Gold Coast development: Bull shark flood fear in Tallebudgera Valley as residents lodge development objection

PLANS for a multi-billion dollar resorts in the Gold Coast hinterland has sparked a protest meeting, with residents warning council its flood plains could open up the area to all sorts of nasties — including bull sharks.

RURAL residents have warned council that a proposed resort on the Tallebudgera Valley flood plain will open up the area to all sorts of nasties including bull sharks.

Lawyer Jim Wilson has sought guarantees for residents who have fears about sewage effluent, land loss through erosion and loss of equipment in a future higher floodwaters.

The Save Our Southern Valleys group chair warned council it has a duty of care to ensure communities were kept safe and do not have financial loss from approved developments.

Apartments in the Village Precinct at Ridong's Tallebudgera Wellness and Tourism Gardens Project.

The Ridong development wants to rezone 47.5 hectares from rural to residential high density for a 98-room resort, 113 residential dwellings and privately owned gardens and art museum.

About 250 residents attended a meeting at the Tallebudgera Valley Community Hall on Wednesday night where Mr Wilson’s objections to council were strongly backed.

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“There can be a real risk of bull sharks entering the subject land and reptile migration of snakes, lizards — they tend to work to what little higher ground there is on the Ridong land and other sites in regional vicinity,” he said in an objection letter to council planners.

Save Our Southern Valleys group chair Jim Wilson — he has written to council planners on behalf of concerned residents. Picture Mike Batterham

WHAT TALLEBUDGERA RESIDENTS THINK OF RIDONG PROJECT

The Ridong land was a massive floodplain because three creeks converged with the Tallebudgera Creek at its frontage and it “floods powerfully, dangerously and unpredictably” when incoming ocean king tides were matched by heavy rainfall.

Mr Wilson warned council that experts and local residents had provided a “critically important part” of the area’s flood story.

Sewerage systems on the Ridong land and upstream had become submerged causing both machinery breakdown and release of effluent downstream, he said.

The health centre at Ridong's Tallebudgera Wellness and Tourism Gardens Project.

Several properties were quarantined for almost a month after the 2017 flood, he added.

Mr Wilson yesterday wrote again to council planners imploring with them to use the 2017 flood records rather than those from 2016.

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Council economy, planning and environment director Alisha Swain said it was unlikely a further update of the Tallebudgera flood model would have a substantial impact on the application.

“Council and legislative process does not require the council’s base models to be further calibrated or verified against newer flood events and then to be used for impact assessment,” she wrote.

Ridong is to respond to council’s request for more information as council officers viewed its initial plans as “underwhelming” and “rather unspecific”.