Community stakeholder resolution paves way for new multi-billion dollar Gold Coast Turf Club precinct
One of the Gold Coast’s most significant master-planned projects has been given the green light to proceed, with the Gold Coast Turf Club, in partnership with Aquis Australia, forging ahead with its billion-dollar lifestyle precinct following a positive resolution with community stakeholders.
Originally approved by Council in August 2024, the development, delivered under the Sunlight Lifestyle Precinct banner, is a joint venture between the Gold Coast Turf Club and Aquis.
Sunlight Lifestyle Precinct will transform approximately two hectares of land adjacent to the Turf Club into a vibrant mixed-use destination featuring residential, retail and elevated entertainment offerings.
The announcement marks a new and exciting phase for the Turf Club, following a series of recent infrastructure upgrades, including a major track redevelopment and the introduction of night racing, setting the stage for the next evolution of the entertainment precinct.
“This is a fantastic outcome for the Gold Coast,” said Steve Lines, CEO of the Gold Coast Turf Club.
“We’ve taken a careful, considered approach from day one, and the outcome reflects that.
“This has never been about moving fast. It’s about doing it properly, and with the community beside us. To have that support, and the backing of Gold Coast City Council and the State Government, gives us the confidence to now take the next step.”
The masterplan – designed in collaboration with international and local experts, including Woods Bagot – will include short-stay accommodation, apartments, wellness and fitness spaces, market-style food and retail, rooftop pools, sky gardens, and immersive tropical gardens.
The precinct is designed to complement the Turf Club’s vision to create a world-class entertainment precinct in the cultural heart of the city.
The project is being led by John Fung, son of Aquis founder Mr Tony Fung, who will now oversee the delivery of Sunlight
“We’re incredibly proud to be part of such a transformative vision,” Mr Fung.
“Sunlight will be more than a precinct; it’s a chance to create a lasting destination that captures the spirit of the Gold Coast. Our team is energised and working closely with the Turf Club to take the project to market.”
The Turf Club extended a special thanks to the City of Gold Coast and the Queensland Government for their continued support throughout the appeal process.
“We’re proud to have resolved matters in a way that satisfies our local stakeholders and allows us to move forward with certainty,” Lines added.
“The support from the community has been excellent. Everyone’s aligned, the wheels are now turning, and we are looking forward to delivering a truly world-class community asset that will generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the Gold Coast.”
With key approvals now in place and only minor planning refinements remaining, preparations are progressing for a formal public launch of the project.
“Sunlight will be a place to live, stay, visit and play – and it’s unlike anything currently on offer in this part of the Gold Coast,” said Fung.
“We look forward to revealing more soon.”
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at Apartments.com.au, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country’s most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the off the plan property market. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia’s evolving development landscape.
He holds a degree in Business Management with a major in Journalism from Leeds Beckett University in the UK, and has developed a particular expertise in off the plan apartment space. Joel’s editorial lens spans the full lifecycle of a project—from site acquisition and planning approvals through to new launches, construction completions, and final sell-out—delivering trusted, buyer-focused content that supports informed decision-making across the property journey
