Moreton Bay Regional Council pushes on with controversial land sale at Rothwell

RESIDENTS’ attempts to stop the controversial sale of council land, previously earmarked for sporting grounds, appear to have failed, with council pushing ahead with its plans.

Residents Brian and Maureen Armiger are not happy with council’s plans to sell this 9.2ha block of land at Rothwell. Picture: Chris Higgins

RESIDENTS’ attempts to stop the sale of council land, previously earmarked for sporting grounds, appear to have failed.

The tender process to sell a large parcel of land at ­Rothwell will continue, ­despite Moreton Bay Regional Council receiving a petition against the move.

The petition against the sale of the land at Morris Rd, which was started by former mayoral candidate Dean Teasdale, was submitted to the council by Councillor James ­Houghton (Div 5) on June 6. It had more than 400 signatures.

An online poll by the Redcliffe & Bayside Herald showed 84 per cent of ­respondents did not support the sale (212 of 253 votes).

A council spokesman said the petition had been ­handed on to council staff.

“Council remains in the tender process for which applications closed on May 24,” the spokesman said.

The Redcliffe & Bayside Herald asked the council if it was still able to back out of the sale but did not ­receive a response.

The 9.2ha block is zoned residential and could be used as a housing estate or nursing home.

The former Redcliffe City Council bought the land from the State Government in 2002 as a possible site for sporting grounds.

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THE CONTROVERSIAL LAND:

Where: 159-181 Morris Rd, Rothwell

Site size: Four lots, totalling 9.2ha

Zoning: Residential

Density: 15 to 75 homes per hectare

It will be sold by tender. Tenders closed on May 24.