CAPALABA MP Don Brown says council would need to have a plan in place for 50 hectares of Birkdale bushland if it wanted to borrow money from the state government to buy the land.
Speaking at a meeting at Thorneside on Sunday, Mr Brown said federal government policy was to divest land, which would occur if council did not come through in buying the block.
Mayor Karen Williams told the Redland City Bulletin the priority was to stop the land being used for housing development.
“If successful, the future use will be determined by the community. We have always committed to engaging the community if we are successful in securing the land,” she said. “While we don't yet know what the community wants on the land, we know what they don't want, and that's housing, which is why we are so committed to securing the land and saving it from being used for houses.”
Cr Williams said council would know only if any help would be needed when they settled on a price with the federal government.
“The idea of a low interest loan from the state is just one option … and if we need a state loan we will apply and I hope the state will support us.”
“Of course, the state government, who has shown great public support to council on this issue in recent weeks, also has the option to negotiate directly with the Commonwealth to acquire the land and we would welcome that discussion.”
Mr Brown told the meeting that local government, being closest to the people, should determine land use.
Cr Bishop told the meeting that heritage and environmental assessments should be done on the block owned by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the adjoining 30 hectares owned by Air Services Australia, which is expected to be divested by the federal government in 2019-20.
“I’ve been saying for years we must get those assessments done,” he said.
Cr Bishop said other councillors had argued for assessments to be done after council had bought the land.
During a visit to the Redlands last week, Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar said talks with council over the land would continue.
Last week in Parliament State Development Minister Cameron Dick said he would stop any residential development on the site.
