Council begins land rationalisation
Lockyer Valley Regional Council has resolved to sell parcels of unused Council land identified during a land asset management review.
Two sites have been approved to go to auction, while another two will undergo a public expression of interest process. Others will undergo further investigation to determine their feasibility for sale.
Deputy Mayor and Finance Portfolio Councillor Chris Wilson said selling the land would reduce Council’s ongoing management and maintenance responsibilities and unlock land for housing and industrial uses.
“The parcels of land that have been approved to go to auction or an expression of interest process are surplus to Council’s needs,” he said.
“These sites will be marketed by Ray White Commercial and are expected to start hitting the market from mid-April.”
Cr Wilson said many of the parcels identified for further investigation were land-swap properties.
“These land-swap properties are now zoned ‘limited development’, so it makes sense to seek the interest of adjoining landholders to see if they would like to purchase the land,” he said.
“Disposing of this surplus land allows our maintenance and mowing crews to focus their resources on other areas of the region, which is a win for the wider community.”
Land at Cricket Road, Regency Downs and Biggs Road, Withcott will be auctioned, while Council will invite expressions of interest for land on Hawck Street, Gatton and the former Gatton Saleyards.
“We will test the market to see what interest exists and determine whether Council should be undertaking any further activities prior to disposal,” Cr Wilson said.
“We will also engage with the Department of Housing and Public Works to see if they have any interest in a property on Hayes Street, Laidley, which has been identified as possibly suitable for social housing, which we know is in short supply across our region.”
Cr Wilson said each piece of land identified for further investigation would come before Council before a final decision was made.
“Each asset will be carefully investigated and considered before it is sold to ensure the best possible outcome for the community,” he said.
