Gold Coast development: New owners of Coast land reveal plans

The dream of building a giant new home for the Gold Coast Show on a prominent block of land is over. But it’s new owner has revealed exciting plans for the site.

THE dream of building a giant new home for the Gold Coast Show on a prominent block of land is over.

The Gold Coast City Council has bought a 54ha site which sits between Mudgeeraba’s Firth Park and the M1.

The site, which was previously owned by the Turner family, is set to be transformed into sporting fields according to area councillor Glenn Tozer.

Mudgeeraba Land development. Picture Mike Batterham

Cr Tozer told the Bulletin it was a “a great win” for the city.

“I can also reveal that the Turner family have been very community minded in how they considered the future uses of the site and we arrived at a suitable purchase price with a minimum of fuss,” he said.

“I am confident that approximately 16-20 hectares can be used as sporting fields and the remainder might be open park space that remains floodable to minimise impact on surrounding residential areas.

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Mudgeeraba Land development. Picture Mike Batterham

“My personal view is that the land (in part) should be set aside for two dual-use cricket/AFL fields (Bulls/Spartans), a baseball diamond (to grow capacity for the Redsox), and a possible expansion of the nearby netball assets.

“Most importantly, there needs to be a pedestrian connection direct to Mudgeeraba Village.”

The move comes nearly 18 months after grand plans for a $25 million showground were unveiled for the site.

It was proposed as a replacement for Parklands, which closed in 2013 and was replaced by the Commonwealth Games athletes village.

The Mudgeeraba land was bought by the Turner family in early 2018 from Nifsan Group for $1.2 million.

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Mudgeeraba Land development. Picture Mike Batterham

The proposal, developed by the Gold Coast Harness Racing Club in consultation with other displaced Parklands groups, would have included:

* Show main ring.

* A harness racing track.

* One-turn and straight greyhound tracks.

* Race stables.

* Pavilion building.

* Dual grandstand.

* A sideshow alley.

* Polocrosse fields.

* A showground capable of hosting large-scale rock concerts such as the defunct Big Day Out, which was once an annual mainstay at Parklands.

However, the project never got off the ground after it was dismissed as unrealistic and a strong outcry from political leaders and community groups.