Stalwart family thumbs its nose at State Govt plans
A POWERFUL and longstanding Gold Coast family is thumbing its nose at Palaszczuk Government plans to seize a Currumbin Valley property by launching an expression of interest campaign for its own proposed development.
The state government is attempting to compulsorily acquire the 148ha Martha’s Farm site in Currumbin Valley which the Neumann family bought in mid-2020.
But unable to come to a deal, the Neumanns are instead moving ahead with its already approved Verdana Currumbin project, with more than 200 people already registering an interest in buying one of the initial 12 lots its hopes to build.
Neumann family spokesman Kevin Morse said the campaign was part of the next stage of progress in order for the company to meet the timelines set out under state government and council approvals for the site.
“We are required to proceed to meet time frame requirements under the conditions of approval,” he said.
“We have currently received almost 200 expressions of interest for the 12 land lots that are part of the approved Stage 1, with more than 70 per cent from locals in the Currumbin area.
“Ten EOI’s were registered within the first hour of signage installation on November 2, surging to a total of 250 EOI’s in a single week.
“Such an overwhelming response from just two billboards suggests there is a lot of pentup demand for land lots that remain in touch with the area’s natural amenity.”
The Neumanns want to build a 348-house subdivision on the site, which they say will assist in relieving pressure on the Gold Coast’s growing housing crisis, where a chronic land shortage has contributed to soaring property prices.
The Palaszczuk Government announced it would compulsorily acquire the site just before the October 2020 state election to create a giant parkland.
But the Neumann family, which bought the site for $15m just five months before the government’s plans were announced, say they will fight any attempt to take the land.
The Bulletin understands the government has offered the family a similar figure for the land. The Neumanns’ approved plans include developing 25 per cent or 38ha of the site. The remaining 75 per cent would be open space, including wetlands, walking and cycling trails, picnic areas and lookouts.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said at the time the project would “protect the Currumbin Valley environment so that both local residents and tourists could enjoy it well into the future”.
The LNP was opposed. Deputy Premier Steven Miles announced in July the government had started the process to compulsorily acquire the site after talks with the Neumanns broke down.
Mr Morse said the Neumann family was still in discussions with the government.
“We are hopeful of a resolution to the current impasse.
The Department of State Development said a process to aquire the land was ongoing.