Is there really going to be a Trump Tower soaring over the Gold Coast?

A deal has reportedly been signed between a Queensland developer and the Trump Organization to design, build and brand a 91-storey mixed-use skyscraper in Surfers Paradise.

If it was to go ahead, the structure would be Australia’s tallest building and comprise a six-star hotel, luxury residences, retail space and a beach club.

As with most things Trump-related, the project has divided public opinion and stirred potential controversy.

The developer Altus Property Group (which has no connection to Altus Group) has said on its website that construction will commence in August but with Gold Coast City Council yet to receive a development application, that could be an ambitious target.

The project would first need to be approved, and then would still be contingent on an array of planning processes going smoothly.

The developer’s website states that early works have been approved. It’s not unusual for developers to secure early works clearance so that, once the full planning approval is obtained, there is less delay before construction can physically begin.

David Young, Altus Property Group’s Chief Executive, has reportedly gone bankrupt twice. His company’s website notes that current projects include housing estates in regional Queensland and New South Wales, but building the country’s largest tower would be a major step up in project management.

The Trump brand also carries with it obvious public relations issues and this project has, unsurprisingly, generated spirted responses among residents and nationally.

Some locals see the project as a potential boost to tourism and jobs.

The proposed Trickett Street site has been vacant land for a decade, and a major tower could complement the city’s growing high-end real estate and hospitality sector.

For others, the Trump brand is deemed toxic enough to warrant objection on those grounds alone.

Change.org petitions opposing the tower have gathered a sizeable following, with objections framed around concerns for community character and cultural fit as well as moral and ethical issues tied to US President Donald Trump’s public persona and political track record.

There are also concerns expressed about businesses connected to Mr Trump having a track record of failing to fully pay contractors and tradespeople.

A major investigation by USA Today found at least 60 lawsuits and hundreds of liens from contractors claiming they were not paid or were short-changed for their work.

Reports also suggest Trump’s companies would sometimes tie up small businesses in lengthy legal battles, forcing them to settle for less money or drop their claims entirely, as they could not afford the ongoing legal costs.

Developer visits Mar-a-Lago

Mr Young said he signed the deal on 14 February at Mr Trump’s Florida home, the Mar-a-Lago resort.

“At 340 metres in height, and 91 storeys, it will outstretch the Australia 108 building in Melbourne by 15 metres and leave every other Australian resort property in its wake when it comes to luxury,” Mr Young said.

“We are now deeply into a process of design, engineering, construction and fit-out that will cost a shade under $1.5 billion and bring the world’s pre-eminent hotel-resort brand to our shores.”

He added that 270 apartments would have a starting price of $5 million.

Mr Young dismissed any public perception of Trump structures being of dubious taste as out-of-date.

“The file footage that Australians see, of Trump hotels and resorts with gaudy gold-plated bathroom fixtures, mirrors and heavy chandeliers, is old footage from the 1980s and 90s,” he said.

“The modern Trump package is high-end design and fit-outs, with a premium feel.”

Like President Trump, Mr Young is no stranger to financial difficulties.

Mr Young confirmed on his company website that a previous business of his had folded in 2008. An ABC News search of federal insolvency records revealed that the 60-year-old has twice gone bankrupt.

“Before the GFC I’d been a high-flying property developer and nightclub owner, living on the Gold Coast in beachfront luxury, partying too often, and even driving a Ferrari. I was a Surfers Paradise cliché,” he wrote in an article on his site’s news page.

“When the GFC hit Australia on 1 August 2008, the banks pulled back from lending (especially in the regions), which meant homeowners weren’t borrowing to buy houses and property developers couldn’t get development finance to build homes and suburbs.

“My company – Young Land Corporation – folded, unable to complete projects because credit had dried up.”

He said that “these days I drive a Toyota HiAce van”.

While Mr Trump has never personally filed for bankruptcy, his businesses have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US six times between 1991 and 2009. These filings involved various casino and hotel properties, primarily in Atlantic City and New York.

Plenty of hurdles remain

While the developer has expressed confidence that the project is going ahead, there remain many steps and potential obstacles before work could begin.

A project of this scale would demand upgrades or enhancements to roads, utilities, public spaces, parking and public transport, which will be part of planning requirements.

The urban design, visual impact and its fit with the coastal skyline would also be scrutinised.

Councils are obliged to assess issues such as shadowing, wind effects, oceanfront amenity, coastal erosion risk and broader environmental impacts.

Once an application was lodged, there would also be a period of public consultation and the opportunity for public submissions and the potential for referral to higher-level planning bodies.

What won’t be factored in is the well-known brand name.

Local officials have stressed that the Trump name will not be part of the technical planning assessment. Instead, council planners will evaluate the application against zoning, land-use, height, environmental and technical standards.

Mr Young wrote that the Gold Coast project was funded by private investors from Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

“They have contributed a mix of debt and equity (in the form of convertible notes) and it gives my organisation access to ‘patient capital’, insofar as we don’t have to rush to make presales as we would with Australian bank finance,” Mr Young said.​