http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/01/27/43111_gold-coast-news.html$1b Coomera Town Centre get nods
Sue Lappeman
January 27th, 2009
AFTER more than a decade of planning and controversy, the billion-dollar Coomera Town Centre has been given the green light, with the State Government signing off on the Gold Coast City Council master plan.
The purpose-built retail, residential and commercial hub will have the Coomera rail station at its centre and is expected to eventually create 20,000 jobs and 10,500 new homes over the next 15 years.
A north-south boulevard connecting the centre with the Dreamworld theme park will become the main street of the pedestrian-friendly development, to include a library, swimming pool, community and government services.
The Government is also considering a proposal to double the size of the neighbouring marine precinct, potentially generating an extra 1000 jobs.
Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Paul Lucas signed off on the city council's structure plan for Coomera town centre.
"This is a plan to create a new community at Coomera, providing thousands of jobs and injecting money into the local economy," he said yesterday.
"In time, the Coomera Town Centre will become a destination in its own right and the city council expects about 20,000 people will work there by 2026.
"This will be a transit-oriented community, with about 10,500 dwellings supported by retail, tourism and commercial uses.
"The plan is designed to help protect the local environment with an open space corridor to preserve the ecological value and scenic beauty of Oakey Creek, which frames the town centre."
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He said the town centre would offer a range of dwellings, from detached houses to units, to encourage diversity and affordability.
Residential densities will be highest in the areas nearest to the transport hub, to gain the maximum use of public transport.
"Thanks to QR's upgrade of the Brisbane-Gold Coast Rail Line, including a second track from Ormeau to Coomera, train services on this route are more frequent and comfortable," said Mr Lucas.
The proposed town centre is also close to the Gold Coast international marine precinct on the Coomera River.
"The Co-ordinator-General is currently considering a proposal to double the marine precinct's size, which would potentially generate an extra 1000 jobs in the area," he said.
"My endorsement of the structure plan is the first step towards realising the homes and jobs planned for Coomera town centre.
"The structure plan will now be incorporated into the Gold Coast City Council's planning scheme, enabling development applications to be lodged."
Albert MP Margaret Keech said the plan established the broad layout, land use mix, and infrastructure requirements for a 667ha site.
"Initial development will occur around the rail station, which will be part of a transport hub that will also cater to buses, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians," she said.
"The wider town centre will include medium to high-density residential dwellings, education, health and community services, low-impact industry, green space and recreation areas."
Sustainable City Future Committee chairman Peter Young said the Government's approval of the plan should end the controversial long-term claims and counter-claims between landholders about where the town centre should be located.
#Approved: Coomera Town Centre
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The Highrises are coming but I doubt it will resemble Surfers with a 15 storey height limit!!!
From The Gold Coast Bulletin
Coomera set to tower
Kathleen Donaghey
July 20th, 2009
COOMERA will move from back yards and double garages to high rises of up to 15 stories as council moves to create a Surfers Paradise in the 'burbs.
The Gold Coast City Council plan would make the 'family belt' at east Coomera one of the city's most densely populated suburbs.
The council's 'new urbanism' design allows up to 200 dwellings per hectare (10 per hectare is normal for suburbia) which is a similar density to Surfers Paradise.
Coomera is being settled by young families who want bigger, affordable blocks. But with population projections of up to 350,000 people in Coomera by 2012, the council has to find new ways to squeeze them in.
'Surfers Paradise in the 'burbs' is planned for the bush around the train station.
Local councillor Donna Gates said the State Government required the density to accommodate the huge numbers of people moving to the Coast, especially to the northern end.
"We need to accommodate them within the urban footprint and I don't see how else it can be achieved."
Cr Gates said the region would be well serviced, with council's four-year capital works plan including a community centre, pool and library.
"We're looking at the west (Coomera) now because that's where people are now. But it's all there in the forward planning."
Buildings between two and six storeys will constitute most of the high rises but some as tall as 15 storeys will be allowed between the M1 and the station, said Cr Gates.
However developers say families will not want to live in high rises without beaches, shopping centres, restaurants and entertainment nearby.
Midwood Report author Bill Morris said east Coomera would have the same density as Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach -- without the amenity -- and in an area where people wanted bigger blocks.
"They are imposing this vision on east Coomera which may have the effect of ceasing development," he said.
"It's just wall-to-wall high density."
The Coomera Town Centre Structural Plan revolves around a town centre near the railway line close to land owned by the State Government for future facilities such as a TAFE or a hospital.
Around that, the council wants high-density residential of up to 200 dwellings per hectare and for people to rely on local public transport.
