Arundel Hills Country Club: Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon gives green light to hundreds of homes in major redevelopment
The developer behind controversial plans to redevelop Arundel Hills Country Club have revealed where they stand on the state government’s approval as questions mount about its future.
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The LNP if elected to government faces an uphill task to overturn the decision on the Arundel Hills Country Club redevelopment, according to state planning laws.
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon gave the green light to plans for the former golf club this week, which would pave the way for at least 650 homes on the disused 67ha site – almost double the number of homes in the developer’s original pitch for the $150 million project.
A State Development spokesman said a future Planning Minister would have the power to repeal the Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) which was used by Ms Scanlon at Arundel after Gold Council initially rejected the project.
But the new Minister would need to be satisfied that the state interests which supported the making of the TLPI could be protected.
Ms Scanlon, the Gaven MP, has argued her key reason for her intervening was to provide more housing and low cost accommodation during a cost of living crisis.
“An assessment would need to be undertaken by the department to determine any change in the facts and circumstances,” a Department spokesman said.
“Regardless of the outcome of the 2024 State election, the Gold Coast continues to need more housing.
“The Gold Coast needs more than 6000 new dwellings each year to meet demand for diverse and affordable homes. In 2023, only 4771 residential dwellings were approved by Gold Coast City Council.
“The TLPI made for Arundel ensures any future development includes a minimum of 20 per cent to be affordable housing, with more than 60 per cent of the site retained for recreation, open space and conservation.”
The Bulletin understands that to make the Arundel TLPI the Minister had to justify:
* Significant Risk – either of serious adverse cultural, economic, environmental, or social conditions occurring within the local government area.
* Urgency – that the delay in using the standard scheme amendment processes would exacerbate the risk.
Government sources said Ms Scanlon as the Minister used the urgency of high housing demand and a shortfall in infill housing options to justify creating the TLPI.
“Gold Coast City Council and the LNP will need to demonstrate how they have increased housing supply and infill housing options since the TLPI was made to justify its repeal,” the source said.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor who has backed residents living around the disused golf course later vowed that the LNP in government would work to overturn it.
On the Arundel-Parkwood Resident and Community Group page, Mr O’Connor posted that he had spoken to Opposition leader David Crisafulli and Deputy leader and shadow planning minister Jarrod Bleijie. They were urgently seeking advice on how to overturn the decision.
“If people want to overturn this, they need to vote for the LNP. If we win government, we’ll do everything within our powers to stop it,” he told residents.
The rare government intervention ends a chapter in the Gold Coast’s biggest community row.
Under the TLPI, more than 60 per cent of the site will be retained for recreation, open space and conservation.
Exhaustive consultation saw more than 1800 submissions.
“I have stepped in after council rejected a housing estate proposed for the site which fell short of the government’s minimum expectations to fully use this land for more affordable housing,” Ms Scanlon said.
“There aren’t enough homes for our key workers or young renters and ageing Gold Coasters.
“My decision on the Arundel TLPI means we can seize an opportunity to unlock land
we have available to deliver hundreds more homes close to infrastructure and services.”
A spokesman for 3Group welcomed Ms Scanlon’s decision.
“We are pleased with the Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) that has been released and gazetted by the Government,” he said.
“We will create a precinct that finds a balance between providing much-needed housing and affordable housing, unlocking greenspaces for public use and establishing sporting facilities with varied uses which can be utilised and enjoyed by the community into the future.”
Government’s final call on future of Arundel Hills Country Club
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon has given the tick to the Arundel Hills Country Club redevelopment, with the government intervention paying the way for hundreds of new homes.
The Gaven MP on Tuesday approved and gave the green light to the temporary local planning instrument (TLPI) which will see one-fifth of the accommodation on the site set aside for “affordable housing”.
The rare government intervention ends a chapter in the Gold Coast’s biggest community row, paving the way for at least 650 homes on the disused 67ha site — almost double the number of homes in the original plans for the $150 million project.
Under the TLPI, more than 60 per cent of the site will be retained for recreation, open space and conservation. Exhaustive consultation saw more than 1800 submissions.
“I have stepped in after council rejected a housing estate proposed for the site which
fell short of the government’s minimum expectations to fully utilise this land for more
affordable housing,” Ms Scanlon said.
“There aren’t enough homes for our key workers or young renters and ageing Gold
Coasters. My decision on the Arundel TLPI means we can seize an opportunity to unlock land
we have available to deliver hundreds more homes close to infrastructure and
services.
