Gold Coast’s Building Boom: What New Development Projects Will Mean for locals

Works on a half-dozen major residential towers and mixed-use precincts are now underway across the Gold Coast, as developers ramp up new projects in Surfers Paradise and Burleigh Heads. Construction cranes have returned to the skyline from Broadbeach to Labrador, marking the most significant wave of development since pre-pandemic days.

Why the Building Surge Matters Now

This round of projects arrives as locals face price pressure and changing demographics. Median house prices in the region are sitting around $850,000, pushing some would-be buyers out of the market and fuelling strong demand for new apartments tailored to downsizers and investors. The city’s population jumped by nearly 24,000 last year, according to Queensland Government data, straining existing housing stock and public infrastructure.

For residents, these changes mean more choice—but also renewed debate about traffic, local character, and affordability.

New Hotspots: From Mermaid Beach to Broadbeach

Among the most prominent new developments is the Luxe Broadbeach, a 33-storey residential tower under construction on Old Burleigh Road, which is slated to bring 134 apartments to market by late 2027. Just a few blocks north, the long-anticipated Pacific One in Surfers Paradise resumed work in April after several COVID-era delays. The tower, on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, will add 486 apartments, with the first residents expected to move in late next year.

Attention has also shifted to smaller boutique projects in suburbs such as Mermaid Beach and Palm Beach, where developers are capitalising on demand from older Gold Coasters looking to downsize. Robina’s City Village continues to expand, and the city council recently greenlit a $140 million mixed-use precinct on Scarborough Street in Southport, earmarked for retail, commercial, and health services as well as apartments.

The new attention coincides with a burst of investment in supportive infrastructure. In May, the city confirmed plans for a new G:link tram station near Mermaid Beach, supporting both daily commuters and tourism numbers, which have rebounded to 2019 levels according to Destination Gold Coast.

What the Data Shows—and What Comes Next

Weekly REIQ figures reveal that as of July 1, buyer enquiry volumes for off-the-plan apartments jumped 17% year-on-year across the Gold Coast, with the strongest increases in Burleigh Heads, Southport and Hope Island. Meanwhile, rental vacancy rates remain among the lowest in Queensland at 0.8%, pushing median weekly rents for two-bedroom apartments in Surfers Paradise to $695, as per CoreLogic’s June report.

Industry watchers say this construction surge will begin to improve housing supply, but caution that meaningful affordability relief may still be a few years away. Buyers considering new projects should look closely at expected body corporate fees and completion timelines, with some builds not due until 2028. Locals are advised to keep a close eye on council planning notifications, as more infill projects are likely to enter the pipeline this summer around the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.

With cranes back in the sky and blocks of display suite appointments booking out, Gold Coasters can expect continued change along the city’s prized coastline and growth corridors. The next 18 months will reveal how these new homes—and the residents who fill them—reshape the city’s future.