Bruce Bishop car park sale debate as councillors meet in closed session

THE Gold Coast City Council has sold the Bruce Bishop car park for $48 million. Councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of the sale after a heated hours-long debate.

COUNCILLORS have voted 6-2 to sell the Bruce Bishop car park.

Veteran councillors Daphne McDonald and Dawn Crichlow opposed the deal.

The centre will be bought by the Care Park and the Far East Consortium.

“Upon completion of the proposed sale the proceeds will ensure ratepayers are not burdened with further Council debt. It also allows the next stage of Home of The Arts to be developed,’’ said Council meeting chair, Cr Cameron Caldwell.

“It is the purchaser’s intention to continue operating all the current carparks as well as taking over the maintenance of the facility. All other terms we set in the tender process have been met so this is a great day for ratepayers and a great day for the city.’’

The Transit Centre will be purchased jointly by Care Park and Far East Consortium.

Care Park is majority owned by Far East Consortium.

Care Park owns 38 car parks in Australia, New Zealand, Hungary and the United Kingdom. It also operates a further 400 car parks worldwide for third parties. Far East Consortium is a significant property developer having interests in various projects around Australia.

The new owner advised it will continue to operate the entire onsite car park.

It intends at a future time to obtain approval for the redevelopment of part of the site.

Earlier, veteran councillor Dawn Crichlow says she will oppose it.

The potential buyer has been described as an international owner and operator of car parks and “significant developer”.

Councillors have gone into closed session to discuss the confidential item.

Area councillor Gary Baildon declared a conflict of interest but sought to stay in the room.

Mayor Tom Tate then moved to go into closed session for “commercial-in-confidence” reasons.

Around 4.30pm, Cr Tate and several other councillors have left the chamber when discussing the sale of the Bruce Bishop car park.

The other councillors were Deputy Mayor Donna Gates along with councillors Hermann Vorster, Cr Baildon, Bob La Castra, Peter Young and Paul Taylor.

Cameron Caldwell is hosting the meeting.

They have left after declaring potential conflicts of interest.

Senior councillor Daphne McDonald has stormed out of a council meeting after a clash with acting council meeting chair Cameron Caldwell about the sale of the Bruce Bishop car park.

Councillor McDonald had asked why there was such an urgency with the sale.

She said councillors only became aware of the details in the past 48 hours.

“We’ve spent only a few hours here. I’m wondering why the urgency. I’d like an answer to that,” she said.

As Cr Caldwell explained that the contractual matter had to be sorted as quickly as possible, he attempted to move the meeting on.

“I’ll be leaving then,” Cr McDonald said, indicating her disgust at not being able to ask more questions.

The meeting adjourned for several minutes. Only seven councillors remained in the chamber.

Councillors this month ticked off on major changes to the cultural precinct at Evandale, including a green bridge and art gallery.

Veteran councillor Dawn Crichlow has voiced her disgust as councillors move to sell the Bruce Bishop car park.

She said council had “jumped the barrel” because the city was facing a court challenge from the Save Surfers Paradise group opposed to the sale.

The eight councillors left in the chamber decided to go into a closed session to discuss the case.

“It’s really wrong. These figures don’t make any sense to me,” she said, as several funding options involving the deal were briefly presented on a screen.

“There will be a lot of traders who won’t be able to afford their rent in the next 12 months.

“I hope the government steps in and stops the sale of the Bruce Bishop car park because the people own it.”

After several hours of a closed session, a vote is yet to be taken.

HICKS FAMILY ENDORSE DECISION TO SELL CARPARK

Rally to Save Bruce Bishop car park in Surfers Paradise. Picture Glenn Hampson

COMMUNITY FIGHT TO SAVE CARPARK

The sale of the car park would help fund the project and the planned bridge duplication at Isle of Capri.

The planned sale has occurred despite an ongoing investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission, and court action against council by Sale Surfers Paradise to stop the sale.

Five councillors in March opposed the sale of the $60 million ratepayer asset.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported at the time that Mayor Tom Tate and council CEO Dale Dickson were being investigated by the CCC following a fresh complaint about the car park.

Cr Tate declined to comment at the time, saying “I respect the confidentiality of the CCC”. Mr Dickson said he “welcomed an independent investigation” and would co-operate with authorities.

FLASHBACK: BRUCE BISHOP CARPARK

CEO Dale Dickson and Mayor Tom Tate. Pic by Richard Gosling

The allegations against council included conflicts of interest, misuse of authority and making false and misleading statements.

A key allegation was the CEO was having his contract renewed by the Mayor when responsible for negotiations into the sale of council land to Cr Tate’s development group.

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Petition signing at a Save Bruce Bishop car park rally in Surfers Paradise. Picture Glenn Hampson

The group says the loss of the car park would have a negative effect on Surfers Paradise traders.