Inside the failed attempts to build on the Gold Coast’s iconic famous paddock
A 25-hectare site has become the Gold Coast's ultimate development white elephant, with several major tower projects stalled since 2005.
The future of housing on the Gold Coast is at a crossroads.
Several large projects have been unveiled in recent weeks which are proposed as ways of creating more housing and taking pressure off the market.
From turning the canelands in the city’s far north into its own suburb at Norwell Valley to the transformation of the Southport Sharks into a sports and residential complex, there’s no shortage of ideas.
But there is one site which has repeatedly changed hands and been eyed-off by developers to no avail.
The giant 25ha site at the intersection of Gooding Dr and Robina Parkway today remains the Gold Coast’s best-known cow paddock.
The cows have been famous for being painted at State of Origin.
In the past 20 years, there have been several proposals put forward to transform it into housing but all have been hampered by a major issue – the land is a flood plain.
The site was among the worst affected in the June 30, 2005 floods which hit the city unexpectedly in the middle of winter.
The rainfall exceeded the amount dumped on Brisbane in the downpour which led to the devastating 1974 floods.
Hundreds of early morning commuters were stranded with many having to abandon their vehicles as swollen rivers and creeks washed their cars away.
Scores of people and livestock were rescued after the SES received 624 distress calls between 3.50am and 3.15pm.
While emergency services were busy helping people, residents and even area councillor Bob La Castra had to wade into the flooded field to save its occupants.
The herd of cows had to be hauled out of a waterlogged paddock with ropes while nearby, two police cars and six taxis were abandoned by their drivers after being caught in the floods.
Despite this incident, plans were made to develop the site just six years later.
In 2011, the Bulletin revealed the land, arguably Australia’s most expensive grazing real estate would be developed after it has been used by Judy Turner to breed Charolais cows since 1981.
It was said at the time that the project was worth $307m and would be built by 2021.
‘‘The site has always been recognised by all levels of government as a key development area,’’ developer John Fitzgerald said at the time.
Ms Turner told the Bulletin back then that she was upset to hear about the development proposal.
‘‘The possibility of the site being developed has been hanging over my head since I started leasing the land,’’ she said.
‘‘But I was terribly upset when I saw the signs going up. All the pockets of land like this on the Gold Coast are disappearing.
‘‘I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens.”
The project went before the council in 2013 and was given approval with several major provisions; a helipad and lifeboats were needed to help evacuate residents in the event of floods.
The planning application had to include an emergency management plan that enabled Cypress Gardens to provide food and water for three days as well as evacuation supplies.
Work did not progress following the 2013 decision.
In 2015, a developer looked to make the project larger than previously expected.
According to plans filed with city hall, the project includes a 19-storey and two 17-floor towers and other medium-rise buildings.
That project was approved in 2017 but it didn’t progress.
The site has been put on the market in recent years but did not sell either, leaving the cows to their pasture.
