Council launches review into how developers use best beachfront parks for 12 months in $1000 deals

How developers are getting $1000 weekly discount deals to use prime Gold Coast beachfront parkland will come under scrutiny after council copped backlash from residents.

A REVIEW is to be launched into how developers are getting $1000 weekly discount deals to use prime Gold Coast beachfront parkland, after council copped a backlash from residents.

A report in Tuesday’s Bulletin (below) detailed how a developer of a high-rise apartment tower at Main Beach has secured use of much of the neighbouring park near the Southport Surf Lifesaving Club to store construction huts for a year for cheap rent.

Lifestyle committee chair Hermann Vorster at Tuesday’s committee meeting gained unanimous support from councillors for a review to provide more transparency and consistency on deals which allowed lengthy shutdowns of parks for developers.

He said it was important to recover “the true social cost of park closures” so the community was left better off.

Main Beach and Broadbeach-based councillor Darren Taylor backed Cr Vorster, adding that the city lacked enough sporting fields to cater for the growing population.

“We need to make sure these parks are maintained for the residents. Construction isn’t for three months, one month, it can be two or three years,” he said.

Cr Vorster said the aim of the review was not to preclude developers from using parks for their construction equipment but for council to be cautious in giving approvals.

His recommendation would see officers look at temporary park occupation, determine how councillors could be updated on developer negotiations and review the fees and bonds.

He said applicants could use different construction methods to maintain as much work on site as possible.

“There will be more pressure on applicants to reduce their footprint in the public realm. It’s great when it can be contained on site but not always possible. We want our pound of flesh as well,” Cr Vorster said.

Planning chair Cameron Caldwell also strongly supported a revised policy.

“Clearly there have been some examples in the very recent past where I feel the public interest balance has not quite been met,” Cr Caldwell said.

“That has been reported in the media, and I think that came as a surprise to some of us that those particular terms of tenure have been granted.

“The general populace of the Gold Coast expect fair play. I think things have moved just a little bit unfair to the general public in terms of access to the parks and usage of the parks.”

Park problems – construction huts in the park next to the Southport Surf Lifesaving Club on the Gold Coast.

Cr Caldwell called for complete transparency in deals which saw large parts of Hollindale Park near the Southport SLSQ fenced off.

“I’m particularly interested because I want to make sure that we are sending a clear message to the development sector that they need to do better because the community expectation is that they do better in this space. So hopefully this review will give them a trigger to rethink how they go about their doing their business. I think the balance has slipped a little bit too much in their favour,” he said.

EARLIER: DEVELOPERS are securing prime beachfront parkland on the Gold Coast for $1000 a week in undisclosed discount deals.

The secret negotiations occur against a backdrop in which residents’ use of the city’s 2200 parks has skyrocketed during the Covid-19 pandemic because gyms, indoor sporting centres and playing fields were closed.

Councillors will discuss potential bonds of at least $20,000 for commercial park use when they debate a new park policy at Tuesday’s lifestyle committee meeting.

A report to council found the current parks’ policy was failing, there had been “unapproved use” and a “continual challenge of managing increased bookings”.

Area councillor Darren Taylor told the Bulletin he had sought details of the deal at Hollindale Park where construction huts have been built near the Southport Surf Life Saving Club.

Cr Taylor had been involved previously with negotiations for the $300,000 bond for developers to use the nearby Cable Park in Main Beach for three years. It includes the potential for them to upgrade the precinct.

“The one that happened at Hollindale Park, that’s the one I was unaware of,” Cr Taylor said. “They are only being charged $1000 a week, the one for the Monaco development,” he said.

“They’ve only got it for 12 months at this stage. Everyone is concerned it’s for three years – it’s only a year. They want it for longer. It will be all part of the community consultation.”

Cr Taylor said he was not aware of documents that showed the developer of Cable Park was only required to pay $60,000 “in lieu of rectification works”.

The documents, authorised by council officers under delegated authority, confirms the developer must pay an annual bond across three years of $100,000.

“Cable Park is different,” Cr Taylor said. “It’s $2500 a week that they are actually being charged. So that’s over $100,000 a year.

“The goal is they are actually going to deliver the park. There is a master plan for Cable Park. And, look, we are hoping they actually deliver that.

“It might cost the city $500,000 – if they can deliver it totally, that’s what we are working with them on.”

Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan said residents were furious about the park use after the council approved “a raft of highly non-compliant developments on minuscule sites”.

“Several developers have been granted permission to use parks and other public spaces to facilitate construction of their multi-level towers, in some cases for a period of three years,” she said.

“Developers have also closed off several public thoroughfares and beachfront walkways. It would appear that the permission to occupy public land has been granted to developers by the Parks Department, but there is no transparency as to what council policy is, nor what compensation developers are required to pay. You can imagine what response would be if an individual sought to use public land for the construction of a single dwelling.”

Cr Taylor said he had spoken with council officers and received future assurances that all deals would include consultation with the area councillor.

The new park policy, to be ticked off by councillors, includes this recommendation.

“My view was if a developer can contribute a whole park that was developed, and contributes that and it’s a more significant amount of money, I thought that was a good outcome for the community,” Cr Taylor said.

He said he had consulted with community organisations including the Main Beach Association on Cable Park.

“The bit with Hollindale Park was completely blindsided with me. I’ve spoken to officers now and they are going to ensure councillors are involved in these decisions.”

Originally published as Council launches review into how developers use best beachfront parks for 12 months in $1000 deals