A majority of councillors have opposed a concrete plant needed for light rail construction

Councillors have shot down plans for a 24-hour plant needed for light rail construction after furious opposition from local residents. Read who voted for and against.

Councillors have shot down plans for an around-the-clock concrete batching plant at Burleigh needed for light rail works.

At a full council meeting on Tuesday councillor Josh Martin received majority backing when he opposed the industrial application on the western side of the Pacific Motorway, opposite the Bermuda Street connection.

Only councillor Shelley Curtis and City Planning chair Mark Hammel supported a recommendation by council officers that the project be approved. Mayor Tom Tate did not vote, excusing himself due to a perceived conflict of interest.

Southern-based councillor Josh Martin, opposed to a concrete batching plant being planned for Burleigh Heads, west of the Pacific Motorway.

“I think it’s a massive win for the community that council decided to stay true to the planning intent in that area,” Mr Martin said outside the meeting.

“I acknowledge concrete batching is an important industry for the future of the Gold Coast. I will support it as long as it’s in an appropriate location and that has to be a high impact zoning area.”

Mr Martin said more than 1000 residents had opposed the application, which was first lodged in March 2024. Both State Burleigh MP Hermann Vorster and new McPherson Federal MP Leon Rebello had supported residents, door knocking to gain signatures for a petition.

Mr Martin told councillors he had “considered all sides” but could not support a concrete batching plant, which was a high impact activity, in an area zoned for low impact.

Low impact zones provided a buffer to protect nearby residents, he said.

“This application does the opposite. It locks the site into a level of industrial activity the zone was never meant to support,” Mr Martin said.

Site picture of the planned concrete batching plant west of the Pacific Motorway at Burleigh Heads.

He said residents living in the Old Burleigh Town community did not wash their cars because “it was covered in dirt once they did it” from existing site operations.

Mr Hammel said he believed the issues raised by Mr Martin, including dust and noise, could be addressed by approving the project with conditions.

He said the council could reduce the 24-hour operation and decrease the number of trucks to 300 each day.

The report from council officers supported the industrial application, which would have concrete supplied for light rail Stage 3 for 24 hours each day, seven days a week until mid-2026.

The site is currently used and approved for landfill and a waste and recycling facility.

The batching plant would increase truck movements from 220 to 415 daily using an access road 60m from people’s homes.

Follow @PaulWestonGC 

 

Originally published as A majority of councillors have opposed a concrete plant needed for light rail construction