The central Gold Coast gets a ‘communal backyard’ as the north looks to industrialise

The City of Gold Coast has set the groundwork for two very different developments with swathes of land to become a green recreational area, while 1,100 hectares may become industrialised.

On Tuesday, councillors resolved to develop 270 hectares of land between Robina and Merrimac into the ‘Greenheart’ project.

Councillors also endorsed plans to investigate how a 3,000-hectare industrial zone in Yatala could be expanded.

Gold Coast gets a ‘Greenheart’

State government benchmarks mean 80 per cent of new developments must be built within the existing urban footprint, meaning more high-density housing.

Key points:

• 270 hectares between Robina and Merrimac to become a recreational area akin to New York’s Central Park
• Council will also investigate how a 3,000 hectare industrial zone could be expanded by 1,100 hectares
• An exact cost of both projects is yet to be determined

Lifestyle and Communities Chair Cr Hermann Vorster said people living in high-density development could not be expected “to give up their backyards without giving them a big communal backyard”.

“It’s going to make sure that suburban Gold Coasters enjoy the very same very high standard of amenity enjoyed by their coastal cousins,” he said.

The first stage of ‘Greenheart’ will be the already-approved 22 hectare Robina City Parklands, with construction set to begin next year.

The parklands — adjacent to Robina Stadium — will include sporting fields and playgrounds.

Cr Vorster said each stage would go to tender separately but the entire project would cost tens of millions of dollars.

50 years worth of land

According to the City of Gold Coast, the Yatala Enterprise Area employs 40,000 people, with hopes to provide 50 years worth of land supply for new industrial developments.

Local area councillor Mark Hammel said expanding that industrial zone further east could double the number of jobs.

“With this investigation into more land supply we present the opportunity to possibly have one of the biggest industrial precincts on the eastern seaboard,” he said.

But Cr Hammel said upgrades to the M1, along with completing the Coomera Connector before the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, are vital for the project.

“It puts council in a really good position to then go to state and federal governments with a well put-together plan, based with economic data, to say ‘this is why you need to invest more in the infrastructure in the northern end of our city’.”

A report is due in early 2022.

Originally published by ABC Gold Coast / By Dominic Cansdale 

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