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Moving out from the town centre, housing will become less dense -- between 25 and 150 dwellings per hectare -- and include townhouses and average-sized blocks.
Peter Dunkley, state development manager with Devine Ltd, said it was likely high rises would not eventuate and the council would be left with an empty shell.
Leda Developments state property manager Phil O'Callaghan believed units and apartments were a more affordable option for couples and families.
"There's been anecdotal evidence from sales offices that there are larger proportions of people who don't want the big yard because they have to mow it," said Mr O'Callaghan.
From The Gold Coast Bulletin
Coomera set to tower
Kathleen Donaghey
July 20th, 2009
COOMERA will move from back yards and double garages to high rises of up to 15 stories as council moves to create a Surfers Paradise in the 'burbs.
The Gold Coast City Council plan would make the 'family belt' at east Coomera one of the city's most densely populated suburbs.
The council's 'new urbanism' design allows up to 200 dwellings per hectare (10 per hectare is normal for suburbia) which is a similar density to Surfers Paradise.
Coomera is being settled by young families who want bigger, affordable blocks. But with population projections of up to 350,000 people in Coomera by 2012, the council has to find new ways to squeeze them in.
'Surfers Paradise in the 'burbs' is planned for the bush around the train station.
Local councillor Donna Gates said the State Government required the density to accommodate the huge numbers of people moving to the Coast, especially to the northern end.
"We need to accommodate them within the urban footprint and I don't see how else it can be achieved."
Cr Gates said the region would be well serviced, with council's four-year capital works plan including a community centre, pool and library.
"We're looking at the west (Coomera) now because that's where people are now. But it's all there in the forward planning."
Buildings between two and six storeys will constitute most of the high rises but some as tall as 15 storeys will be allowed between the M1 and the station, said Cr Gates.
However developers say families will not want to live in high rises without beaches, shopping centres, restaurants and entertainment nearby.
Midwood Report author Bill Morris said east Coomera would have the same density as Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach -- without the amenity -- and in an area where people wanted bigger blocks.
"They are imposing this vision on east Coomera which may have the effect of ceasing development," he said.
"It's just wall-to-wall high density."
The Coomera Town Centre Structural Plan revolves around a town centre near the railway line close to land owned by the State Government for future facilities such as a TAFE or a hospital.
Around that, the council wants high-density residential of up to 200 dwellings per hectare and for people to rely on local public transport.
Have your say on the feedback form below
Moving out from the town centre, housing will become less dense -- between 25 and 150 dwellings per hectare -- and include townhouses and average-sized blocks.
Peter Dunkley, state development manager with Devine Ltd, said it was likely high rises would not eventuate and the council would be left with an empty shell.
Leda Developments state property manager Phil O'Callaghan believed units and apartments were a more affordable option for couples and families.
"There's been anecdotal evidence from sales offices that there are larger proportions of people who don't want the big yard because they have to mow it," said Mr O'Callaghan.
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350,000 people in Coomera by 2012!!
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Ok this is what I remember seeing on the slide in my lecture last semester. Main St is th street that engineers wanted 6 lanes on but obviously that wouldn't work. Also he didn't say if the shopping centre would be a concrete Westfield fortress or a open air style centre.
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:hahano: ^^ another "concrete fortress" Westfield :wtf: I thought planners were trying to get away from that kind of outcome, if it's on the rail line - maybe okay, but it could be shit if it doesn't interact with the outside - just being a concrete box with a hundred or so stores and majors....
I hope to see something better than just carparking and a few trees/shrubs surrounded by a box.
I hope to see something better than just carparking and a few trees/shrubs surrounded by a box.
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lol @ people getting paid to draw rectangles!!! is this what urban planning is? hey? -> it worked for africa.Ok this is what I remember seeing on the slide in my lecture last semester. Main St is th street that engineers wanted 6 lanes on but obviously that wouldn't work. Also he didn't say if the shopping centre would be a concrete Westfield fortress or a open air style centre.
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Another Westfield shopping centre? Theres already one at Helensvale which it has built not long ago. Another hospital and university??? What ones?Ok this is what I remember seeing on the slide in my lecture last semester. Main St is th street that engineers wanted 6 lanes on but obviously that wouldn't work. Also he didn't say if the shopping centre would be a concrete Westfield fortress or a open air style centre.
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How could they have two Westfield's so close together? With one down the road in Helensvale?
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The Westfield Shopping Centre has stalled over a large infrastructure bill of $165 million.
