TRC BUYS LAND TO CONTROL DEVELOPMENT

Proactive approach behind Highfields deal

THE purchase of 19.69ha of prime land in the centre of Highfields by Toowoomba Regional Council was part of a bid to head off another developer’s plan for the site.

The council yesterday remained tight-lipped about the total cost of the land, with Mayor Paul Antonio and Cr Chris Tait saying the deal was “commercial-in-confidence”.

But The Chronicle can reveal developer Clive Berghofer’s company Jeteld Pty Ltd sold the land to the council. Mr Berghofer said he was unable to disclose the price he got for the land.

“(Council) just said they didn’t want it mentioned at this stage,” he said.

Cr Antonio said the cost of the land would come out “in due course” and added it was the Highfields community who would ultimately benefit from the purchase.

“I think you will find council has done a particularly good deal,” Cr Antonio said, adding there was an alternate proposal for the site from a private developer “that just about made me feel ill”.

Mr Berghofer said another developer had approached him with an offer to turn the land into a “small housing village”.

Mr Berghofer said the council then approached him.

“I said I had an offer on it if (council) can match that offer, (council) can have it,” Mr Berghofer said.

Cr Tait said he understood there was another potential purchaser of the land, who “could have put in (a development application) that would comply with the planning scheme but might not have been in line with the expectation of the Highfields community”.

The council then ran the risk of rejecting a development application, only for it to be appealed and end up in the Planning and Environment Court, where it could ultimately be approved at ratepayers’ expense.

Cr Tait said there was “a community expectation out there that something decent be done with the land”.

Cr Tait said the purchase of the land made it easier for the council to straighten Kratzke Rd, place planning approvals on the land “that are compatible” with the Highfields community’s vision and retain the remnant vegetation that abuts Clarke Rd.

He stressed that the council was not about to develop the land itself, and that the purchase was a “temporary thing”.

“Council holds assets in cash, or in land (as in this case),” he said.

“In due course we will exit that land and get our money back, and I believe perhaps more.”

Once decisions have been made about planning for the area, parts of the land will be parcelled into management lots for development by appropriate private or government interests.

Cr Tait said that if the council hadn’t purchased the land, any developer was welcome to come in and do as they please - for instance clearing the trees next to Clarke Rd.

“It’s not just about keeping somebody out of there, really that’s a bit of a side issue,” he added.

“It’s more about proper planning and proper community outcomes.

“It’s a good proactive approach. We’re intent on achieving a good community result.”

The latest valuation data on Queensland Globe said the two parcels were worth a combined $2.35 million, though market price would be considerably higher.

Cr Antonio said that with the Highfields community currently totalling 14,600 people there was a “need to plan” and that the block was a “very strategic piece of land”.

The first of three rounds of community consultation over the future of Highfields’ centre will begin on October 16.

“The land we purchased is critical,” Cr Antonio said. “I don’t think there are too many other local authorities who have seized the opportunity to buy land to make sure they’re absolutely in the box seat when it comes to planning that land,” he said.

❝proactive It’s a good approach.

— Cr Chris Tait