Veteran property developer Norm Ric is criticizing the Gold Coast council and state government over a rapid increase in high-rise apartment towers [1].
The dispute highlights a growing tension between urban densification and the preservation of city livability. As the Surfers Paradise precinct continues to grow vertically, critics argue that the infrastructure cannot support the resulting population surge.
Ric warns that the current trajectory of development is creating a landscape similar to Hong Kong [1]. He said that the proliferation of towers is transforming the area into a series of concrete canyons, which may permanently alter the character of the region [1].
Traffic congestion is a primary concern in this shift. Ric said that the increase in high-density housing is leading to worsening road conditions and a loss of overall livability for residents [1].
Des Houghton, a columnist for the Courier Mail, highlighted these concerns in a report on the developer's stance [1]. Houghton said that Ric believes the Gold Coast has become like Hong Kong with concrete canyons and he fears for the worst [1].
The criticism is directed at both the local council and the state government for their roles in approving and facilitating the rapid expansion of high-rise buildings [1]. The developer said that the current pace of growth is unsustainable for the city's existing layout.
This pushback comes as the Gold Coast continues to be a primary target for residential investment, often resulting in a conflict between economic development and urban planning standards [1].
“The Gold Coast has become like Hong Kong with concrete canyons”
The criticism from a veteran developer suggests a shift in the industry's perspective on urban density. When developers themselves warn against 'concrete canyons,' it indicates that the perceived limit of infrastructure capacity in Surfers Paradise may have been reached, potentially signaling a future pivot toward more sustainable or lower-density planning requirements to avoid total gridlock.
