Gold Coast City Council votes to develop a 270ha Greenheart playground between Robina and Merrimac

A mammoth green belt through the Gold Coast, which will include playgrounds and sporting facilities, will run 270ha and be finished just in time for the 2032 Olympics.

The detailed design of the Gold Coast’s Greenheart is complete with the images created showcasing the city’s new central park.

Councillors have met in closed session to tick off on a report which indicates construction of the parklands will commence halfway through 2022 and transform the site on Stadium Drive in Robina.

Gold Coast City Council has voted to develop a 270ha green playground, named Greenheart, between Robina and Merrimac. Picture: Supplied

Picture: Supplied

A report says: “The project represents Robina’s first-ever City scale park and ensures the central suburbs of the Gold Coast are home to the same incredible facilities enjoyed elsewhere on the Gold Coast.

The new parklands, a 270ha green playground between Robina and Merrimac, will be open to public at the end of 2023.

The images from the design work show a modern adventure playground, village green and playing fields along with cafes.

Other facilities will include a scooter and bike track, along with a dog off-leash area.

Area councillor Hermann Vorster told the Bulletin: “Detailed design of Robina City Parklands is done and we hope construction of that attraction will start halfway through 2022.

“That stage (Robina City Parklands) is around 17ha, immediately adjacent Stadium Drive in Robina.

“The most exciting news is that council has today agreed to roll straight on with the broader Greenheart development that will be around 270ha when finished.’’

Greenheart will be a sister-park to the magnificent Broadwater Parklands, providing visitors with a range of amenities as well as much-needed sporting fields, he added.

“It will have great transport access from roads, walking and cycling ways and on-site parking as well as heavy rail running along its boundary,’’ Cr Vorster said.

He said the cost of the entire project would run into “tens of millions of dollars’’.

Picture: Supplied

“We don’t want to be specific as we will put the various stages out to market and we don’t want to influence the tender prices,’’ he said.

“But residents can know that we are investing millions into more green space for this magnificent city.’’

Cr Vorster said he was confident the entire Greenheart would be developed in time for the 2032 Olympics.

He said the project had been planned for more than 15 years with the council acquiring land.

“We had lot of plans for this space but those plans have sat in reports on shelves gathering dust. Council has now committed funds breaking ground and committing community infrastructure,” Cr Vorster said.

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