Mixed feelings as ‘great shadow over Southport’ given go ahead to become Southern Hemisphere’s tallest tower

The Gold Coast will soon be home to the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere after an ambitious building project was given the green light.

Construction is due to begin next year on the 101-storey One Park Lane tower.

Situated next to Southport bowls and tennis clubs, the vision for One Park Lane was first revealed in August 2022.

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The build, consisting of two connecting buildings, will tower over Australia’s current tallest buildings, the Q1 in Surfers Paradise and the Eureka Tower in Melbourne.

At 400m, One Park Lane will also be the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, beating the current tallest building in Jakarta, Indonesia, which stands about 382m.

Developers said the build will contain a luxury sprawling three-storey penthouse, sky lounge, restaurant, function space and bar.

A massive 198 residential apartments will be fitted into the taller building, while an adjoining 60-storey commercial office building will connect via a sky bridge. The tower will cost $700 million to build.

“The towers of One Park Lane will stand together as an unparalleled landmark and a gateway to Southport’s newly imagined CBD,” the One Park Lane developer said on its website.

“Designed by renowned architects BKK, the modern and slender spires will transcend the skyline.

“Without question, the most striking feature of One Park Lane is the height, as the buildings tower over the Gold Coast skyline.”

The new buildings will dominate the skyline and tower over the surrounding structures. Credit: SuppliedThe towers will be connected via a sky bridge. Credit: Supplied

Not everyone is excited by the build, with Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow previously telling the ABC construction would cause traffic chaos.

“The whole thing won’t work, it’s as simple as that,” she said.

“They’re not looking at the area, they are not talking to the people — they are just looking at pretty pictures. It’s a mess.”

Gold Coast residents have also voiced scepticism about the build as developments in the area continue to ramp up, including the construction of a new stadium for the Olympics.

“How will these luxury Airbnb towers for wealthy and foreign investors solve the affordable housing and rental crisis and homelessness in the city?… I will give you the heads-up, they don’t,” one person posted online.

“Who are these towers built for, struggling Australian families?” another person questioned.

“The Great shadow over Southport CBD,” another person commented.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate and councillor Brooke Patterson have both publicly backed the project.

“This is going to be a game-changer,” Patterson said in a video posted to her social media.

“Though it is a change.”