Acting Mayor Donna Gates says it is ‘stupidity’ to expect northern Gold Coast to accommodate population boom

Acting Mayor Donna Gates has hit out at critics of plans for higher densities in established suburbs, saying it is ‘stupidity’ to expect the city’s north to accommodate all of the Gold Coast’s population boom.

ACTING Mayor Donna Gates says it is “stupidity” to expect the north of the city to accommodate all the Gold Coast’s population growth, signalling why council will regenerate areas like Labrador with high rise apartments.

Many city councillors on a return to committee meetings yesterday were privately fuming about comments by Bonney MP Sam O’Connor, who is backing a protest about City Plan amendments which will see Labrador and Biggera Waters become development hot spots.

“We have got a target of 51 per cent open space in this city. We’re already over 50 per cent and we are proud of achieving that target,” Councillor Gates told the Bulletin.

“He (Mr O’Connor) hasn’t contacted me. I’d be happy to talk to him about the State requirements, and the fact that our planning scheme requires State endorsement.

“If they don’t like what we put in it, they require us to change it to accommodate the guidance of the SEQ regional plan.”

Acting Mayor Donna Gates.

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The SEQ strategy released in 2017, which focused on the next 25 years, identified Coomera, Pimpama and Upper Coomera as accommodating the region’s expansion.

No areas for potential future urban growth had been identified outside the urban footprint, and key areas for renewal would include along the light rail corridor, from Broadbeach to Helensvale and later south to Burleigh and Coolangatta.

Councillors are aware there is a “defined city footprint” which they are reluctant to challenge given the State’s demands on meeting targets.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor. Picture: Steve Holland.

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Between now and 2041, the Coast’s population is predicted to grow by about 370,000 residents to 961,000.

“The fact is we need to cater for the growth where it is close to existing infrastructure and services, because the cost of infrastructure to outer lying areas is quite prohibitive,” Cr Gates said.

“We need people to be close to hospitals, schools and police stations. The north is still struggling to keep up with the pace of growth in the city. To place a higher burden on northern suburbs – rather than do what we’ve been instructed through the SEQ plan – is just stupidity.”

Council officers have begun consultation on 17 potential investigation areas, and six have been eliminated after extensive surveying of property owners.

“The new SEQ requires that we deliver 80 per cent of our growth in the consolidation area and only 20 per cent in the expansion area of the city. They tell us the population projections we must meet and we must meet them,” Cr Gates said.

Mr O’Connor was due to meet with senior staffers in the mayoral office to discuss the concerns of his residents.