Ridong Tallebudgera Valley resort: Council planning committee’s verdict on plan

The developer behind a massive proposed development on the Gold Coast made a last-minute bid to delay a decision on whether it could go ahead today – but council had other ideas.

THE Gold Coast City Council’s powerful planning committee has canned a bid by a Chinese developer to build a mega tourism project in the Tallebudgera Valley.

Ridong asked for council to delay a decision on its 47 hectare proposal, but councillors pushed ahead and unanimously voted to reject the bid.

The committee backed an officer’s report highlighted concerns about flooding, traffic and the density of the project impacting on the city’s “green frame”.

The project will now go to full council on Tuesday.

Concept design of Ridong's Tallebudgera Wellness and Tourism Gardens Project.

The committee’s decision ends an 18-month long protest by residents who organised rallies to stop the Wellness and Tourism Gardens project in the Tallebudgera Valley.

Senior planning officers confirmed the applicant had asked to “stop the clock” on a decision.

Council officers advised it was not possible for the applicant to withdraw the development application because the decision period for the project had finished.

Councillors were told that “council is entitled to make a decision on this application”.

Several councillors asked questions about potential future legal action against council with both Glenn Tozer and Hermann Vorster concerned about costly legal proceedings.

“The reasons for refusal are quite comprehensive,” a senior officer replied.

Committee chair Cameron Caldwell believed officers had put forward a compelling assessment which called for refusal.

Area councillor Daphne McDonald told councillors: “I must congratulate the officers. They have done a very comprehensive report.”

An artist’s impression of the luxury villa at Ridong's Tallebudgera Wellness and Tourism Gardens Project.

Southern-based councillor Gail O’Neill raised flooding concerns and believed the planned 13ha lake altered the existing land form.

The report to councillors found residents at the proposed development would have to “shelter in place” for at least 17 hours during a major flood event.

The proposed resort on a 47ha site off Tallebudgera Creek Road included 108 units, a hotel, gallery, restaurant and requires massive physical site changes including the building of a lake.

Officers acknowledged the project would bring “economic benefits through employment opportunities” but suggested it would be better on another site.

Ridong Protest, Tallebudgera. Photo: Rosemary Ball

Outside the meeting, Stop Ridong community group convener Chris Robbins said residents were pleased by the comprehensive report backed by councillors.

“We are very grateful for the hard work they’ve put in and councillors have supported it with their decision” Ms Robbins said.

Residents had been concerned about ongoing koala deaths and flooding given parts of the valley had faced floods beyond a one in one hundred year event.

“We get bigger floods out there which would have impacted. In January 2008 there was a four-hour period were the intensity of rain was a one in 2000 average,” Ms Robbins said.

Asked what residents expected would happen next, she replied: “Look, they have a big block of land, they may come in with a different application. The community will certainly be on the alert if that does happen to make sure it’s more in keeping with the scale and intensity for development in the area.”