Amy Remeikis reports in the Brisbane Times (6.4.16) on the state government’s confirmation of support for the ‘Jewel’ luxury resort development at Surfers Paradise. The billion-dollar development proposal for the Gold Coast had previously attracted criticisms of the approvals process which saw a high-profile Chinese conglomerate awarded the prime beachfront site.
‘The fight for Chinese tourism dollars is at the centre of a billion-dollar resort investment on the Gold Coast.
‘Work had already begun on the site where Jewel, the first beachfront resort development to be built on the Gold Coast in about 30 years, will tower over surf and sand, when acting Premier Jackie Trad and Tourism Minister Kate Jones joined a Chinese consortium delegation and their chosen developer to formalise the construction agreement.
‘Wanda Ridong Group, a joint venture between the Dalian Wanda Group, owned by China’s richest man, Wang Jianlin, and Ridong, chose Brookfield Multiplex to construct the three-tower resort, which will see 512 residential apartments, a five-star hotel with 169 suites and a “high end” retail and dining precinct, spring forth from 130 metres of Surfers Paradise beachfront.
‘The project was fast-tracked by the state government in 2012, with work beginning mid last year.’