Gold Coast residents push back on sustainability plans: 'We weren't consulted enough'

As the Gold Coast Council rolls out a $45 million sustainability initiative over the next three years, residents from beachside suburbs to hinterland villages are raising concerns about whether local voices have been adequately heard in the planning process.

The Regional Sustainability Strategy, unveiled earlier this year, targets carbon-neutral operations by 2035 and includes major tree-planting campaigns, wetland restoration, and restrictions on water usage. While environmental groups have praised the ambition, community members say the rollout has left them feeling sidelined.

"We live here every day," said one Tallebudgera resident who attended a public consultation at the Gold Coast Library in Southport last month. "When they talk about managing waterways and regulating garden irrigation, that affects us directly, but we barely had time to ask questions."

The council held five consultation sessions across the city between March and May, drawing approximately 280 attendees combined—a figure many locals say was insufficient for a region of over 650,000 people. The Nerang River Catchment Alliance, a volunteer-run community group, submitted a detailed 12-page response urging the council to prioritise community-led monitoring programs and clearer timelines for implementation.

"Environmental projects work best when residents feel ownership," said a spokesperson for the alliance. "Right now, it feels top-down."

The initiative targets a 40% reduction in council fleet emissions and proposes incentive schemes for residents to adopt solar panels and reduce household water consumption—Gold Coast residents currently use approximately 280 litres per person daily, well above the national average. However, some residents worry about affordability barriers for lower-income families struggling with cost-of-living pressures.

Officials from the council's sustainability branch acknowledged the feedback during a June community forum at the Broadbeach Community Centre, committing to expanded consultation rounds before full implementation of major policies. They've also promised quarterly updates through a new Gold Coast Sustainability Hub, launching online next month.

Environmental advocates say the conversation now must shift from planning to execution. "The strategy is solid on paper," noted a representative from the Gold Coast Environmental Alliance. "The real test is whether residents see tangible change in their local parks, waterways, and energy systems—and whether they're genuinely part of that change."

The council has opened applications for six community advisory positions to the sustainability taskforce, with selections expected by August.

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