From The Gold Coast Bulletin
Westfield stalled by $165m bill
Geoff Chambers | September 16th, 2009
THE proposed Westfield shopping centre -- that will underpin the entire Coomera Town Centre precinct -- has been stalled after the Gold Coast City Council flagged an infrastructure bill worth more than $165 million.
Sources have told The Bulletin that planning application negotiations for the massive site have been bogged down by the infrastructure charges revelation.
With both the State Government and council being blamed by developers and growth experts for dropping the ball on Coomera, the latest revelation is another indication that development is being choked by red tape.
A source said the $165 million infrastructure bill would not include the duplication of the Dreamworld overpass or dual reticulation of recycled water.
"If this was taken to any company board, it would not be approved," said the source.
Prominent Gold Coast town planner David Ransom, a fierce opponent of the current PIP structure, said council chiefs had to make some hard decisions.
"The biggest impediment to any new development moving ahead in the city is the infrastructure charges," said Mr Ransom.
"Until the charges are brought back to a reasonable level, especially in Coomera, I think there will be serious issues."
Mr Ransom said the Robina example, where the Robina town centre was built first, was the model that should be encouraged.
"We're seeing investment in and around Robina going gangbusters and what we're seeing in Coomera is the opposite," he said.
"The fringes are developing but the middle won't until the centre is built."
Coomera councillor Donna Gates said nothing was preventing the Westfield and Queensland Investment Corporation consortium from lodging a development application to progress the shopping centre.
Cr Gates has fought for social infrastructure development in the city's boom suburb.
"There is nothing stopping Westfield from submitting an application right now but I don't think they would do that because it would be an impact-assessable application and open to objections from other landholders," said Cr Gates.
"Maybe the situation has more to do with economic circumstances and the fact they may want this to be code assessable and not open to appeals."
City planning boss Cr Ted Shepherd said Coomera was the most important suburb on the Gold Coast.
"There was a push for Helensvale to become the principal activity centre but Coomera has been re-affirmed," he said.
"We need to do everything we can to encourage local planning instruments to get the development rolling."
The progression of the town centre's commercial component has been bogged down by planning requirements and a legal dispute between stakeholders Westfield/QIC and Dreamworld owner Macquarie Leisure Trust
From The Gold Coast Bulletin
Westfield stalled by $165m bill
Geoff Chambers | September 16th, 2009
THE proposed Westfield shopping centre -- that will underpin the entire Coomera Town Centre precinct -- has been stalled after the Gold Coast City Council flagged an infrastructure bill worth more than $165 million.
Sources have told The Bulletin that planning application negotiations for the massive site have been bogged down by the infrastructure charges revelation.
With both the State Government and council being blamed by developers and growth experts for dropping the ball on Coomera, the latest revelation is another indication that development is being choked by red tape.
A source said the $165 million infrastructure bill would not include the duplication of the Dreamworld overpass or dual reticulation of recycled water.
"If this was taken to any company board, it would not be approved," said the source.
Prominent Gold Coast town planner David Ransom, a fierce opponent of the current PIP structure, said council chiefs had to make some hard decisions.
"The biggest impediment to any new development moving ahead in the city is the infrastructure charges," said Mr Ransom.
"Until the charges are brought back to a reasonable level, especially in Coomera, I think there will be serious issues."
Mr Ransom said the Robina example, where the Robina town centre was built first, was the model that should be encouraged.
"We're seeing investment in and around Robina going gangbusters and what we're seeing in Coomera is the opposite," he said.
"The fringes are developing but the middle won't until the centre is built."
Coomera councillor Donna Gates said nothing was preventing the Westfield and Queensland Investment Corporation consortium from lodging a development application to progress the shopping centre.
Cr Gates has fought for social infrastructure development in the city's boom suburb.
"There is nothing stopping Westfield from submitting an application right now but I don't think they would do that because it would be an impact-assessable application and open to objections from other landholders," said Cr Gates.
"Maybe the situation has more to do with economic circumstances and the fact they may want this to be code assessable and not open to appeals."
City planning boss Cr Ted Shepherd said Coomera was the most important suburb on the Gold Coast.
"There was a push for Helensvale to become the principal activity centre but Coomera has been re-affirmed," he said.
"We need to do everything we can to encourage local planning instruments to get the development rolling."
The progression of the town centre's commercial component has been bogged down by planning requirements and a legal dispute between stakeholders Westfield/QIC and Dreamworld owner Macquarie Leisure Trust
The decision notice document on MCU2500664 at http://pdonline.goldcoast.qld.gov.au makes good reading... 8 pages of NO! It shows that Macquarie really had no intention of playing ball and going with the flow when it comes to this plan.
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