To anyone who knows Surfers Paradise well, you will have known the Iluka Building on the Beachfront.The building has been demolished and all that remains are the 3 Rocks of Iluka on the Trickett Street corner. I have been involved with Surfers Paradise since I visited my Uncles squash court in Beach Road as a lad back in the fiftys. And then to managing the Nefertiti Hair Salon in Paradise Towers in the 70's onwards.
The new monster high rise rubber stamped by some invisible men really bothers.A small site, the mooted building is 88 levels high. To provide parking for all these apartments the plan is to excavate down 12 levels. An unprecedented level for this town. Water table is about 2 levels down.
All my local contacts say they hate it, but " what can they do". " He " wants it, and can't be challenged. Such apathy really concerns.
The new building is so big, with a massive 5 level podium for shops. No landscaping on the ground level, and definitely no room for any trees or landscaping. It will extend up to the 3 Rocks of Iluka.That is, all of the site
. The old building was no work of art, but it's turquoise swimming pool and coconut palms did make it look attractive from Hanlan Street. And with very little shadow.
Such a rare site for redevelopment comes along once in a lifetime. And yet, there has been no public input, and no alternative designs.
This will be great for the developer but will not aid in beautifying the beachfront vista. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to me, although the building does have great lines, it's sheer size and proximity to the Surfers International building next door will be terrifying.
A new master plan for the future of Surfers Paradise needs to be gazetted. Leaving it to developers is just plain crazy.
Anyone got any thoughts? Kent
