Gold Coast’s north divided: how to squeeze population on rural blocks

The Gold Coast City Council has surveyed residents in the north about housing densities. Here’s what the locals had to say.

PROPERTY owners are at odds with the wider community about plans to increase the housing density in the Gold Coast’s northern suburbs, according to a council report.

Results from the council’s Oxenford investigation study found 57 per cent of owners either strongly or somewhat supported two to three-storey buildings or subdivisions of rural residential lots.

They were backed by nine per cent of non-owners who took part in the surveying.

The Oxenford investigation area being considered by the Gold Coast City Council.

At least 88 per cent of that wider group either strongly opposed or were somewhat opposed to the suggestion of breaking up the rural lots.

The council received feedback from owners representing 142 of the 205 residential properties, four renters inside the study area and 56 people living outside it.

The majority of owners were agreeable to exploring zoning changes.

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The Oxenford investigation area was located on Michigan Road and Tamborine-Oxenford Road where all the properties were in a rural residential zone.

The City Plan has identified 17 investigation areas which would help the State Government with its South East Queensland Regional Plan accommodate population growth.

Council believes it can accommodate 1447 dwellings in the investigation area including detached dwellings and small houses covering about 300sq m.

Land used in the Oxenford investigation area being considered by the Gold Coast City Council.

Investigators found the average length of ownership in the area was 15 years, twice as long as the city average of seven to eight years.

Council would need to make a “large investment” to upgrade infrastructure for roads, sewerage, storm water and open space and needs to be assured the move had the support of existing residents.

At least 37 per cent of respondents said their preference was to stay in their current house and add more dwellings for sale or rent.

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About 18 per cent supported the option of redeveloping their own land as part of a larger parcel with neighbouring properties.

Asked what they would be doing in five to 10 years, many residents suggested they would be semi-retired and either downsizing or “enjoying granny flat on my Oxenford block”.

The findings contrast with results in other areas of the city, particularly Mudgeeraba, where 76 per cent of residents in an area west of the Pacific Motorway were opposed to subdivisions.

Area Councillor William Owen-Jones has urged residents to take part in consultation. Picture: Richard Gosling.

In an update to residents, Councillor William Owen-Jones said the council had recently sent off correspondence confirming further works would start on changing the City Plan by 2023 to accommodate potentially an extra 1400 dwellings in the area.

“I appreciate that not everyone agrees with the idea of changing density in the Oxenford area,” he told residents.

“All changes to the City Plan are subject to further rounds of public consultation and I would encourage all residents in the Oxenford area – not just the property owners in the investigation area – to be involved in this consultation in the coming years.”