Plans to build a $1 billion dollar resort and residential apartments on the Gold Coast have been approved after a lengthy deliberation by Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney.

The resort named The Jewel will aim to reach a 5 star NABERS rating through sustainability practices such as the incorporation of a cogeneration plant to recycle building energy and reduce power consumption as well as long term graphite storage of building energy and mixed mode ventilation to maximise natural cooling and heating.

The hotel will be divided into three towers with the tallest being 45 storeys.

The proposed project will be developed by RDG with backing by the Chinese based Ridong Group.

Image courtesy of RDG

Seeney said of the decision:

“There is a billion dollar investment at stake here and more than 3,000 jobs were riding on the outcome – the jobs of the 2,500 construction workers and the 670 hospitality staff and other workers who will build, operate and occupy this development."

The architecture for the Jewel has been a colloaboration between Gold Coast based DBI Design and Oppenheim which is based in Miami, Florida.

Seeney said that the realisation of the architecture is one of 124 conditions of his approval.

“I have included conditions requiring architectural certification to ensure that the design philosophy and design intent evolves as approved,” he said.

“Conditions also require landscaping and acoustic treatments to ensure the potential noise and privacy impacts on neighbouring properties are reduced,” he said.