The fate of an abandoned Queensland golf course that has become a microcosm for the debate between the need for housing versus environmental protection is a step closer to being sealed, with the state’s housing minister releasing her vision for the 67ha site.
Debate between residents surrounding the former Arundel Hills Golf Club on the Gold Coast, the local council, developers and the state government has been raging since it was closed to players and patrons in mid-2022.
The City of Gold Coast council sided with residents who wanted to see the site protected to continue being home to native animals including koalas and kangaroos, after a developer proposed a new 380-house estate.
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Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon, the MP for neighbouring electorate Gaven, has cited the need to address the housing crisis in justifying her desire to see the land developed, indicating she would use her ministerial powers to ignore the council’s decision to reject a large housing development.
On Monday, she released her vision for 650 homes to be built on the site.
“Well, the Gold Coast needs more houses. We have plenty of golf courses,” she said.
“We don’t have enough homes for key workers. That’s why I stepped in.”
Scanlon claims her plan’s inclusion of more “medium density” housing would allow for more of the golf course to be kept as green space than the original plan.
“This is a really sensible solution that delivers affordable housing and also protects the natural environment and provides public open spaces,” she said.
“It requires a 20 per cent affordable housing contribution.
“It also proposes more medium density (housing), so we want to see more townhouses, more units, things that we know are more appropriate for young Gold Coasters and ageing Gold Coasters.”
Jason Young from the Arundel Hills Community Association criticised the “abhorrent” decision as being “worse than the original plan, as far as the destruction of the green space” goes, as well as turning local traffic into an “absolute nightmare”.
“This is a major overreach by the state government. They’ve been lobbied hard by these Melbourne developers,” he said.
“But our membership is really going to fight this.”
The proposal will be subject to a period of community consultation.