Queensland Government pays $74m for land at The Surrounds Helensvale for Coomera Connector

Construction is yet to begin on the Coomera Connector, but the State has spent more than $74m on the project – with all the cash going to a prominent residential developer. DETAILS>>

THE Queensland Government has spent $74m on the Coomera Connector before construction has begun, with all the cash going to a prominent residential developer.

In its largest tangible action on the project to date, the Queensland Government resumed four vast tracts of land adjoining The Surrounds at Helensvale, where it plans to build part of the second M1 and an interchange.

The payout has been described by the opposition as an avoidable planning blunder, which has also cost the city more than 1500 much-needed new homes which were planned for the site.

Property records reveal the State Government, via the Department of Transport and Main Roads, purchased 19.134ha of residential land from Villawood Properties last month, spending more than $60.5m in the process.

That purchase followed another by the department in September 2019, when it bought a row of 25 house blocks on Citron Cres for $13.97m.

It took possession of the latest vacant properties along the former Country Club Dr, now called Buckler Dr, opposite the light and heavy rail stations on August 9.

The developer had purchased the land from long-time owners the Buckler family in 2018 and 2019 for a total of $20.5m.

The land, marked in red, resumed by the State Government from developer Villawood for $60.5m for the Coomera Connector, which is marked in blue. The existing M1 is marked in black.

The State’s latest spend makes up more than half of the $115m it budgeted for the Coomera Connector project this financial year.

Villawood had planned to develop 1500 apartments on the site, which Gold Coast City Council had rezoned specifically to create high-density housing close to the public transport hub.

The developer was unable to provide comment on the resumption process, but confirmed the land was resumed as it “forms part of the route for the Coomera Connector”.

“The land was earmarked for a major residential development with a mix of small lot housing and villas, medium density apartments up to 10 storeys, as well as a mix of retirement and aged care facilities,” a statement from Villawood said.

“Significant planning work had taken place in preparation for the approvals process to continue.”

The proposed residential development of the land – which could have had a final value approaching $1bn – was even spruiked in a 2016 Queensland Government media release about the benefits of building the light rail nearby.

The Bulletin sent questions about the purchase to the department’s media team on Friday but, despite its significance, was told there would be no response for the public before Monday.

Member for Bonney Sam O’Connor, whose electorate takes in The Surrounds, warned in 2019 taxpayers could be forced to pay out millions to developers because of the position of the light rail system within the transport corridor.

“It doesn’t take an engineer to see a six-lane arterial road isn’t going to fit between the light rail station (at Helensvale) and Country Club Drive,” he said at the time.

“The rush to build light rail stage 2 has meant the Government used the second M1 corridor in 2015 without providing enough space for the road.”

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor.

This week, Mr O’Connor said the recent payout was a result of the Government having “stuffed up the planning”.

“That’s an extraordinary amount of money and it’s sure to blow out the cost (of the connector) considerably,” he said.

“This is the price we are paying for the Government’s failure to properly plan.

“Imagine what $74m could have done for traffic congestion on the Gold Coast.”

Mr O’Connor said the loss of the proposed residential development came when the Gold Coast had record demand for housing.

“I remember at the sod turning of the second stage of the light rail, (the Government) were talking about the Villawood development, and it was all about people having places to live without having to use their car,” he said.

“We’re crying out for new housing developments, the council is desperately trying to rezone parts of Labrador and Biggera Waters that don’t have access to light rail.

“It’s ruined any chance of building what was meant to be a nation-leading public transport-orientated community.”

Villawood opened registrations of interest for prospective buyers of its final few house blocks at the leafy estate on Sunday.

The first stage of the second M1, between Nerang-Broadbeach Road at Nerang and Shipper Drive at Coomera, is expected to take up to 60,000 vehicles off the Pacific Motorway, reducing congestion and increasing road safety.

The State and Federal governments have each committed half of the $1.53b cost of the first stage.

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Originally published as Queensland Government pays $74m for land at The Surrounds Helensvale for Coomera Connector