In a court judgment with huge significance for land lease operators, GemLife has gained approval to build its vertical over-50s lifestyle resort on Queensland's Gold Coast.
This will be Australia's first vertical land lease community. GemLife Currumbin Waters will have six three-level buildings and one four-level building, allowing for 205 three-bedroom homes and a multi-million dollar three-level country club, with total cost around $450 million. The buildings have been designed by Gold Coast architects Jared Poole Design.
A significant 70% of the 13.854ha site, which formerly housed a trotting track, will be dedicated to green open space that is preserved and will be rehabilitated, including a 7.7ha parcel that is ultimately handed to Gold Coast City Council as protected public open space. The site neighbours Merv Craig Recreational Park and Sports Ground, Elanora Community Centre and Currumbin Waters Park.
"There is significant demand for quality over-50s living on the southern Gold Coast and the development will help fill a shortage of supply for relaxed yet elevated over-50s apartments on the Gold Coast," a GemLife spokesperson said.
"It will raise the bar for this style of living and, as our first apartment village, is an exciting addition to our portfolio of communities across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria."
Gold Coast City Council rejected the initial GemLife Currumbin Waters proposal of a 340-title village with units spread over 16 buildings in 2018 and the Queensland Planning and Environment Court then rejected Adrian’s appeal in May 2020. Council then rejected a trimmed second proposal for 12 residential towers trimmed, with the footprint shrunk by 2ha, a new buffer zone of at least 200 metres along the creek-front, and 5ha dedicated to the council as public open space.
It was at the LEADERS SUMMIT 2022 when Adrian Puljich, Director and CEO, first told the captivated audience of his plan to develop vertical land lease communities.
Listen to Adrian at LEADERS SUMMIT 2025 on 18 and 19 March where he reveal his "Lessons in land lease communities".
