Lease dispute blamed for snap closure of island service centre

A lease dispute has forced the abrupt closure of the QGAP office in Dunwich, leaving North Stradbroke Island residents without access to essential government services.

Straddie’s QGAP office, where residents could take their vehicles for registration inspections, closed last week, after the landlord did not renew the lease.

North Stradbroke Island residents have been left without direct access to vital government services following the sudden closure of the QGAP office in Dunwich.

The state government centre was forced to abruptly close its remote office on the island after it was given notice to vacate last month.

The closure, which took effect on March 27, has forced locals to travel to the mainland for services such as vehicle registration, licence renewals, and vehicle inspections.

In a statement, the Transport and Main Roads Department said the owner of the Ballow Rd building in Dunwich did not renew TMR’s lease beyond April, and issued TMR a notice to vacate the site.

“TMR has looked for alternate office sites in the local area and a suitable premise to relocate to was not found prior to our lease ending in the current location,” TMR said.

“TMR encourages customers who previously visited the QGAP to see if they can complete their transport and motoring transaction online.”

The QGAP service centre, a vital resource for islanders needing to access various government services, has long been a lifeline for the community.

Its sudden closure left many locals, particularly the elderly, concerned about how they would manage essential tasks without the convenience of a local office.

The popular shopping strip is in Dunwich. Picture: Judith Kerr

Former employee Donna MacMahon, who was involved in securing the QGAP lease, said she was extremely disappointed and noted that the loss of vehicle inspections would add another layer of complexity for island residents.

Other residents raised concerns about how they would now access essential services.

“What about the older generation? Where do we have to go to pay rego and licence fees if we don’t have a car on the mainland?” one asked.

A Facebook post by local resident Wayne Barnard alerted the island community and highlighted the impact of the closure, urging fellow residents to contact their local MP to demand action.

Island resident Julie Elliott said the situation was “disgraceful” and noted that the closure had been quietly listed on the QGAP website without any direct communication to the public.

Long-time QGAP user Kay Cooke praised the helpful staff and lamented the loss of a well-used service, while Chris Martin noted that he had just renewed his licence at the centre last week.

One of the key frustrations among residents was the apparent lack of communication from government authorities about the closure.

Island resident Garry Lyons said staff at the Cleveland QGAP office told him the lease had expired, and efforts were under way to find a new location.

“They’ve been trying for months to make something work elsewhere,” said island resident Natalie Mazzoni.

“The owner did actually decline to renew the lease. What I don’t understand is why it wasn’t disclosed to the residents long before now because they’ve known for some time this was coming.”

Resident Lucas Lenigas contacted Oodgeroo MP Amanda Stoker’s office, only to be told the office had no knowledge of the closure but would investigate the matter.

Locals said there were potential alternative locations on the island with suggestions including Amity and Point Lookout.

However, Caren Mirosch pointed out that finding a suitable site was not straightforward, as it had to accommodate the necessary technological infrastructure.

Online services and apps are available for island residents who want to renew vehicle registrations, replace driver’s licences or change addresses on documents, with assistance available for customers who need help navigating online services.

For in-person services, the Cleveland Customer Service Centre at Ross Court Centre, Bloomfield St, provides licensing, vehicle registration, photo ID cards, and inspections, with prior bookings required for certain services.

Registration renewals can also be made through Australia Post outlets.

The Cleveland centre operates Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Originally published as Lease dispute blamed for snap closure of island service centre