CITY’S WORD MEANS ZERO
ASSET SALES FURORE
A COUNCIL plan to sell a Surfers Paradise carpark and park has hit a snag — it swore never to sell the land after it was gifted to the people of the Gold Coast by a philanthropist.
The council made the vow in 1938 when the land was presented by Charles Hicks.
The current council wants to use money from the sale of Bruce Bishop carpark and Neal Shannon park to fund the new cultural precinct at Evandale.
The Surfers Paradise RSL fears losing car parks while former councillor Eddy Sarroff said he would organise a rally.
THE council’s decision to sell the Bruce Bishop carpark has sparked a protest after it emerged the prime block of land was gifted by a resident to the Gold Coast almost 80 years ago.
In 1938 the late Surfers Paradise resident Charles Joseph Hicks in a deed arrangement with the council instructed the land, which would later include the Neal Shannon Park, be preserved as a recreational reserve.
When the council attempted to sell the site in 2004 it backed off after a public protest and legal wrangle about whether it was able to offload the prime Surfers Paradise land for redevelopment.
After a majority of councillors on Tuesday backed Mayor Tom Tate’s plan to sell the 1.8ha site to fund the cultural centre, opponents launched a campaign.
Former mayoral candidate and former councillor Eddy Sarroff said: “I will run a rally. I’ve had so many calls.
“I’m not letting this one slip. I’m not – and this is not about making a comeback to council. This is outrageous. It is a massive city asset. It’s a huge open space.
“I stood outside the transit centre before the 2012 election and I said straight to him (Mayor Tom Tate), come clean about your interest in the transit centre. He said ‘no’, it’s not for sale.”
Councillor Tate at Tuesday’s special budget meeting remained in the chamber to take part in the vote “in the public interest” after he de- clared a “real or perceived” conflict of interest conflict of interest because of his development interests at the neighbouring Surfers Paradise Bowls Club.
Councillor Tate yesterday told the Bulletin: “I have no interest in the Transit Centre other than ensuring ratepayers get the best value from this sale, and the city’s new cultural precinct, including a green bridge, continues to evolve without borrowing funds.”
Mr Sarroff will be supported by diggers at the Surfers Paradise RSL who stand to lose their free parking arrangements if the carpark is demolished.
Surfers Paradise RSL president Ross Eastgate said 320 members at the club had an arrangement like many other commercial operators where parking was free for the first two hours.
“We are concerned that like during the construction of the light rail that it (redevelopment of the site) will shut down commerce in Surfers Paradise,” Mr Eastgate said.
“Surfers still hasn’t recovered properly from the light rail construction. Our biggest concern is what will happen during construction if there are no car parks. It’s not just for our trade but everyone in the precinct.”
Council sources suggest the site which includes the Bruce Bishop carpark, Surfers Paradise Transit Centre and Neal Shannon Park could sell for at least $40 million.
Commercial property agents believe the large block on Beach Road just south of Cavill Mall would be suitable for a new super tower and could fetch $100 million.
Father Neal Shannon in an article in the Bulletin 1966 recalled Mr Hicks wanted his land to be preserved as a playground for children.
“If his wishes are not respected, it will not be much incentive to others to leave anything in future to the Gold Coast,” he said.
The city aldermen later eased their consciences by creating a rooftop park above the parking station.
A mayor’s report from 1938 gave the instruction that “this property would be a recreation reserve and could not be sold or disposed of.”
Only councillors Dawn Crichlow, Peter Young and area councillor Gary Baildon from the current council opposed the sale.
IF HIS WISHES ARE NOT RESPECTED, IT WILL NOT BE MUCH INCENTIVE TO OTHERS TO LEAVE ANYTHING IN FUTURE TO THE GOLD COAST. FATHER NEAL SHANNON