Up to 22 blocks of land will go under the hammer this month after owners failed to pay overdue rates.
Most of the properties are on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, with 14 at Russell, one at Macleay and two at Point Lookout, as well as four on the mainland at Capalaba and one at Thornlands.
The lots include 16 vacant blocks, three units and three properties but the list is subject to change if owners pay rates before the auction at the Redland Performing Arts Centre on October 27.
A Redland City Council spokesperson said $9 million in overdue rates and charges was owed to council as at September 30, including $255,000 from properties in the upcoming auction.
"An auction is the last in a long line of actions, sometimes extending over years, which council undertakes to recover rates, and a property is auctioned only after all other avenues to recover rates have been exhausted," she said.
Councils are allowed to recover rates by selling land when some or all of its charges have been overdue for three years or more.
"Rates, utility and other statutory charges are the main sources of income for local governments such as Redland City Council," she said.
"They fund essential services and infrastructure to support the community such as roads, waste collection, wastewater treatment, maintaining public spaces and community facilities."
The spokesperson said council would contact all property owners before the auction.
Properties include a waterfront business on Mooloomba Road at Point Lookout and 14 lots at Russell Island.
Council did not say whether all blocks of land would be eligible for building approvals.
"In line with all property auctions, it is the prospective buyer's responsibility to carry out any searches or inspections in relation to zoning and constraints of the property, to ensure it meets with their requirements prior to the auction," the spokesperson said.
Cr Mark Edwards said he expected all blocks would be eligible for development.
He said that if blocks were not suitable for building approval, they generally tended to become part of council's bushland estate.
"And Russell Island has got a lot of bushland from blocks that can't be built on," Cr Edwards said.
Cr Edwards said there were plenty of vacant lots at Russell Island.
"We've seen an upturn in building activity on Russell Island over the last year and it's not difficult to purchase a vacant block of land. There's already a wide selection," he said.
The auction will be held at RPAC on and will also be online using the Auction Now real estate platform.
Emily Lowe
Redland City Bulletin journalist covering community, politics, crime and human interest stories. Griffith University Alumni.
Redland City Bulletin journalist covering community, politics, crime and human interest stories. Griffith University Alumni.
