Greens ramp up pressure on Council to buy back ABC site for park despite $100m cost

A Greens MP has launched a campaign to pressure Council into buying back the old ABC site at Toowong for a regional park. But the plan could cost as much as $100 million.

Proceeds from the sale of the old Toowong bowls club should be used to buy back the former ABC Toowong site for a major park, state Greens MP Michael Berkman says.

But the floodprone bowlo land is likely to fetch far less than the $43 million developer Consolidated Properties paid for the riverfront ABC property.

The site, which has sweeping views of the CBD, is likely to now be worth even more, with remediation and park landscaping running into the multi millions.

Westside News also understands the State Government has never mentioned compensating Council once it acquires the bowlo, where it plans to build the inner-west’s first new primary school in five decades.

The ABC site is on a prime riverfront stretch of Toowong. Luxury homes near the property are worth multi millions.

Consolidated, which is at an advanced stage of planning for two or possibly three residential towers, is also unlikely to be a willing seller.

However, Mr Berkman said Council had the power under the Acquisition of Land Act 1967 to compulsorily acquire the former ABC headquarters.

He has written to local councillor James Mackay and Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner asking them to commit to buy the site to deliver on a promise of no let loss of green space.

Several hundred residents have also emailed the Lord Mayor’s office since Mr Berkman launched his campaign late last week.

Demolition of the old ABC buildings at Toowong several years ago. The property has been significantly prepared in readiness for two or three residential towers. Picture: Patria Jannides

“With the proposed reconfiguration and Council’s estimated $14 million to buy back part of the ABC site for the bridge landing, we only need about $20 million more — the exact amount the Federal Government sold the site off for initially — to return the whole lot to public hands,” he said.

“When the State Government acquires the old Toowong Bowlo site for a new school Council will receive substantial compensation, so I’m calling on them to use those funds to deliver new green space in Toowong.

“The ABC site is perfect because it’s almost exactly the same size as the land to be resumed for the school, just 1km away.

“Council has already committed to purchase almost a quarter of the site for the new green bridge.

“Middenbury House (a heritage-listed colonial home within the ABC holding) would also be perfect as a community facility to replace the former bowls club — in my view, a far better use than the commercial one proposed by the developer.’’

Toowong bowls club has been vacant since the club folded. The State Government last year announced it will acquire the property for a new school. Picture: Richard Walker

Consolidated has committed to a full restoration of the 1800s landmark and might also add an extension which could house a restaurant, cafe, day spa or similar tenant.

A Council spokesman said the bowls club would be lost to the community because, he claimed, Mr Berkman had campaigned to persuade the Government to locate the new school there — not at its original preference at the Indooroopilly State High School campus.

“Mr Berkman’s advocacy cost locals the former Toowong Bowls Club site, as well as adjoining green space,’’ he said.

“He’s now spruiking a furphy about resuming riverside land to deflect attention from this.

“Mr Berkman would be better off lending a hand towards solving a situation he helped create by convincing the State Government to find a suitable site for a replacement community facility and green space nearby.’’

How the Consolidated Properties towers could look, although it anticipates only two buildings will be constructed. Image: John Wardle Architects

But Mr Berkman wrote in a June, 2021 submission to the State that his preferred position was that it buy new private land “to find the best possible location’’.

Instead, it had presented the community with only two options, both of which had significant problems.

“I’ve long supported locals’ calls for the ABC site to be returned to public hands as a riverside park and the opportunity Council has right now is incredibly exciting,’’ he said.

“As well as a much-needed new school, our community could have new parkland and a beautiful, heritage-listed community venue instead of private development at the ABC site.

“Council said last year that they don’t support any net loss of parkland, and we know they have the power to compulsorily acquire land for new parks.

“So this is the test — will they use the land acquisition funds from the State Government to keep their promise to the community?”