Arundel Wetlands Collaboration by Louise Martin-Chew

Abstract

When developer Villa World needed to manage stormwater discharge from a new residential subdivision, the City of Gold Coast’s 2011 acquisition of a degraded golf course site in Arundel under the Open Space preservation program became key. Negotiations between Villa World and City of Gold Coast led to an atypical collaboration which has delivered significant environmental, social and economic benefits o the community, and increased biodiversity in this area. The concept, which emerged from community consultation, led to an agreement allowing Villa World to use the Arundel section to deliver the stormwater and recreation infrastructure obligations required under their development application.