by lowey86, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

DSC01960 by lowey86, on Flickr

[finn]

Originally Posted by lowey

i took some pics of a new project starting at kirra
it is on the corner of haig and musgrave st if anyone has any info on thiss project feel free to add a new thread and use these iccies if you like

image hosted on flickr

DSC01958 by lowey86, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

DSC01957 by lowey86, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

DSC01960 by lowey86, on Flickr

Thanks lowey, those pics would be of this development, Pure Kirra:

[Dimethyltryptamine]

Plan date for Chinatown precinct

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...oast-news.html

THE masterplan for the Gold Coast Chinatown redevelopment is set to be launched in mid-July.

Committee members and council representatives met in a closed meeting last week.

Chinatown chairman Ted Fong said the masterplan launch had been pushed back from its original June date, as meetings with urban planners from China and Taipei had added new vision to the plans.

"Last week's workshops with urban planners from our Gold Coast sister cities Zhuhai in China's south and Taipei in Taiwan were very successful," Mr Fong said.

"More than 40 people, including major Tom Tate, committee and council members, local businesses and state representatives, attended the one-day workshop.

"Ideas we discussed were very valuable, and will make the plans even better," he added.

A Chinatown committee spokeswoman confirmed the launch will take place in the week starting Friday July 12.

"On Friday we will close sections of Davenport and Young Sts to host a night-time family event. There will also be another launch event on the Saturday," she said.

"Later that week a digital 3D display of the China Town masterplan will be installed in a shopfront in Australia Fair, for families to interact with."

However, Chinatown's chairman said details of the launch events were still yet to be confirmed.

More than $2.4 m in funding, with another $1.1 m in the pipeline, has been set aside by the state government to develop Southport's Chinatown.

The project is due for completion mid-2014. "We've been working on this for 18 months," said MP Rob Molhoek, assistant planning minister.

[nathandavid88]

Bye bye eye!

Mexico-bound Surfers Eye dismantled
Jessica Elder | May 22nd, 2013


The Surfers Paradise Eye wheel is being dismantled and will be gone by next week. Pic: Scott Fletcher

THE Surfers Paradise Eye has taken its last spin.

The controversial attraction, plagued with problems for the past five years, will be pulled to pieces and shipped to Mexico after reportedly costing management $800,000 in the past year.

Work began on dismantling the wheel atop the Surfers Paradise Transit Centre yesterday.

The carriages are being removed and next week cranes are expected to close half of Beach Rd while the 60m main frame is pulled apart.

Plans for the wheel to be built in Surfers Paradise surfaced in 2008, but it took two years of battles with council before former operator Ken Jackson was given the green light.

Since opening in September, 2010 the attraction has faced further hurdles, including a legal battle between the owner of the wheel and the operator.

Surfers Paradise Alliance boss Mike Winlaw said it was a shame to see the wheel go.

He said Greg O'Neill took control of the wheel from Ken Jackson in 2012 and would continue to operate the wheel in its new Mexico location from his Gold Coast home.

"The wheel proved unviable so management is moving it on," he said. "Most attractions like this have a life span but it had become a real Surfers Paradise landmark, so it will be disappointing to lose it."

Mr Winlaw said the site on top of the transit centre would remain empty for three years.

"There are plans to merge the transit centre roof with Neal Shannon Park above the Bruce Bishop Carpark for functions and entertainment," he said.

"The plans are part of the '4217 development' concept and will really revitalise the under-used green space in that area."

Motorists are advised to avoid Beach Rd early next week.

Source: GC Bulletin