Ridong protest meeting: This five year battle is hotting up

Residents are set to stage a protest against the proposed Ridong mega development in the Gold Coast hinterland.

RESIDENTS will stage a protest next Sunday against the proposed Ridong mega development in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Organisers predict hundreds of residents will attend the meeting at Coplicks sports fields on Tallebudgera Connection Road, which will see several speakers discuss the controversial project from 9.30am on December 15.

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

Save Our Southern Valleys chair Jim Wilson said the five-year battle against the quasi-canal and high density residential development was now “hotting up”.

The meeting would be voicing its opposition to this rezoning of the site from semi-rural to high-density development in the strongest possible terms, he said.

“We expect hundreds of residents and concerned Gold Coast citizens to be in attendance,” Mr Wilson said.

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

“Our community has two main concerns — the first is that the project will substantially exacerbate flooding, upstream, downstream and laterally from the Connection Road bridge.

“It will also have significantly adverse traffic and environmental impacts. The second is that the State Government will ‘call in’ the project and approve it, before adequate flood modelling by the Gold Coast City Council and public consultation with the community about it.”

Lawyer Jim Wilson — leading the community protest. Picture Mike Batterham

The Bulletin understands council officers are continuing to negotiate with the developer and a decision on the “wellness and tourism gardens” on the 47.5ha site will not be made until next year.

Area councillor Daphne McDonald, who is opposed to the project, expects a recommendation by officers will be made to the planning committee in the New Year when meetings resume.

Council has sought more information from Ridong on a series of complex issues including flooding along with impacts from the development on the rural road network and to wildlife.