Gold Coast’s New Wave of Development: What Projects Like Broadbeach South and The Star Towers Mean for Locals

Cranes are crowding the Gold Coast skyline again, with three major developments breaking ground this winter — a $500 million high-rise near Broadbeach South station, the third tower at The Star Gold Coast, and a new boutique enclave on Surf Parade. These projects mark the largest collective investment in the city’s built landscape since pre-pandemic times, and locals can expect to see changes as soon as summer 2027.

Property Pulse: Why New Projects Now?

After an 18-month period of slowing approvals, rising constructions costs and cautious investors, confidence is rebounding in the wake of Queensland’s robust tourism figures and renewed interest from downsizers and interstate buyers. According to the City of Gold Coast’s latest quarterly report, planning application volume shot up 22% year-on-year for the March 2026 quarter. Developers are betting big that the city’s coveted mix of lifestyle, location, and growing international recognition will turn new stock into strong returns.

The $500 million Qube Broadbeach project on Gold Coast Highway, led by Morris Property Group, is among the headline acts. When finished in late 2028, it will deliver 205 apartments and a suite of ground-level hospitality tenancies opposite Pacific Fair. Nearby, the next stage of The Star Residences is forging ahead at Casino Drive, with a 63-storey tower set to join the precinct’s existing skyline and add 450 new apartments, plus an expanded public promenade.

Smaller but no less significant, the new Elanora Villas on the former golf course site at Doubleview Drive is quietly attracting downsizer attention. With just 16 luxury homes and direct access to walking paths stretching toward Currumbin Creek, the project’s $2.3 million starting price has earned surprise in a suburb previously best known for its established family houses.

Rising Prices, Shifting Demand

Median home values on the Gold Coast now hover at $849,000, CoreLogic figures from June show, but these new projects are pushing premiums higher where supply is limited. Off-the-plan apartments in Surfers Paradise’s La Vida project on The Esplanade hit $1.35 million for two-bedroom units as of this week. Developers say they’re targeting both local downsizers from Mermaid Beach and import buyers from NSW looking for a holiday base with strong rental prospects.

City planners warn that while over 2,900 apartments are now in the local pipeline — most clustered between Broadbeach South and Burleigh Heads — immediate supply will remain tight until at least mid-2027. Short construction timelines on the smaller boutique projects mean some buyers could see settlement in as little as 20 months, but the major towers won’t deliver keys until the end of the decade.

Transport links are central to every new plan. The completion of light rail Stage 3 by mid-2027, connecting Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads, is expected to add significant appeal to sites adjacent to the new Burleigh Waters and Miami stations. Property analysts believe rents in these areas could rise 8–10% when faster citywide access becomes a reality.

What’s Next: Navigating the New Gold Coast

Locals watching these projects progress should pay close attention to pre-launch apartment sales periods, when developers typically offer incentives and the broadest range of floorplans. Savvy buyers may also consider looking outside traditional hotspots: Coolangatta and Southport both have DA-approved projects coming online by late 2027, with prices still below the city median. City of Gold Coast’s development map, updated fortnightly, tracks major builds and timelines for community feedback. As demand outpaces supply — at least for the next two years — competition will be stiff, but the arrival of new homes and amenities is set to ripple across the southern suburbs.