As part of its plan to return to a positive financial position Bundaberg Regional Council will sell its surplus land, including lots which could be considered prime real estate.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said the land sales would generate much-needed revenue for Council.
“There are almost 40 properties that have been identified as being surplus to Council’s needs,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“Many of them are attractive parcels of land, including some with buildings, and putting them up for sale is a further reflection of the tough decisions we are having to make to ensure Council’s financial viability into the future.
“Given the financial circumstances we find ourselves in and the strong property market within the Bundaberg Region selling these properties is a logical and prudent decision.
“The sale of the land will generate immediate financial relief for the organisation and on a long-term basis Council will make operational savings by no longer being responsible for the maintenance of any of the properties we can sell.”
Mayor Blackburn said she had previously announced a deterioration in Council’s financial position including a substantial operating deficit which had necessitated immediate action.
At its Ordinary Meeting on 29 October 2024 Bundaberg Regional Council endorsed the sale of 25 lots by tender.
The lots will be available for sale by individual purchase in accordance with Council’s tender process.
These lots are situated in various locations across the Bundaberg Region.
Each property presents unique characteristics in terms of location, size, shape, zoning, and access, and will be sold on an “as is” basis.
Any properties not sold by tender will be listed on Council’s website for sale on the open market.
A further 13 lots not suitable for independent sale have been identified to be offered to adjoining landowners.
18 Heritage Drive Childers has also been approved for sale after Council received a market value offer for the land.
The lot had previously been offered for sale by tender but that process was not unsuccessful.
The tender for the following properties will be available in the coming weeks and any interested parties should register on Vendor Panel to be notified of the tender’s release.
Surplus land
| No | Lot | Address | Size |
| 1 | RP87296/1 | Bargara Road, Qunaba | 4,047 m2 |
| 2 | G2311/513 | 35 Milden Street, Gin Gin | 1,012 m2 |
| 3 | RP167223/1 | Hill End Road, South Kolan | 13.42 ha |
| 4 | RP13529/128 | 41 Von Deest Street, Kensington | 4.047 ha |
| 5 | SP158521/3 | Bargara Road, Qunaba | 8,207 m2 |
| 6 | RP182416/5 | Lot 5 Buxton Road, Buxton | 101.9624 ha |
| 8 | RP182416/7 | Lot 7 Buxton Road, Buxton | 483.4 ha |
| 9 | RP7232/286 | Clarke Street, Bargara | 1,029 m2 |
| 10 | RP7232/287 | Clarke Street, Bargara | 1,029 m2 |
| 11 | RP7232/303 | Clarke Street, Bargara | 1,029 m2 |
| 12 | RP7232/304 | Clarke Street, Bargara | 1,029 m2 |
| 13 | RP7232/305 | Clarke Street, Bargara | 1,029 m2 |
| 14 | SP217902/3 | 12A Pizzey Street, Childers | 782 m2 |
| 15 | SP217902/4 | 12 Pizzey Street, Childers | 783 m2 |
| 16 | SP207696/4 | 3 Jocumsen Street, Kepnock | 1,030 m2 |
| 17 | G2311/413 | 1 Dear Street, Gin Gin | 1,244 m2 |
Surplus buildings
| No | Lot | Address | Size |
| 1 | SP314446/2 | 160 Hughes Road, Bargara | 1.29 ha |
| 2 | RP893372/2 | 2295 Gin Gin Road, South Kolan | 924 m2 |
| 3 | SP227065/3 RP157671/2 | 8 and 10 Walla Street, Wallaville | 981 m2 739 m2 |
| 4 | RP602539/3 | 122 Waterloo Hall Road, Waterloo | 5706 m2 |
| 5 | RP190049/1 | 76 Woongarra Street, Bundaberg | 779 m2 |
| 6 | SP164193/9 | 9/75 Sylvan Drive, Moore Park Beach | 5 m2 |
| 7 | B15876/142 | 18 Takalvan Street, Bundaberg | 837 m2 |
| 8 | G2311/414 | 1 Dear Street, Gin Gin | 1,384 m2 |
Where was the consultation process? I’m still waiting for information on our debt compared to other councils. Where were all the current councillors when this crisis was happening?
With respect to the 5 lots in Clarke Street, given they are being sold on an “as is” basis and the zoning is Open Space, it is difficult to envisage a suitable use for a potential buyer. Adjoining residents may be less than enthused about any change to the use given that it is currently Park.
moore park breach?? good one! no wonder we are in trouble
We should be cherring our new Msyor she is a stronge women to be so open and honest with our councils financial position.
No mention of how to get involved in the tender process.
I would have thought it would have been a key feature in this article,
Or is it a case of the tender process is only revealed to those the council want to be involved.
Market value ???? Compared to what ????
The same land valuation used by council to charge our rates….
Where is the transparency here.
As usual more questions than answers
There has been no public consultation, one term mayor and one term councillors, what do they start selling off next. Hands off the people’s assets
Land listed as Clarke Street, Bargara would be highly sort after for development if zoneing is reworked… the rest you might be better off keeping. Especially the surplus buildings if there being leased they are providing income to council.
What about the notion of not for sale that topped 2 state governments.
With almost all of Australia out of accommodation space & Bundaberg still being one of the cheapest places to live do we not have more land that could be sold to make housing in our City? The spare land on Eaggmolesse street & Johanna BLVD who owns that? How about spare land on Telegraph road? Theres not used land everywhere.
A quick way to get council out of it’s hole would be to find space to sell for developers or home builders to house more people. More properties paying rates would really help.
Councillor Larine Statham Blair told a meeting at Tiny Tots yesterday morning that she had checked the background and could confirm there has been consultation which attracted over 1,000 responses and that there would be further public consultation as to how this park could be redeveloped .
What about Finemore Caravan Park it won’t be reopening but can we sell it to developers or house builders?
What about all the land in Thebaban? If it’s not being used sell it up.
See all this old farm land it is heavily limiting the potential of the region. It’s no where near the dam they built & lowering tourism potential. Time to retire some of it for housing especially at Bargara, Burnett heads, Coral cove, around Kepnock Town Centre & Thabeban.
You have potential to make Bargara, Burnett Heads & Coral Cove into a City Bigger then Hervey Bay.
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Pay the farmers a good amount for there land so they can relocate further west or south of Bundaberg. Flip it for develoment to people who pay more.
Land valuations in Bundaberg went up an between 11.7% for Commercial & 80.5% for Buxton/Wallaville. With an average increase of 26%. Rents went up to match this signficant increase. Why have our rates not also gone up to match this increase.
https://www.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/467862/bundaberg-land-valuations.pdf