Earlier this month, Bleijie announced that the government was contemplating expediting the project with its “call-in powers,” at the urging of Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate.

It also notes the site is “heavily vegetated with native vegetation and koala habitat trees”.

“The project presents a substantial opportunity for tourism and economic growth, but there are crucial environmental issues linked to the proposal that need in-depth assessment,” Bleijie stated.

“Specifically, the plan involves clearing native vegetation in zones identified as environmentally significant, including areas with regulated native vegetation and koala habitats.”

An ecological report submitted to the Gold Coast City Council as part of the proposal outlines the plan to clear 42,285 square meters of koala habitat, which includes 1,072 trees that are used by koalas.

“The proposed vegetation clearing on the subject site will require clearing of mapped koala habitat areas,” the report reads.

“However, this clearing has been drastically minimised to only seek the removal of necessary trees from within the mapped area.”

The koala management plan submitted with the development application highlights that the project could pose a “threat of potential impact and risk to koalas that could arise or be temporarily elevated.”

“The applicant is highly committed to ensuring these potential threats and risks have minimal impacts on any koala individuals that may be present within the site,” it states.

It notes that no koalas can legally be removed from the site by human intervention and must be allowed to vacate the site without interference.

Koala spotters would be on site during the clearing process and any trees found to contain a koala would not be cleared, as well as any that overlap, until the animal had moved on.

Council will consider the call-in notice at the next full council meeting.