Evans Head, just south of the Gold Coast, is surrounded by pristine National Parks and beaches. As Australians continue to move into regional areas it has an ever-growing population and demand for housing and facilities is rising. The Iron Gates Drive site has had a controversial development history. Since 1988, multiple developers have lodged unsuccessful development applications. Community members, traditional owners and other groups have challenged the applications on the basis that they did not meet legal requirements or reflect the site’s environmental needs and indigenous heritage value. Subsequently the site has been left dormant for decades. Dickson Rothschild was engaged in 2022 as Urban Designers to create a new masterplan of 122 lots for dwellings and community use, open spaces, and a managed environmental C2 conservation land zone.

The design considered input from the consultant team of Ethos Urban, JWA Ecological Consultants, LandPartners, FRC Environmental, Martens, and Arcadis. Nigel Dickson then acted as the Urban Design Expert Witness in the LEC proceedings. The judgment by Chief Judge Brian Preston in July 2024 granted approval for the subdivision concept masterplan. The collective work demonstrated a clear vision and well considered development strategy for the site that sensitively balances the need for housing with ecological, bushfire, flooding and indigenous heritage protection.