“Not only will this preserve public open space and land for sport and recreation, it
provides a higher level of protection to support improved biodiversity and
environmental outcomes through restoration and rehabilitation of connectivity
corridors.”
The council will have up to two years to embed the TLPI in its planning scheme.
Acting Mayor Donna Gates said she understood the TLPI would override the City Plan and officers would need to assess a new application.
She said it was one of the strongest refusals by the City and it was “extremely disappointing that the community again has not been listened to and the council’s decision was cast aside”.
“Locals will probably not be in favour of what is proposed. It makes us a little fearful of what could happen on other golf courses in the city,” she said.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor described Labor’s decision as a “desperate and erratic move to look like they’re fixing the housing crisis they created”.
“By rushing this through just weeks before caretaker kicks in, Meaghan Scanlon has decided to side with interstate developers over our community and the Gold Coast Council,” he said.
“The LNP would not treat local governments like this. We want to partner with councils to deliver more housing supply in right areas.
“If elected in October, an LNP government will do everything within its powers to stop this. “We will urgently seek advice on overturning this planning instrument to put the future of Arundel Hills back into the hands of the community and the Council.”
The Government received 1856 submissions after it sought feedback from residents and stakeholders in July and August.
Ms Scanlon said: “There has been a 16 per cent drop in councillor approvals (for development) from 2022 to 2023 and that’s why I’m taking this action.”
She said Opposition leader David Crisafulli was saying the city needed more housing supply “but his MPs refuse to back him on projects in their own backyard”.
Ms Scanlon acknowledged “there will be residents who won’t agree with me” but the government had listened to their concerns and made changes.
“But my sole focus is making sure that we have affordable housing in this city for young renters and front line workers,” she said.
Political sources suggest the changes open the way for the developer to cease a legal appeal against council in the planning court and work with the City to progress the new plans.
The Government’s vision for the redevelopment includes a retail area on the ground floor of medium-density buildings, which can be as high as six storeys.
The developer can go higher but it would make the project “impact assessable” where council would consider it under the City Plan, along with submissions from residents.
Government planners, in reassessing the golf-club development after Ms Scanlon applied the TLPI, worked to reduce local traffic impact by allowing retail on the site.
Mapping showed the following various precincts:
■ Fairways residential in precinct 1 is low density providing for 190 dwellings, with a minimum height of one storey – it becomes “impact assessable” for higher than three levels.
■ Parkview residential in precinct 2a is medium density, providing a minimum of 173 dwellings, with lowest height of two storeys – more than six becomes “impact assessable”.
■ Parkview residential precinct 2b is medium density, allowing for a minimum 287 dwellings with lowest height of two storeys – more than six requires impact assessment.
No maximum heights are set for impact assessable application, the government confirmed. But under the accepted city development code the building must ensure “integration with surrounding areas” and “support gentle density development throughout” the site.
HOW THE ARUNDEL DEVELOPMENT ROW TOOK OFF
* May 2022: Zhongsheng Management, the company that previously owned and operated the golf club, is placed in external administration. The club is left deserted. The developers Arundel Estate Developments Pty Ltd lodge a new master plan.
* Early January 2024: The planning application to council receives 1163 objections, most of them from nearby residents who have formed a community group. Only 119 submissions were made in support. Objectors were concerned about impact on the amenity of their suburb, on wildlife and loss of critical sporting and recreation land.
* January 22, 2024: Council rejects the plans with councillors at a planning committee voting unanimously against it, earning the applause of protesting residents. Council planning committee chairman Mark Hammel describes the nine-page refusal “as the strongest I’ve seen”. But the developer, in a notice of appeal in the planning court, says the development will help fix a significant emerging undersupply of dwellings.
* June 2024: Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon resists a “call-in” option but instead provides for Temporary Local Planning Instrument. If the developer agrees to the TLPI, the council can reassesses the $150m development. Mayor Tom Tate urged the developer not to take any legal action and instead work with authorities on a solution.
* July 22, 2024: The Bulletin reveals the plans under the TLPI. All stakeholders have 10 business days to respond.
* September 4, 2024. Ms Scanlon announces, after reviewing 1856 submissions, the TLPI will go ahead, ensuring it is place for two years, opening the way for the developer to end court action and work with council on progressing the project.
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Originally published as Arundel Hills Country Club: Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon gives green light to hundreds of homes in major redevelopment
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