REDLAND City Council will start negotiations with the federal government to buy two parcels of bushland at Birkdale.
The blocks, totalling 80ha, are south of the Howeston Golf Club and bordered by Tingalpa Creek on Old Cleveland Road East.
Deputy mayor Alan Beard called for a valuation of the land and told Wednesday’s council meeting it would be a strategic acquisition.
All councillors voted to buy the land but will vote again on an acceptable purchase price.
The land is used by Air Services Australia to guide aircraft into Brisbane airport and by the Australian Communications and Media Authority to monitor broadband spectrum use.
Under conditions of the sale, buyers have to demonstrate future uses of the land would protect the environment and satisfy Redland City Council and state government zonings.
The land is zoned Community Purpose and Conservation and has strict rules to protect koala habitats in the area.
Cr Beard said there were still issues to discuss including a community use appropriate for the site.
“Any outcome may also include working with the state and federal governments for a direct transfer and all options will be explored as part of the process, with a report to then come back to council for a decision,” he said.
Councillor Craig Ogilvie said putting in an offer for the land before having a clear plan for its use was not prudent and Cr Bishop wanted to know if there had been discussions about selling the site to private developers for housing.
Mayor Karen Williams said, as far as she knew, housing developers had not been consulted.
Cr Beard said the site had been considered for education or a university, recreation, sporting facilities and environmental reserves.
“This land … is not zoned for housing and there is not a councillor here who would want to see a housing estate on that land,” he said.
