Biggest remaining koala site north of Gold Coast secured as part of Coomera Connector environmental deal

The largest and most expensive piece of koala land in the north of the Gold Coast has been secured by the state government, marking a big win for the iconic native animal.

The largest and most expensive piece of koala land in the Coast’s north has been secured by the state government, as part of an environmental deal to build the Coomera Connector.

Political sources are speculating the buy-up of land — it is the 400ha Greenridge site at Pimpama — was settled on July 8 for almost $30 million.

It means koalas in the Coomera Connector corridor can be relocated there adding to the neighbouring Pimpama River Conservation Area, and effectively ends a legal stand-off between the developer and council which launched a compulsory buy-up.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said securing the Pimpama property was a “critical step in protecting koala populations along the Coomera Connector corridor”.

A map showing the land which is part of the 407ha Greenridge site at Pimpama on the northern Gold Coast.

“We all know the second M1 is desperately needed and, while there are unavoidable impacts, I am confident all measures will be taken to responsibly deliver this critical infrastructure,” Ms King told the Bulletin.

“Federal environmental approvals are expected to set conditions on the Pimpama property that will see it protected for at least the next 20 years. We expect the koala habitat to significantly grow in that time.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the priority was for the State’s biggest road project to cause as little impact to the environment as possible.

“Acquiring this 400-hectare property in Pimpama goes a long way to achieving that,” he said.

“This land will become home to koalas found in the Coomera Connector corridor, which is an exciting step in protecting Coomera’s koala population.

“Thermal drone surveys have found 68 koalas on the new property, highlighting its existing importance to the local koala population and confirming the significant opportunities this land holds.”

Bushland on the Greenridge site at Pimpama on the northern Gold Coast.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon told the Bulletin: “Pimpama’s Greenridge site offers a great opportunity to protect koala populations now and into the future.

“It adds to our $24.6 million commitment in this year’s budget to restore koala habitat, reduce the threat to koalas in targeted hot spots and deliver innovative research.”

In February, a Bulletin special investigation found ratepayers were facing a bill of at least $25m with the Opposition accusing the council and state government of having “botched” a deal to secure the city’s most important remaining koala land.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor voiced his concerns as the breakdown in talks between both levels of government led to legal action and was slowing a start on the second M1 between Nerang and Coomera.

The 407ha Greenridge site, bought by the Kornhauser family in the 1980s, covers a suburb-size parcel of bushland on the Pimpama River. At one stage it was tipped to be the next Sanctuary Cove.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey announces the state government buy-up of critical koala land. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The Bulletin special investigation on closed-door negotiations had discovered the council was left to negotiate with Melbourne-based BCI Group after the state government walked away from the deal.

Sources suggested the council then offered as little as $8m for the land. Property analysts suggest it is worth up to $32m.

Eliezer Kornhauser described the talks with the council as “flawed” and gave him no choice but to launch judicial review proceedings in the Supreme Court last December.

Mr O’Connor, the Opposition environment spokesman, since February has been calling on the government to create a “conservation area”.

In May, the Bulletin revealed ratepayers will pay out a $30m loan to secure koala habitat in the city’s north.

Confidential ­financial documents detailed the costs of koala habitat protection in a report on council’s 2021-22 loan requirements.

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