Gympie Regional Council to lease O’Connell St property

A public outcry has changed the fate of an old preschool in the heart of Gympie which was bought by Gympie Regional Council for $225,000 in 2008.

Gympie councillors have voted to lease an old preschool at O’Connell St often used by community groups, but were dvidied about whether there should be restrictions on who coudl apply to use it.

A central Gympie building will remain open for community groups following public backlash to a potential sale, but who will call it home has proven a divisive question.

Gympie Regional councillors voted unanimously to offer the O’Connell St property, opposite Gympie Central State School, up for lease to interested groups.

The block was originally bought by the council in 2008 for $225,000.

In May 2021, the council proposed auctioning the property off as “surplus” to its needs.

Councillors instead delayed those plans following public backlash and an outcry from community groups.

On Wednesday, councillors agreed to not sell it, but were split on which groups should have the chance to use it.

Dan Stewart pushed for the building to be limited to use by early childhood services.

Councillor Dan Stewart wanted the council to limit the building’s use to early childhood services. Photo Renee Albrecht/Gympie Times

Mr Stewart said the building, once a preschool, was “ideally suited” for this and “it was fair to say it hasn’t been used to the full benefit it could have (in the past)”.

In adding this caveat he said the building would help improve the region’s well-documented and ongoing shortfalls in early childhood development.

“Children in Gympie are less than average prepared for school,” Mr Stewart said.

He was backed by Jess Milne, who said early childhood services were needed in the region.

Shane Waldock was among the councillors opposed to Mr Stewart’s push to limit use of the building to early childhood groups.

Mayor Glen Hartwig disagreed with the amendment, saying it would restrict opportunities for other worthwhile groups.

“Part of the council process is to decide who is the best party,” Mr Hartwig said.

Shane Waldock voted against the change as well, saying what was wanted was “to broaden the tender”.

“We shouldn’t be dictating which groups the tenders come from,” Mr Waldock said.

Mr Stewart’s motion was defeated 6:2; Bob Fredman was absent from the meeting.

Councillors then voted unanimously to adopt the original recommendation and allow the invitation of expressions of interest for the block.