Gold Coast notes Main Beach refusal as Palm Beach project gets green light

The City of Gold Coast has approved a major mixed-use project at 6, 8, 10 and 12 Sixth Avenue, Palm Beach, while formally noting that a separate 10-unit proposal at 15 Cunningham Avenue, Main Beach, was refused under delegation on 20 January 2026. The Palm Beach decision was carried at Tuesday’s Planning and Regulation Committee meeting, with Cr J Martin voting against it.

The approved Palm Beach permit covers multiple dwellings, short-term accommodation, a food and drink outlet, a shop and an office. It is for 125 dwellings and 125 short-term accommodation dwellings, with the committee approving the permit with conditions and the property notifications set out in Attachment 1.

The committee also endorsed the Local Growth Management Strategy after a tied vote. The changed recommendation passed on the Chair’s casting vote after a 4-4 division. Cr M Hammel, Cr P Young, Cr B Patterson and Cr G O’Neill voted for it, while Cr D Doran, Cr N Fowler, Cr D Gates and Cr J Martin voted against.

The minutes describe the strategy as a strategic, non-statutory document to inform current and future planning schemes. The committee noted the Local Growth Management Strategy technical report, the outcomes of the Growth Matters engagement and the need for the strategy to be reviewed and updated over the life of the city’s planning schemes.

It also backed phased engagement and communications for the strategy, including tailored divisional information and messaging to be prepared with councillors. The changed recommendation says councillors will have further feedback opportunities at a more granular level on division-specific matters once the new planning scheme process starts.

On flood planning, the committee authorised the chief executive officer or delegate to notify the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning of the city’s intention to withdraw the separate City Plan major amendment for Designing for Flood. Officers were told to stop work on that amendment and progress Designing for Flood through the new planning scheme, with revisions to address workability concerns.

The committee also noted progress on the new Planning Scheme Program. It asked the Executive General Manager Planning, Regulation and Service Gold Coast to liaise with the Queensland State Planner to organise briefings for state officers, Gold Coast Members of Parliament and divisional councillors, with an update to return to the committee.

The Local Growth Management Strategy will also come back within six months of the new planning scheme coming into effect, with updates that reflect endorsed policy positions and a proposed frequency and governance framework for future updates.