Slade Point homeowners apply to buy beachside public space

Their home has encroached on public land for more than 40 years. Now the owners want to resolve the situation.

The owners of 40 Ocean Ave, Slade Point have applied to Mackay Regional Council to acquire a part of a reserve. Picture: realestate.com.au

A strip of Mackay beachside property owners have been living on publicly-owned land without permission for decades.

But now the owners of 40 Ocean Ave, Slade Point want to make their situation legal by buying the 69sq m section of land that encroaches onto the reserve.

They will need to make a purchase application to the Department of Natural Resources with support from the reserve’s trustee — in this case, the Mackay Regional Council.

“As the encroachment is on a community purpose reserve that is dedicated for use by the community, it is not appropriate to be utilised by adjoining landowners for private benefit until such time as it is no longer required by the community,” a MRC statement said.

“As this encroachment is extensive, council considers it appropriate to consult the Slade Point community before any decision is made.

“Other encroachments into this reserve exist.

“Council seeks to understand how the community would like to see them resolved.”

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The council stated the homeowner was responsible for any costs associated with the purchasing process.

To have your say, head to the Connecting Mackay website by 11.59pm, Tuesday, June 29.

You can also email [e-mail] or phone [phone].

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Originally published as Slade Point homeowners apply to buy beachside public space