Conservationists are claiming a coup after convincing Gold Coast Council to save a freshwater lake from being turned into a carpark.
The council has made a remarkable backflip, voting to preserve the remaining 20 per cent of Black Swan Lake at Bundall which had previously been approved to be infilled for development.
It comes after five years of grassroots campaigning.
"This is an inspiring result. It shows there is hope around the country," said Jess Abrahams from the Australian Conservation Foundation.
"When communities do band together and fight for their local patch they do win."
'A surprise win'
At Tuesday's full Gold Coast Council meeting, a super majority of councillors voted to retain the remaining undeveloped section of the lake.
Only Mayor Tom Tate voted against the recommendation.
In a city known as a developer's paradise, campaigners were shocked by the flood of support.
"Lobbying was going into the last minute," said Sally Spain from Wildlife Queensland.
"We were hoping and praying to get the last eight votes and swing it, but to have a super majority to protect it that was an outcome we did not expect.
"Too much time has been given by too many to defend what already belongs to the public."
Political motivations?
Councillor Bob La Castra put forward the recommendation to save the remaining part of the lake and said he was always opposed to infilling it.
"It would have been a much better win if that body of water was there in total. But we can't change what has already been done," he said.
"We can't undo that, so for me it was 'let's try to get that 20 per cent'."
It has been five years since plans to fill in the man-made waterway were made public, with council voting for the area to be developed to allow the Gold Coast Turf Club to build an overflow carpark in November 2016.
It is a decision the Mayor still supports.
"My view is I want finality," Cr Tate said.
"We had a development approval for it to be fully filled-in and that's the end of it.
"We made a good, sound decision back then."
Other councillors have rejected suggestions their change in heart was prompted by approaching elections in March.
"I think they [the ccouncillors] were genuinely listening and the argument I put forward was the Turf Club has actually got everything it needs," Cr La Castra said.
"So there's no issue with saving this 20 per cent. I don't think they were thinking of their re-elections at all."
