Council to sell surplus island blocks in Moreton Bay

Vacant residential land on sought-after southeast Queensland islands could go up for sale – with prices as low as $15,000 – as a regional council looks to shed “surplus” property.

Hundreds of residential blocks on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands are likely to be sold as the local council investigates its surplus land holdings.

Redland City Council intends to sell off about 345 blocks on Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra islands following a decision at its general meeting on Wednesday.

Council owns a total of 4260 island blocks across Moreton Bay.

LATEST NEWS

PM ISSUES STRONGEST DEMAND ON QLD BORDER YET

ICONIC AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL CANCELLED

The move is likely to ease the burden for a number of existing island residents who had previously applied to buy council land neighbouring their properties – to increase their land holdings but also allow them to maintain the space.

Previously, inquiries by neighbours to buy the unused blocks were dealt with on a lengthy case-by-case basis.

The new standard approach to be introduced was designed to cut red tape and efficiently free council of some of its surplus blocks.

Surplus land on islands including Macleay Island will be offered for sale to neighbours before going to auction. Photo: Liam Kidston.

Small blocks would primarily be amalgamated into existing properties, rather than create a new block for housing.

Blocks not of interest to neighbours would likely be auctioned on the open market.

Division 5 Councillor Mark Edwards said the sale could deliver up to $2 million in revenue while reducing council’s property maintenance costs.

More local news:

Developer to offer land in suburb hardly touched in 50 years

Developers in court for massive housing project

Redlands’ best rising sports stars revealed

According to council, a ‘conservative estimate’ of revenue was in the range of $15,000 – $20,000 per property, based on the average market value of island properties.

A realestate.com.au search shows that while vacant blocks on North Stradbroke Island sell for hundreds of thousands, blocks on nearby Russell Island have recently sold for as little as $18,000.

While not all blocks would be considered surplus to council, some would now become available.

Blocks of residential land, like this one on Russell Island purchased privately by radio personality Jess Eva and her husband Norm, will be sold by Redland City Council.

“I’m very supportive of this,” Cr Edwards said.

The move comes after Russell Island resident Jan Schut highlighted the problems facing locals who lived next door to vacant blocks, especially regarding poor maintenance.

The new process would include a range of criteria.

The buyer would be required to cover all costs of the transaction, before the property was formally offered to its neighbour at an assessed market value.

Council said that generally the land being offered for disposal would be zoned residential.

But, in exceptional circumstances, land zoned conservation or environmental management may also be considered for disposal.