Gold Coast development: Neumann family fights government attempt to aquire Currumbin Valley site

A powerful and longstanding Gold Coast family have vowed to push ahead with a planned development on land the state government wants to resume.

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A POWERFUL and longstanding Gold Coast family have vowed to push ahead with a planned development on land the state government wants to resume.

The Palaszczuk government announced it would compulsorily acquire the 148ha Martha’s Farm site in Currumbin Valley just before October’s state election to create a giant parkland.

But the Neumann family, which bought the site just five months before the government’s plans were announced, say they will fight any attempt to take the land.

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The Martha's Farm site

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Family spokesman Kevin Morse said the Neumanns intended to begin construction of their own proposed development in October.

“At this stage we’re progressing with plans to commence Stage 1 of the Verdana Currumbin project in accordance with the approved masterplan, which was our plan before the government announced its intention to resume,” he said.

“We are aware that the Queensland government has enacted legislation to acquire our site but at this stage we are awaiting further dialogue from the government over its offer to purchase.

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John and Mardi Neumann outside the family's business headquarters. They are furious with the state government over plans to acquire their land in the Hinterland.

“The site has Land and Environment Court and construction approvals in place for a 348 lot land subdivision – a project which would assist in relieving pressure on the Gold Coast’s growing housing crisis, where a chronic land shortage has contributed to soaring property prices.”

Martha’s Farm was bought by the Neumanns for $15m in May 2020. The Bulletin understands the government has offered the family a similar figure for the land.

The Neumanns’ approved plans include developing 25 per cent or 38ha of the site. The remaining 75 per cent would be open space, including wetlands, walking and cycling trails, picnic areas and lookouts.

The land in the Currumbin Valley which the State Government hope to transform into an Eco-parkland

The government announced in October 2020 it would buy the site and create a “major new eco-parkland”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said at the time the project would “protect the Currumbin Valley environment so that both local residents and tourists could enjoy it well into the future”.

The move was opposed by the LNP.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles announced in July that the government had started the process to compulsorily acquire the site after talks with the Neumanns broke down.

He said on Tuesday that discussions would continue with the Neumanns.

“Unfortunately, the Queensland government has been unable to reach an agreement with the land owners and commenced a process to compulsorily acquire the land,” he said.

“Turning this property into an eco-park will protect the important koala habitat and other local flora and fauna on the site. It will allow us to make the site something the whole community can enjoy.”

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