Ann Wason Moore: How to manage the Gold Coast’s City Plan

Somehow, we need to create a City Plan spell that caters to opposing views on Gold Coast development without damaging what made us what we are, writes Ann Wason Moore.

IF you could wave a magic wand over the Gold Coast, what would you do?

What would you make disappear? Or reappear? What element of our city do you consider cursed or enchanted?

It’s the question that I’m to answer as part of a Gold Coast Open House panel discussion on Monday evening. And while I’m never short of an opinion, it seems I’m suddenly under a spell of indecision.

Because my wishes for this city seem to be opposing desires.

I would love to see a greater supply of housing to make this city affordable again, but I would also love to see less development on our shoreline.

I would love to see more public transportation links connecting the Coast, but I would also love to see our natural environment left untouched.

How to have a City Plan that allows more public transport but keep the Gold Coast untouched? View from the Gold Coast hinterland: Tourism QLD escape

I would love to see a stricter City Plan to give our residents – and developers – a greater sense of security, but I would also love to see the opportunity for architects – and developers – to play with built form.

I would love to see our population growth decrease to reduce housing demand, but I would also love to see the employment opportunities afforded by population increase.

Perhaps it’s the curse of the Coast … there is no magic solution to allow us to be all the things we could be, without damaging that which made us what we are.

And that’s precisely why we must be so careful what we wish for.

Ultimately, that is the hex at the heart of our City Plan … and it explains why council must surely feel jinxed.

The Gold Coast from Mermaid Beach to Surfers Paradise. Picture: David/Clark

In a city like the Gold Coast, which is ever the shapeshifter, of course it is important that our town planning have a degree of flexibility and fluidity. We want to see our building reflect the playful holiday spirit we prize, while offering shelter not just for the tourists who support our economy, but the new families who do the same by calling the Coast home.

However, that agility comes at a cost – a lack of security.

Residents are scared not of change itself, and not even of development, but of unrestricted change and development.

By allowing flexibility in the plan, for projects to be assessed on their merit, we are actually restricting progress. Residents are frightened to support any development, no matter its size, scale or beauty, because of what it may bring in its wake.

It’s down to that old cliche: give an inch, they take a mile.

Friends of Currumbin President Peter Kershaw in front of the large crowd of Currumbin residents taking council and a developer to court over a proposed development at 798-800 Pacific Parade. Picture Glenn Hampson

And that is precisely what is happening in Currumbin right now, where a group of residents have gone to the Planning and Environment Court to appeal the Gold Coast City Council’s decision to allow a four-storey, seven unit development on Pacific Parade.

Oh, what the people of Palm Beach would give to see two beachfront blocks occupied by just four storeys and seven units.

But that is precisely the point of the 60-strong Currumbin crew.

“We don’t want to become the next Palm Beach,” said Andrew McLucas, one of the organisers.

Indeed, Mr McLucas said the community viewed stopping the development as vital so that similar large buildings were not planned for the area.

“This is a special part of the Gold Coast,” he said.

“We all think Currumbin is the best beach on the Gold Coast and people come here for that.”

A Gold Coast City Council spokeswoman declined to comment specifically on the case while it was before the courts.

“All development proposals across the city are assessed and decided in line with specific City Plan assessment benchmarks, such as height and density,” she said.

Alas, that is not enough to quell the fears of residents, who believe the City Plan is simply not strong enough to stop the tide of over-development.

Somehow, we have to find a City Plan spell that is rigid enough to prevent rule-breaking, equitable enough to remain attractive to investors and flexible enough to allow architects to create something special.

In other words, we’re going to need a magic wand.