Black Swan Lake: Gold Coast Turf Club stands by council decision to save borrow pit

The Gold Coast Turf Club will stand by council’s decision to save the last of the controversial Black Swan Lake, describing it as a “win-win”.

THE Gold Coast Turf Club is to stand by council’s decision for the last section of Black Swan Lake to remain intact but it will give no assurances on improving its water quality.

After a stunning decision by a super majority of councillors at Tuesday’s full council meeting which saved the so-called borrow pit, Turf Club chairman Brett Cook yesterday met with council officers.

The last corner of the lake. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“The borrow pit, we don’t want to fill it any more. The Turf Club through its planners will try to get some costings to maintain it where it is,” Mr Cook told the Bulletin.

The Turf Club would apply for a new operational works permit which agreed with council’s resolution to retain the remaining 20 per cent of the lake.

“We are looking for further co-operation to make this as cost affective as possible so this new council position is commercially viable to complete,” Mr Cook said.

“We are hoping to gain a new approval quickly and the conditions around that approval to be straight forward so we can fast track all the site works to completion.”

“There has been a lot of community commentary on both sides of this debate, I now ask everyone now to focus their efforts on supporting this project in anyway they can.”

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Mr Cook regards council’s decision as a “win-win” for the club and community.

“With over 80 per cent of the site filled already we now believe that is enough area for the horses to exercise which has been our goal from the start,” he said.

“The new reduced rent and extended terms for the Traintek training facility offered by the council is also greatly appreciated, with these new terms we can now invest in upgrading the facilities which are long overdue.”

“The better natural environment and stabling conditions will lead to a better outcome for horse welfare, which is a very important area that the club needs to keep being proactive in.”

Mr Cook said the club have to “lift up the land” next to the lake.

“We’re not up to the right height yet. We have to bring that up first. There’s still stormwater from the stables. We have to work out how to get that through to the canals,” he said.

Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook — it’s up to the community to stump up and help. Photo by Richard Gosling.

“We will not be responsible for the water quality. They can’t expect us to improve the water quality. We are happy to maintain the (current) standard.”

Mr Cook said he would welcome any support from residents to help maintain and improve the site.

“A lot of people have been making noise for five years. It’s up to them to stump up and work to help the site. They have to get active. We need to deal with this (the borrow pit) and put it to bed first.”

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Wildlife Queensland Gold Coast president Sally Spain said the council decision, which would see some of the site preserved had been “greeted with relief by so many in the community who have defended it”.

Sally Spain with Black Swan Lake supporters. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“The lake still hosts many birds, turtles and other wildlife and is a site sheltered by botanically assessed and locally available valuable bush,” she said.