Gold Coast council buys Enklemann farm land in Yatala for $12.8m

A $12.8 million land grab by Gold Coast City Council in the city’s north has been finalised. Here’s what they plan to do with it.

A $12.8 MILLION land grab by Gold Coast City Council in the city’s north has been finalised.

Negotiations over council’s massive purchase of a 85ha vacant block of farm land began last year and the contract was settled Wednesday.

The property, previously known as the Enklemann farm is located at 396 Stanmore Road at Yatala.

The Enkleman Farm property on Stanmore Road is now owned by the Gold Coast City Council.

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The land, zoned for future low impact industry had been owned by the Enklemann family since the 1800s, when they relocated into the region as one of the early European settlers.

Area Councillor Donna Gates who had spearheaded the acquisition said the property will be reserved as sports and green space for when the city expands.

“It is really fantastic,” Cr Gates said.

“There will have to be a master plan for the site before anything else is done.

“I expect it will take a bit of time to get that together and we will need to consult with the community on the type of uses.

“This won’t happen overnight but we would like to see it accommodate most sporting and recreation activities for the northern population.”

The parcel of land was originally taken to market via an Expression of Interest campaign through Colliers International on behalf of Joe Welch of Hickey Lawyers, as the executors of the deceased estate.

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Historical Enkleman Farm suggested plans from 2010.

Daniel Coburn, Director of Industrial at Colliers International who marketed the property said the campaign generated interest from a range of developers and occupiers considering the land was zoned future low impact industry, is on the periphery of Yatala Enterprise Area and surrounded by rural and residential properties.

“The unique selling points of this cleared land parcel is that it had 1.3km of road frontage and as well as 900m Albert River frontage in the northern Gold Coast corridor which is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia in terms of population growth,” Mr Coburn said.

The proceeds of the sale will be used in a charitable foundation to benefit local charities and in memory of the Enklemann family.