By BELINDA PARKES
PLANS for a $100 million bungalow-style resort between Kingscliff and Casuarina have been scrapped by developer Leighton Properties, leaving the future of the Crown Land site known as Lot 490 up for grabs.
Leighton Properties has confirmed to the Tweed Coast Weekly it was withdrawing from the development approved by the State Government last year, but would not give reasons for its decision.
Locals who have been campaigning for years against development of the beachfront coastal reserve welcomed the news but said the issue wasfar from over.
Save Lot 490 Coalition spokesman Jerry Cornford said it was now a question of whether another developer could be found to take over the project or if the government would listen to what the community wanted from the high-profile site.
He believed there was overwhelming community support for Lot 490 to be kept as a wildlife corridor and public reserve.
However, Mr Cornford said it was not unrealistic to expect the government to want to make an income from the site and the Save Lot 490 Coalition would fight to ensure any development was small and low-impact, such as a camping ground.
Tweed councillor Warren Polglase said Leighton Properties’ withdrawal from Lot 490 opened an opportunity for the council to raise much-needed funds to maintain all its coastal reserves.
He believed few developers in the current economic climate would consider taking over the project which the State Government reduced in size from the 180 bungalows Leighton Properties proposed to 127.
“The council is the only people really in the ballgame,” said Cr Polglase who will be pushing to open a new council-owned caravan park on the land.
“We make a profit out of our caravan parks and this is one of the best locations we have got as it is on the waterfront and has everything holidaymakers want with the creek, the surf and the sand,” he said.
Cr Polglase said low-key, affordable holiday accommodation for families would complement what was already on offer in the area, be good for the businesses of Kingscliffand fund preservation of the shire’s coastal reserves.
“Leighton put forward its proposal but now it is our turn to have a go,” Cr Polglase said.
Tweed mayor Barry Longland said although the council did not make the decisions on what happened on the land, it did act as trustees and therefore could influence the outcome.
He said his personal views were not important and as trustees the council should be pushing the government to consult with the community about Lot 490’s future.
Cr Longland expected Lot 490 would be on the agenda at the Tweed Coast Reserve Trust meeting on Thursday (May 16).
