Arundel ‘call-in’ opposed
Conserve green space: council
Gold Coast City Council will advise Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon against a “call-in” for the Arundel Country Club development, arguing the suburb needs green space provided by the golf course.
City planning chair Mark Hammel said councillors had a duty to act in the interests of more than 1000 ratepayers who opposed the development application.
Residents understood the need for housing supply but not when it meant losing valuable green space, he said.
“The liveability of the Gold Coast needs to be protected, and protecting our golf courses and open green spaces in our suburbs is the key to that,” Mr Hammel said.
“The other part of the argument was that, in possibly losing this green space, does it jeopardise the ability of Arundel or other surrounding suburbs to have a density increase occur,” Mr Hammel said.
“Is there another section of Arundel or surrounding suburbs where we could possibly see medium residential development occur based on a formula saying there is enough green space down the road to justify this.”
Mr Hammel said he had concerns that for a short-term gain in housing supply it could put at risk longer term ability to increase dwellings in the area.
“They are all factors that I believe should form part of a submission to go to the minister in regards to this proposed call-in,” he said.
Mr Hammel said council had no choice but to be in opposition because a thorough investigation by officers found the development failed to meet the City Plan.
“The recommendation from officers was incredibly strong that it should not be supported, that position has not changed,” he said.
The developer, in January, appealed council’s rejection of the application. The council will continue to defend its position in the appeal court if the call-in did not eventuate.
Council received 1163 objections, most of them from nearby residents. Only 119 submissions were made in support.
The call-in notification allows for submission either for or against the project, but council is in the dark as to what material the minister may assess the development on.
“This power gives the minister and her department the power to completely reassess the application, also to assess new material, possibly assess a new proposal from the developer, and all of this occurs without input from the community or the local government,” Mr Hammel said.
“This is the first time the call in powers have been possibly used in the Gold Coast since 2015, the last being the Skyridge development, the one before that was Jewel.
“It’s twice in a decade this power has been used, it goes to show that it’s a significant power the minister holds and one that has been normally used in fairly reserved circumstances.
“When you look at the scale of the Jewel and Skyridge, we are talking well over 5000 dwellings between the two developments, which shows the scale of projects this power has been used on.”
Mr Hammel said it was a concern for all local governments that it could show an intent from the minister to “haul in projects on a much smaller scale”.
The Arundel Hills project was for 385 houses.