High-profile family faces 148ha land resumption after talks break down

The State Government has moved to resume a massive 148ha to build an eco-park, after talks with the owners, a wealthy Gold Coast family, broke down.

Martha’s Farm in the Currumbin Valley may be resumed by the State Government for an eco-park.

A wealthy pioneering Gold Coast family faces being forced to hand over a huge property to the State Government which has moved to resume it for an eco-park.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the government had started the process to compulsorily acquire the 148ha Martha’s Farm property in the Currumbin Valley after talks with the Neumann family broke down.

The Neumanns, whose patriarch Robert Neumann was a former Gold Coast mayor, snapped up the former Marist Brothers farm for $15.25 million last year.

Its former owners, the Aveo Group, paid $75 million for the land in 2008.

The government announced a plan to turn it into an eco-parkland during last year’s state election campaign, apparently catching the Neumanns off-guard.

Patriarch Robert Neumann was a former Gold Coast mayor.

Mr Miles said the government has undertaken commercial negotiations with the current landowners since early 2021, to purchase the site.

“Unfortunately, an agreement has not been reached, and we have had to take further action. We remain open to a commercial resolution with the landowner.” he said.

“If the site is acquired, we will progress short term measures to make the site publicly accessible including construction of an entry road, car parking and amenities, before commencing stakeholder and community consultation to ensure everyone has an opportunity to put their ideas forward about the long-term outcomes for the site.”

The massive Martha’s Farm in the Currumbin Valley.

The land had been approved for a 348-home subdivision but Mr Miles said it would become ‘one of the largest eco-parklands in Australia’ to protect it from development.

“We’re delivering on our commitment to protect this important land and transform it into Currumbin Eco Parkland,” he said.

“Not only will this be a new recreational eco-parkland for the community, but it will protect valuable koala habitat as well as local flora and fauna.

“We listened to community concerns about preserving this unique property, and we have acted on these concerns.

“This decision also ends 20 years of development uncertainty around the site.”

The Neumanns made their fortune in sand mining, steel and cement manufacturing, service stations and housing subdivisions.