Government under pressure to open up planning options for Gold Coast’s northern farm lands
THE State Government is under pressure to fast forward planning for residential development in cane fields north of the Gold Coast in the wake of the Rocky Point Sugar Mill fire.
Gold Coast
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THE State Government is under pressure to fast forward planning for residential development in cane fields north of the Gold Coast in the wake of the Rocky Point Sugar Mill fire.
About 40 owners want to sell more than 6000 hectares for a new coastal city but cannot because the South East Queensland Regional Plan only allows the land to be used for agricultural industries.
Coomera MP Michael Crandon said the fire would put pressure on the Government to amend the plan for the farming area east of the Pacific Motorway.
“It’s in the hands of (Deputy Premier) Jackie Trad really,” Mr Crandon said.
“I hope submissions are highlighting the tenuous nature of the mill going forward from here.
“Logic would say – and the LNP position before losing office – was that a plan for alternatives is needed.
“This just accentuates the need for a plan.
“What if they couldn’t get it (the fire) under control?
“What future would there be for the farmers and the families that rely on the mill for their livelihood?”
Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, the city’s most northern-based councillor, said she believed the government was warming to amending the plan.
“I think the deputy premier has left the way open for a conversation on the future of the area,” Cr Gates said.
The short-term closure of the mill could provide the opportunity to fast-forward changes to the planning scheme and widen the industry in the area beyond sugar cane, she said.
Asked whether there would be talks soon between the government and the council, Cr Gates replied: “It’s early days. I don’t know the extent of the damage.”
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad yesterday indicated a willingness to consider alternatives for the area.
“I’m sorry to hear the historic Rocky Point sugar mill was devastated overnight by a fire,” she said.
“The current zoning of the cane lands is preserved in the current draft plan.
“We are undertaking an extensive consultation on the draft SEQ Regional Plan – some 90 days for south-east Queenslanders to have their say.
“It is something we are prepared to have a conversation about.”
The plan notes that the sub-region’s principal agricultural land resources are in the Woongoolba and Norwell areas.
Preventing more land fragmentation and protecting agricultural land for long-term food security and export opportunities remaineds the main aim of the plan.
But it recogniseds opportunities to explore high-demand food and beverage industries, along with farm and nature-based tourism.
“Any future use is to protect the identified key resource areas,” the plan said.
The cane lands could provide relief when greenfield sites ran out on the Coast in the next 10 years but planners admitted there would be much work needed to build a new northern city.
The government would have to amend the plan, soils needed to be tested for acid sulphate levels and developers be prepared to build new infrastructure like new roads.
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