Time to flog off council assets?

THE region's biggest property owner has released a list of around 30 of its assets in the first step of deciding their fate.

In light of Slade Campus being put on the market, Southern Downs Regional Council has made a list of its properties, which was presented at council this week.

Warwick's Bell Place has been earmarked for pensioner units and while community services director Tony Minuti said there were no plans or funding at present, councillors said it would be a welcome move from the twice-flooded units.

Around $300,000 was spent fixing up the 18 units on Fitzroy St after they were inundated but council officers said there was no immediate plan to shift them from the flood plain.

The "to-do" list, released at this week's corporate services committee meeting, has almost 30 freehold land holdings, which would be worth millions.

It was provided as the first step in deciding what to do with the council-owned properties.

Corporate services director Andrew Ireland said it wasn't a "comprehensive list" and it was only for councillors to "note its contents" rather than consider them.

Cr Vic Pennisi, however, requested an assessment sheet be put together for each elected official to make comments on each site.

"I think we need to bring this to some kind of finality," Cr Pennisi said.

"And that should be done sooner rather than later."

Of interest Applethorpe's TAFE campus, which is currently leased, is included on the list.

At the time of deciding to sell Slade Campus, this was held up as an example of what should be sold in the region's south.

The vacant land beside the Daily News office on Fitzroy St, which is a 2437m2 block, was valued in 2008 at $600,000 while the old shire depot on Willi St is marked for a potential subdivision.

Cr Mally McMurtrie burred up about Stanthorpe's Rogers St and Creek St being listed as "sale interests".

There has been a push for the two blocks of land to be developed into car parks.

"I'd like to see the 'sale interest' taken off the list if you don't mind," she said to Mr Ireland.

Of more concern to Deputy Mayor Peter Blundell was the fact some entries were marked "overgrown".

"I was a bit surprised to see we have overgrown in the comments of those lots and we're going to have to be aware of that," Cr Blundell said.

Mr Ireland said he would liaise with engineering services over the two sites.



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