Tough talk

People opposed to higher density need a reality check about the city’s future

There’s no sugar coating what needs to happen in coming years. With nowhere to go “out” to in most cases, the Gold Coast will be going up. In essence, we have a date with density. That doesn’t mean towers in every suburb but what it will mean is that things will change and no suburb will be entirely untouched by it.

That’s the reality of 15,000 people moving here annually.

Despite the hopes of what the keep the city encased in amber crowd would like, the drawbridge isn’t coming up, so we have to deal with the situation.

City planning boss Mark Hammel has done something few others have done – been honest about the changes that will happen in coming years.

“A significant conversation will be happening about density, where people will go and the problem we face,” he said.

“Every suburb is going to feel some of this pain. We need to make sure we are prepared to be honest with the community about that and doing the work through our infrastructure plan is an important part.

“We need to accept an increase in density must occur and along with this, we have to ensure residents are involved in the conversation to make sure that is done to a level where it provides housing but also retains the liveability of the area”.

Mr Hammel should be congratulated for his blunt honesty on this topic.

For far too long political leaders who perpetually have one eye on the next election have been almost comically vague about what the future holds for the city, or thrown their lot in with NIMBYS in raging impotently into the void against the future.

It’s fair to say this has already been occurring softly – just look at Southport where locations like Minnie St have transformed in the past decade as a series of decrepit old Queenslanders or single houses were replaced by unit blocks, virtually all of which are fully occupied.

The future is coming and we must do our best to be prepared for the increased population.

Better public transport and housing close to it is the reality that those opposed to change must get on board with.

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