Storm damage tree risk
Golf club neighbours want fairways repaired
Residents fear for the safety of their families and properties from damaged trees after the Christmas Day storm ripped through the abandoned Arundel Hills golf course.
The Bulletin inspected properties next to the Country Club estate after residents and community leaders complained to the estate’s owner and council.
Almost 300 residents back on to the rundown golf course and many say they are receiving “lip service” on fixing their homes, some with leaking water caused by damaged roofs from falling trees.
Councillors at a planning committee on Monday are poised to back a resident campaign and refuse an application by the developer, Arundel Estate Developments Pty Ltd, for the golf course to be turned into residential development.
Residents want the golf course greens and fairways repaired, and damaged trees removed after the Christmas storm ripped through the northern Gold Coast suburb.
“Some residents have had to move to the front of their house because the mould has taken over their bedroom at the back,” a female resident said.
“That home over there – the tree was quite big and it sliced through their top floor.”
Another male property owner said: “These trees could break at any time – just get rid of the trees because it’s very dangerous for us living here.”
Division 7 council candidate Joe Wilkinson contacted council after residents spoke to him.
“I’ve made representation to the council, highlighting resipropriate dents’ concerns about the property condition and the potentially dangerous trees on site, which have some residents living in fear of possible future damage to their property or worse,” he said.
“Residents want to see action, not further neglect. I’m encouraging residents to contact the Division 7 council office to make sure their concerns are heard, and the apaction through the council can be initiated.”
The Division 7 office said the complaints had been “forwarded to the appropriate department for their investigation and response at the earliest opportunity”.
Arundel Hills Golf Course Community Reference Group committee member Jason Young said residents had concerns before the storm regarding snakes and vermin entering people’s property from the golf course because it had been unmowed.
“As those grasses grow, there will be issues around bushfires as well which residents are concerned about,” he said. “The developers need to get out and tidy it up.
“Effectively now the new owners have 267 neighbours. It’s up to the developers.
“It’s very poor, they need to get out here and tidy up this area so residents can feel safe, and there’s no snakes and vermin entering into their properties from his unkempt site.”
A city spokesman said it was the owner’s responsibility to maintain their property.
“City officers have visited the property and issued a compliance notice requiring the owner to undertake clean up activities,” the spokesman said.
In a statement, the developer said: “We are aware of damage to some trees on our property which we have assessed and removed.
“We are currently attending to the repair of fences caused by the storm damage and dealing with contractors to remove all debris from falling trees.
“Some residents have asked us to remove perfectly healthy trees which we are not able to do.”
Some residents have had to move to the front of their house because the mould has taken over their bedroom at the back
Arundel resident