Concerns heard on Black Swan Lake

The Palaszczuk Government will approach the Gold Coast City Council regarding community concerns about a proposed car park at Black Swan Lake.

Local Government Minister Mark Furner said while Governing from the Gold Coast earlier this month, the Palaszczuk Government heard loud and clear from the community that Black Swan Lake was a much-loved local asset.

“Residents raised very serious concerns about the proposed car park,” Mr Furner said.

“While this is a council decision and there is no power for the State to intervene in their decision, I will raise the concerns that residents have brought up with me with the Council.”

Environment Minister Steven Miles said after visiting the site he asked the Environment Department to investigate how the Council planned to move the wildlife.

“I visited the lake while at the Gold Coast and was surprised to see so much birdlife including nesting black swans. I can see why the community want to protect this area,” Mr Miles said.

“I asked the Environment Department to review its decision to issue a ‘low risk’ Species Management Program (SMP) to the Gold Coast Turf Club.

“The review confirmed that no ‘high risk’ species – defined as ‘threatened’ under State or Commonwealth environmental laws – are breeding or roosting at the lake.

“The SMP requires a suitably qualified and experienced person must remove nests, and eggs or young if necessary.

“Any eggs or young would need to be rehabilitated by a wildlife carer before being released back into the wild.

“But I hope the Council reconsiders, because clearly this is a much loved area by locals who would prefer to see the black swans nesting in the wild than a dirty great carpark.”

Media contact:

Minister Furner – 0408 317 992; Minister Miles – 0422 580 342