The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning has begun the process to compulsorily acquire 148 hectares of land on the Southern Gold Coast.
The Department said the acquisition would create the Currumbin Eco-Parkland, one of the largest eco-parklands in Australia
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Steven Miles said the Government had made an election commitment to protect the parcel of land at Currumbin Waters, locally known as Martha’s Farm or Martha’s Vineyard.
“Not only will this be a new recreational eco-parkland for the community, it will protect valuable koala habitat as well as local flora and fauna,” Mr Miles said.
“We listened to community concerns about preserving this unique property and we have acted on these concerns.”
He said the decision also ended 20 years of development uncertainty around the site.
“Martha’s Farm or Martha’s Vineyard has been subject to several development approvals since the 1980s, with the current approval for 348 residential lots, a marine precinct and artificial lake,” Mr Miles said.
“It’s a highly constrained site with steep topography and flooding issues, making it difficult to develop, but has some unique features that make it worth preserving and enhancing.”
The Minister said the Government had undertaken commercial negotiations with the current landowners since early in the year.
“Unfortunately, an agreement has not been reached, and we have had to take further action and we remain open to a commercial resolution with the landowners,” he said.
“If the site is acquired, we will progress short-term measures to make the site publicly accessible including construction of an entry road, car parking and amenities, before commencing stakeholder and community consultation to ensure everyone has an opportunity to put their ideas forward about the long-term outcomes for the site,” Mr Miles said.
