Tate to accusers: Put up or shut up

Mayor Tom Tate has accused Eddy Sarroff of a “publicity stunt” and challenged his rival to lodge an official complaint about the sale of city land at the Surfers Paradise Bowls Club.

Mr Sarroff on Nine’s A Current Affair claimed “the community’s been kept in the dark and they’ve missed out on millions of dollars” after the sale of council land fronting the greens.

But Mr Tate on Monday said the land was sold by public tender and anybody could have purchased the lot in what was a pure “market process”.

The 1833sq m site was expected to fetch at least $5m but council received $1.785m.

Turner Properties, which offered the highest of the tenders received, plans to build a threelevel medical centre on the prime site.

“Because I am a part owner of adjoining land, I declared a conflict of interest in the matter when it came before council and took no part in the decision to sell the site,” Mr Tate said.

Mr Tate noted “the complainants” had selectively omitted sections of a valuation report on the lot which provided context around the sale.

The valuer’s report noted a $6.46m valuation but it had a caveat – that highest price was dependent on appropriate vehicular access from Remembrance Drive.

“Ultimately however, the land was sold ‘as is where is’ with no guarantee around access so obviously that would have reduced the market value of the site, not to mention the significant demolition costs involved in any future development application,” Mr Tate said.

“These claims, which I note are being made by failed former mayoral candidates and current mayoral or divisional candidates, are fanciful and demonstrate a complete lack of understanding of the Local Government Act 2009.

“If anyone believes I have acted improperly in public office I encourage them to immediately lodge a complaint with the Office of the Independent Assessor or indeed the Crime and Corruption Commission, the bodies who investigate these matters.”