Black Swan Lake future: city council’s deal with Gold Coast Turf Club

The Gold Coast City Council is seeking to sign off on a deal which will see all of Black Swan Lake filled in.

THE Gold Coast City Council is seeking to sign off on a deal with the Gold Coast Turf Club where all of Black Swan Lake will be filled in and the City no longer pays for parking on racecourse land.

A turf club application for a new lease for council freehold land in the Bundall equestrian precinct is listed on an agenda for a closed committee meeting tomorrow.

The start of works to fill in Black Swan Lake at Bundall. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

The turf club wants to redevelop its Traintech stabling facility next to the “borrow pit” and needs the security of a much longer term lease with the current agreement set to expire in 2029.

The Bulletin understands council has freehold ownership of at least three key sites and receives up to $200,000 per year in rent.

Council workers at Bundall offices during week days park at the club’s racecourse facilities but the arrangement is costing ratepayers about $25,000 a year.

Another priority for council is it does not pay any extra costs for maintenance of the “borrow pit” where water still remains on a small section.

One option being considered would be for councillors to tick off on a 20-to-30-year leasing deal with a starting rental of about $65,000 annually.

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The last corner of the lake where some wildlife remains. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

While the council could lose about $135,000 in rental revenue, part of the deal would see it no longer have to pay parking fees – bringing the loss to $110,000 annually.

A source aware of the history of the site told the Bulletin: “You can see now how Black Swan Lake was always tied up with what was happening with Traintech.”

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The 19,000sq m site, which is more than three quarters filled after trucks brought in spill, is to be used for parking and equestrian, including the exercising of horses walked by trainers.

When contacted by the Bulletin, turf club president Brett Cook said the club’s whole focus was on the upgrade of the Traintech site.

Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook

“It is getting too old. It will cost $4 million to do it up. We’ve got interstate trainers who want to relocate satellite stables to the Gold Coast.

“For us to make that happen, we need city-standard training facilities. We need better quality stables. To lift it up we need the lease extended.

“All we’re really interested in is the Traintech. If they want to talk about the other things we’re more than happy.”

Mr Cook indicated that he was not across the detail of those discussions apart from the Traintech upgrade.

“The water is still there. We are not wasting a lot of money pumping it out. We have to wait until it evaporates,” he said.