MRCB greenlit for Maris, Southport apartments
Malaysian-backed developer MRCB has secured planning approval for Maris, its Southport tower offering a mix of just one and two-bedroom apartments, aimed at addressing the region’s growing need for affordable housing.
Maris, a 20-level building, will bring 180 new apartments to 20 Queen Street, in the Southport Priority Development Area.
The approval aligns with both the Queensland Government’s Homes for Queenslanders strategy and the Federal Government’s National Housing Accord, which aims to boost housing supply in key urban centres.
With 92 one-bedroom and 88 two-bedroom apartments, the development delivers a rare configuration mix in the local market, where larger and more luxurious units have recently dominated.
This new housing stock is designed to be more accessible for first home buyers, downsizers who don't have significant budgers, and key workers — a key focus in the context of a nationwide housing shortage.
The tower, designed by Plus Architecture, places a strong emphasis on verticality and textured facades, enhanced by a natural, earthy colour palette.
The approved plans include a three to four-level podium that will home car parking and a communal recreation deck with a swimming pool, sauna, gym, and barbecue areas.
Lush landscaping across podium levels will soften the structure’s visual impact and provide a more human-scale experience at street level, contributing positively to the urban character of Southport.
The 63-metre building height represents a notable uplift from the previous 43-metre limit approved on the site in 2016. Planning consultants Urbis argued successfully that the tower’s scale and design align with the overarching vision for Precinct 3 of the PDA, and the approval now confirms that view.
Strategically located just steps from Broadwater Parklands Station and several bus routes, the site ensures strong public transport connectivity, while offering north-facing apartments with uninterrupted Broadwater views.
The Southport project is MRCB’s second foray into the Gold Coast apartment market, following the $500 million 26 Vista tower in Surfers Paradise. That development is over 80 per cent sold of its 280 apartments.
MRCB International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB), a publicly listed developer with a strong track record in urban regeneration and infrastructure delivery across Southeast Asia.
The Sundale Motel, currently occupying the 1,743 sqm site, will soon be demolished, paving the way for construction commencement later this year.
