Kingscliff Salt Village Gateway: Five-Storey Mixed Use on Exhibition

February 7, 2026

Architectural rendering of a five-storey mixed-use building at a landscaped gateway site, with pedestrians walking along a curved footpath and Norfolk pine trees in the foreground.

Mixed-use plans for a prominent 4,450sqm gateway site at 4–8 Bells Boulevard, Kingscliff, are now on public exhibition. Bells Boulevard Pty Ltd is seeking approval for a five-storey development combining retail uses with 69 apartments. The proposal is being assessed as State Significant Development (SSD-83069459) and includes a concurrent rezoning application to support the intended scale and mix of uses.

The rezoning request seeks to increase the maximum permitted building height from 13.6m to 21m and allow permanent residential use at ground level. This approach reflects a shift toward higher-density mixed-use outcomes at the northern entry to Salt Village, a precinct historically characterised by tourism uses and low-rise development. Assessment will consider how the proposal responds to its gateway role, manages density and traffic, and contributes to housing supply, including affordable housing, in a constrained coastal market.

Development scope and cost

The proposal comprises a five-storey mixed-use building with retail and residential uses at ground level, 69 apartments above, and two basement levels providing 184 car parking spaces. Two apartments are nominated as affordable housing units, to be retained for a minimum of 15 years. Communal facilities include landscaped open spaces and a rooftop pool focused on resident wellbeing.

The estimated development cost is $52.9 million, excluding GST. The site is currently vacant, aside from an informal 27-space car park that would be replaced by basement parking. Exhibition documents do not detail the total gross floor area, final building height in metres, or construction methodology.

Artist’s impression of the proposed five-storey mixed-use development at 4–8 Bells Boulevard, Kingscliff, viewed from the Salt Village entry.

Salt Village masterplan and density

The application represents the third stage of a broader masterplanned redevelopment of the Salt Village precinct. Earlier approvals include a 15-lot subdivision in December 2024 and 12 townhouses in June 2025, with civil works now underway. The SSD pathway follows a 2025 Ministerial Order, issued after a recommendation from the Housing Delivery Authority, with Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements finalised in June 2025.

The concurrent rezoning application is intended to facilitate the proposed land uses and built form outcomes for this stage of the precinct’s evolution.

Height increase and built form response

A key aspect of the proposal is the increase in permissible building height from 13.6m to 21m, allowing a five-storey form at the Salt Village entry. The proponent states the design remains within a 2:1 floor space ratio and provides a transition in scale from the lower-density residential stages to the south.

The Kingscliff Locality Plan identifies the site for medium-density mixed-use development. As part of the assessment, the proposal will be reviewed for its consistency with local character objectives and its role in framing a more urban gateway condition for the precinct.

Affordable housing component

The development includes two affordable housing apartments, to be managed by registered community housing provider Echo Realty for at least 15 years. This component aligns with stated project objectives and broader state housing policy settings. Assessment will consider the management arrangements and mechanisms to ensure the long-term retention of these dwellings.

Public exhibition underway

The application is on public exhibition with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. Following the close of exhibition, submissions will be reviewed as part of the assessment process prior to determination.