REDLAND City Council has sold another car park in the Cleveland CBD.
On the surface this might appear a retrograde step but it is not necessarily so.
The 206-park space is behind the Stockland complex which houses Woolworths. The car park adjoins Stockland so it is a sweet buy for the big developer.
Stockland is playing its cards close to its chest, saying it will keep the car park in the short term but has said nothing about its long-term plans.
It’s hard to imagine that it would remove the car park because that would impact on its major tenant, Woolies, but it’s also hard not to think that it does not have some longer-term potential development (which likely would include car parks) in mind.
For the council, it is appropriate that it buys or sells infrastructure or land as needed.
Former Bjelke-Petersen government treasury under-secretary Sir Leo Hielscher was a key figure in the economic growth of Queensland and highly regarded on both sides of politics, having worked in advisory roles for several Labor governments.
A basic tenent of Hielscher’s is that governments should have enough foresight to buy in and out of infrastructure as needed for their communities. On this basis council is doing the right thing.
The land at Alexandra Hills it has bought would appear an astute buy (so long as it is at the right price).
The sale of any land that is not needed for ratepayers’ benefit could similarly be regarded as a positive so long as council ensures it gets best market price and that returns are spent wisely or used to reduce debt.
One thing council must do is ensure it is scrupulously open and above board in all such dealings.
Council is, after all, dealing with the property of ratepayers. Apart from the fact they are managers, our councillors, their staff and Redland Investment Corporation have no more claim to this property than any ratepayer.
When infrastructure like car parks is sold it is obvious that it would make councillors nervous because of the potential backlash from ratepayers. Despite this council must be diligent in dealing openly with such transactions.
There is nothing more likely to pique the interest of ratepayers than some opaque dealings with what they rightfully see as their property.
What do you think? Send your letter to the editor to lettersredlands@fairfaxmedia.com.au. Include your full name, address and phone number.
