Cairns University Hospital demolition hurdle as car rental businessman refuses to sell
A stumbling block lies ahead as demolition crews clear the Cairns University Hospital site with a business owner threatening to chain himself to the building if bulldozers arrive.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A STUMBLING block lies ahead as demolition crews clear the Cairns University Hospital upgrade site with one business owner threatening to chain himself to the building if bulldozers arrive at his doorstep.
James Cook University has bought the entire block bounded by Sheridan, Grove, Charles and Digger streets except three properties.
The Cock & Bull and Tradies Bar will be safe from redevelopment as part of a major land deal with publican Graham Johnston – but there is a third parcel of land that JCU would love to get its hands on.
The university offered Cruising Car Rentals boss Michael Birt $700,000 to give up the property and business he has owned for the past 25 years.
He rejected the deal, saying it was nowhere near what he needed to set up shop elsewhere.
Now he fears the state government may swoop in to compulsorily acquire his land.
“I can’t buy anything even close to that for $700,000,” he said.
“That was my retirement.
“I can buy another property 200m away and that’s over a million dollars.
“I just need them to give me enough money to buy that and we will move on.”
JCU has bought the neighbouring property, home to the John Young Immigration Agency and ITP Income Tax Professionals, for $1.15m.
The land parcel is smaller than Mr Birt’s car hire yard next door, albeit on a corner block.
It is understood current tenants will remain in the building until their leases expire, and a site office for the construction effort may be established in their place.
Mr Birt will have to sit and wait while the buildings around him are knocked down.
JCU Cairns director David Craig said the university was still in negotiations over the final land package and did not intend to discuss the matter publicly.
“With regards to the land and buildings recently purchased by the university, the demolition phase of the project has begun and will run for the next couple of months,” he said.
The Calypso Inn backpackers beside the Cock & Bull is among those sites set for the bulldozer treatment.
Publican Mr Johnston started the Ausdive diving school on the property in 1985 before transforming it into a hostel.
The extra-deep diving pool still remains, alongside multiple old Queenslander-style buildings, a tour office and an onsite bar with a high vaulted ceiling.
Sale prices for all of Mr Johnston’s land, which includes the sprawling carpark which makes up the lion’s share of the new precinct, are being kept under wraps.
Apart from his property, two blocks of units and a house on Digger St – one of which sold for $2m – and JJ’s Backpackers Hostel on Charles St will be knocked down.
Another unit block on Sheridan St, beside Cruising Car Rentals, will also go and is believed to have sold for $1.8m.
Mr Birt’s car yard will stick out like a sore thumb among all the flattened buildings.
All he wants is a fair price so he can shift to an equivalent property.
“I’ll chain myself to the stairs if I have to,” he said.
“I was planning on being here for another 20-30 years.
“My kids were going to take over the business.
“Surely I have the right to get enough money to move somewhere with as much exposure without having to go into debt again.
“It’s only fair.”
FAQs
Will the Captain Cook statue in Cairns be demolished?
It almost certainly has to be removed to make way for the Cairns University Hospital upgrade project, but new owner James Cook University refuses to say what its plans are for the statue.
Is the Captain Cook statue in Cairns doing a Nazi salute?
No, it was based off an illustration of the explorer raising his hand to stop local Aboriginal men throwing spears at him.
What is the history of the Captain Cook statue in Cairns?
It was built about 50 years ago as a gimmick to attract attention to the Captain Cook Motel, which no longer exists.
More Coverage
Originally published as Cairns University Hospital demolition hurdle as car rental businessman refuses to sell
Media locked out of court as teen trio accused of rape appear
Reporters were locked out of the Innisfail Court House this morning as three teens appeared charged with rape following a sickening home invasion at Manunda.
Watch the arrest: Depraved teen trio in vile knifepoint rape
Police have released dramatic footage of the arrest of a teenager wanted after a woman was allegedly raped at knifepoint in a sickening home invasion in Cairns.