Lifestyle, Environment, Heritage & Resilience (LEH&R) - 23 April 2026

Key decisions

• Natural areas acquisition program updated
  In closed session, the committee recommended keeping the report confidential, noting the Natural Areas Acquisition Program and koala habitat acquisition update, approving amendments to the Priority Acquisition List including 2 additional sites, and authorising the Chief Executive Officer or delegate to negotiate and settle purchases on the priority-to-approach list and accept gifted properties.
  This can affect long-term conservation, koala habitat protection, and future public environmental outcomes, but the specific sites remain confidential.
• Major venues lease renewal endorsed
  In closed session, the committee recommended renewal of an existing not-for-profit association lease at one of the City’s Major Venues, under the rental rate and terms outlined in the confidential report.
  This may affect community access and use of a major venue, but the venue name and lease details were not publicly released.
• 2025 hazard reduction burn program noted
  The committee recommended that Council note the successful delivery of the City’s 2025 Hazard Reduction Burn Program.
  Hazard reduction burning is relevant to bushfire risk management and community safety.
• Feral Deer Management Plan update noted
  The committee recommended that Council note the update on the Feral Deer Management Plan.
  Feral deer management can affect environmental protection, road safety, and impacts on rural and peri-urban areas.

Important topics

• Koala habitat and offsets acquisition
  The confidential natural areas item covered koala habitat acquisition and future offsets, and updated the Priority Acquisition List.
  Residents may see ongoing council activity to secure environmentally significant land, though exact properties were withheld.
• Confidential property and leasing matters
  Two substantive items were handled in closed session due to confidentiality requirements under the Local Government Act 2009.
  Residents should know decisions were made on land acquisition and a venue lease, but detailed public disclosure was limited.

Resident impacts

• Council is advancing acquisition of additional priority natural area sites, including land relevant to koala habitat and offsets.
• The Chief Executive Officer or delegate was recommended to be empowered to negotiate and finalise certain land purchases and accept gifted properties.
• A not-for-profit lease at a major venue is set for renewal, which may support continued community use of council-managed facilities.
• The City’s hazard reduction burn program was reported as successfully delivered for 2025.
• Council received an update on feral deer management, signalling ongoing work on environmental and safety impacts.

Places affected

• City of Gold Coast (local government area)
  City-wide impacts from hazard reduction burning, feral deer management, natural area acquisition, and venue leasing.
• Major Venues (facility network)
  A confidential lease renewal relates to one of the City's major venues.

Next steps

• Council to consider the committee recommendations on natural area acquisitions and the major venue lease renewal.
  After the committee meeting
• City officers to continue engaging with owners of properties on the amended Priority Acquisition List to negotiate possible purchases.
  Ongoing
• Chief Executive Officer or delegate to enter into and settle approved land purchase contracts on the priority-to-approach list and accept gifted properties, if endorsed by Council.
  Following Council approval
• Ongoing implementation and reporting on feral deer management and hazard reduction burn activities.
  Ongoing

Extracted minutes text

867 UNCONFIRMED MINUTES LIFESTYLE, ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE & RESILIENCE COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY 23 APRIL 2026 9:00AM Meeting commenced at 9:02am City of Gold Coast Council Chambers 135 Bundall Road Surfers Paradise 867 Meeting of the Lifestyle, Environment, Heritage & Resilience Committee Unconfirmed Minutes Thursday 23 April 2026 ORDER OF BUSINESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY ............................................................ 3 1 ATTENDANCE/APOLOGIES .................................................................... 3 2 LEAVE OF ABSENCE ............................................................................... 3 3 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES .......................................