State government to consider powerful move amid Arundel Hills court battle
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has confirmed the government could intervene should the council and residents lose their court battle with the Arundel Hills Country Club developer.
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The State Government will consider using call-in powers if Gold Coast City Council and residents lose their planning court battle with the Arundel Hills developer.
The fate of the $150m Arundel Hills Country Club redevelopment is to be determined by the courts after councillors on Tuesday – with the backing of the government – dumped revised plans for the project.
An officer report debated by councillors included a notice from Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie supporting the city’s request to remove a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) introduced by former Minister Meaghan Scanlon.
Outside the meeting, after councillors voted unanimously to support the repeal, Mr Bleijie revealed future options for the project.
“Now, there’s a couple of applications that were put in based on the TLPI,” Mr Bleijie said.
“That TLPI, despite the fact it is now being repealed, is a matter for the particular developer when to proceed or withdraw. I have made it pretty clear that I’m going to look at all my powers, including call-in powers.
“So it’s a matter for the developer, it’s in their court now. But I would hope they get a pretty clear message of where I want to go with this, and that’s putting community at the centre of these decision-making processes.”
This masthead understands the developer will most likely not proceed with any remaining TLPIs and opt to continue the appeal, due to be heard again in March next year.
The other option, which the government hopes will be pursued, is returning to talks with council on an agreeable solution for the site.
Political sources suggest the Government’s main concern is the site’s overdevelopment.
Call-in powers are usually used to fast track major developments.
In 2012, then deputy premier Jeff Seeney used the powerful planning move to approve the $1.4bn Jewel Towers development.
In 2015, then treasurer Jackie Trad did the same with Skyridge at Worongary.
A similar intervention here will be among the first time a government used a call-in to reduce the impact of development.
Mr Bleijie would only confirm he has the call-in powers, adding that it was “open to the State Government to look at all our options to ensure what is developed there is pursuant what council wants”.
“What we will do at all times is bring the community with us on the journey. This site at Arundel Hills was always inappropriate. It was green space. It was outside of the planning scheme for what was going to be approved there,” he said.
The Arundel Hills Community Association leader Jason Young remained confident about the next step in a two-year battle.
“If the developers aren’t reading the room here they’ve got a problem. Whether they want to push through that’s up them,” he said.
“I’m not too worried about the court case. I think we have the right decisions in there to defend the appeal.”
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