Developer plans 1500-unit development for famous Carrara cow paddock despite flooding fear
THE Gold Coast’s most famous cow paddock may become home to more than 1500 people under a new plan to develop towers on the rural site.
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A RESIDENTIAL development needing lifeboats and food rations for three days for fear of flooding is before council bigger than originally thought.
Owners of the famous cow paddock at Carrara want to turn the 25ha site into 1500 dwellings.
Orient Central Development Corporation has planned up to 10 buildings as high as 19 storeys on the corner of Gooding Drive and Robina Parkway, up from the 970-unit project that gained preliminary approval from the Gold Coast City Council in mid-2013.
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Back then, councillors told the developer to include two boat skippers, warning lights, food rations for three days to ensure residents’ safety on the floodplain — and the Gold Coast Bulletin was last night told those conditions would remain.
Cr Bob La Castra, whose division is also home to two other planned high-density city-style developments, said he was concerned about flooding on the site.
“I was against plans to develop that site from day one and I still am,” he said.
“This proposal is just beyond comprehension.”
The new application was filed this year and public comment opened last month.
No submissions or objections have been received and community consultation ends on December 1.
According to plans filed with city hall, the project includes a 19-storey and two 17-floor towers and other medium-rise buildings ranging from four to 10 levels.
At least three four-storey townhouses are also included and a two-storey residential club.
A cafe, convenience store, medical office, tennis courts and other sporting facilities are part of the plans.
A bridge is also mentioned as a possibility in council documents.
City planning boss Cameron Caldwell said all emergency requirements put in place during the 2013 approval remained current and that major flooding issues would be assessed by the council.
He said the proposal was one of a growing number of large sites under single ownership being developed in the area.
“Any approval on this site will require significant steps to mitigate any flood impacts,” he said.
“The previous approval catered for flood-free access in the event of a significant incident and I expect similar provisions will be put in place with a future decision.
“The council welcomes the new approach for the development of this site and we will make our assessment in due course.”
Attempts to contact Orient Central Development Corporation for comment were unsuccessful.
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