Police surround Gold Coast’s Black Swan Lake as turf club prepare to fill it in

THE end is nigh for the Gold Coast’s controversial Black Swan Lake as large numbers of police arrive on-scene ahead of trucks which will fill in the ‘borrow pit’. Excavators have arrived on-site.

POLICE have successfully used negotiators to prevent a hothouse situation erupting as Black Swan Lake gets filled in at Bundall.

About a dozen residents, some of them elderly, have kept a vigil outside the construction fencing as trucks arrived dumping soil near the lake.

During the heat at midday, police officers were bringing water to the residents and talking to them.

Wildlife Queensland Gold Coast president Sally Spain confirmed the group would remain peaceful and no illegal action would be launched.

HOW BLACK SWAN LAKE’S FATE WAS FAST-TRACKED

Police arriving at Black Swan Lake.

“We will ensure no one is hurt or injured,” Ms Spain told the Bulletin.

She believed a compromise could be reached where council could still stop the lake being filled in.

Senior Sergeant Paul Hunter, the office in charge of Broadbeach station, said police had arrived early to talk to residents.

He said the police model of using officers with communication skills to work with “issue motivated groups” had worked.

“The message today is public safety. We want to make sure everyone is safe,” he said.

“We have staffers with a certain skill sets. This is a perfect platform to deliver that message (of safety) and build relationships.”

Some members of the protest group were arriving at council just before today’s full council meeting at 1pm.

Earlier, Gold Coast residents were preparing for their last visits to Black Swan Lake.

Several police arrived just before 9am today at the freshwater lake in the Bundall equine precinct confirming suspicions that either vegetation will be removed or fill dumped on the waterway.

Wildlife Queensland Gold Coast branch president Sally Spain told the Gold Coast Bulletin: “The gates are shut. Maybe they will start dumping soil, I’m not sure.”

Resident Karen McCarthy said lake supporters welcomed the police presence aware the officers had arrived to keep watch if construction machinery moved in.

“We’re outnumbered by the police who are here to ensure public safety,” she said.

Residents have been campaigning since March 2015 when the Turf Club approached the council to fill in what was ratepayer property for an overflow car park and horse training facilities.

MEET MAX THE BLACK SWAN

Max the swan at Black Swan Lake in Bundall. Picture: Jerad Williams

A majority of councillors in November 2016 backed area councillor Gary Baildon who convinced them that filling in the 2.7ha stretch of water would help the Show Society which needed parking at its new Turf Club base.

Councillor Peter Young, who has been a strong supporter of residents, posted a photograph of two swans on his Facebook page.

WHAT PEOPLE REALLY THINK ABOUT BLACK SWAN LAKE

“Your last look at Black Swan Lake. Filling operations expected to commence today following the removal of aquatic species these past couple of days,” he wrote.

“Utterly nonsensical in my opinion — profit over all other values.”

Just after 10am an escavator arrived and started removing trees by the lake.

“The escavator has dug a track so the trucks with fill can come in,” a resident said.

Several residents who remained who were visibly upset as the works began.