The Spit
$1.3 billion in new projects for The Spit marine and tourism playground.
One of the last untouched coastal holdings is The Spit, an area of 201ha on the northern stretch of the Gold Coast’s beaches. With stunning parklands, secluded bays and surf beaches, The Spit is home to some of Australia’s most prestigious leisure, hospitality and marine establishments. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Broadwater, it is a key destination set to mature over the coming years with $1 billion in new tourism product in the pipeline.
The Queensland Government has led the development of The Spit Master Plan, released in May 2019. It provides a shared vision for the long-term future of the area encouraging a strong pipeline of jobs and investment, while ensuring the protection and enhancement of public open spaces.
The desire to preserve 138ha of green space is being balanced with the release of development site opportunities to create a vibrant Village Centre. These sites will build upon the existing world-class assets in the area including the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Imperial Hotel Gold Coast (formerly Palazzo Versace), Sea World, Marina Mirage and the Southport Yacht Club.
The Master Plan also delivers new land development opportunities to grow investment and jobs on The Spit. As the first commercial land releases on The Spit since the late 1990s, these sites present excellent opportunities for investors to help contribute to an internationally significant destination. This includes sites suitable for mixed-use resort, tourism, retail, hospitality and marina developments.
These opportunities cater for big and small businesses focused on tourism and recreation. One opportunity is the Village Centre South site which has received approval for Australia’s first dedicated superyacht marina and waterfront residences project, Mantaray Marina.
This $300 million development includes a 67-berth marina with berths suitable for superyachts. It will also provide 24 luxury waterfront residences, luxury resort facilities, an exclusive private club lounge, and ground floor retail and dining experiences. The successful proponent, Gordon Corporation Pty Ltd, estimates that the project will support more than 300 jobs during its two-year construction phase and more than 100 jobs when fully operational.
Marina Mirage has a proposed $500 million redevelopment, retaining the iconic sails and complementing the recently refurbished superyacht marina with a 110-room luxury hotel, 90 residences and a retail and dining precinct with designer boutiques, lifestyle stores and waterfront restaurants.
Further investment at The Spit includes the $480 million development of a Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Mariner’s Cove. As well as the hotel, it will include a floating beach club, high-end retail with over 5000m2 of food and beverage, luxurious day spa and wellbeing centre, and a superyacht marina. It will be only the third Ritz-Carlton hotel in Australia and adds to the number of global luxury accommodation brands on the Gold Coast.
These developments highlight both the City’s commitment to continue to sustainably develop The Spit as well as the growing opportunities and demand for high-end tourism infrastructure.
