Commonwealth Games Village wins DA approval

 The Gold Coast is a step closer to 1,500 new construction jobs following the approval of Grocon’s development application for the Commonwealth Games Village.

 Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the development approval was a major milestone for the project and great news for Gold Coast workers and their families.

“The approval for the Parklands redevelopment is an important next step in delivering a project worth an estimated $500 million to the Gold Coast,” Mr Seeney said.

“The 2018 Commonwealth Games will provide a huge boost to construction and tourism on the Gold Coast, as well as lasting legacies for the city.”

More than 1,500 jobs will be created during construction of the village, which has been designed as a vibrant mixed-use community development, to be integrated with the existing Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.

“Building the Commonwealth Games Village delivers on our promise to provide better infrastructure, jobs and prosperity for Queensland families,” Mr Seeney said.

Grocon is set to build the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Village on seven hectares of the 29-hectare Parklands site, with a further seven hectares dedicated to parks and open space.

The Commonwealth Games Village will provide essential services and accommodation for around 6,500 athletes and officials during the games.

A number of stakeholders were involved in the development application assessment process, including the City of Gold Coast Council, Economic Development Queensland and the Queensland Government Architect.

Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey welcomed Grocon’s development approval.

“The Commonwealth Games Village is the largest piece of infrastructure for the games and will be a hub for our city during and long after 2018,” Ms Stuckey said.

“The eyes of the Commonwealth will shortly be in the Gold Coast. Important milestones such as this show how our strong plan will deliver the best Commonwealth Games on record.”

Grocon Chief Executive Officer Carolyn Viney said the approval paved the way for a major transformation of the Parklands site.

“The Commonwealth Games Village is of world-class design and will see a highly-desirable lifestyle and supporting infrastructure built for a vibrant new community on the Gold Coast,” Ms Viney said.

“The project will include 1200 permanent apartments and townhouses across 30 buildings ranging up to nine levels in height.

“The development will include a neighbourhood retail centre, village heart and active main street, plus a seven hectare park as the main recreational feature of the precinct.”  

Construction of the Commonwealth Games Village is expected to start next year.

[ENDS] 4 July 2014

Media Contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Elizabeth Spry 0418 928 744