Secret deal between ABC and Bligh Government for prime land at South Bank
THE ABC has been handed prized real estate for its new headquarters in a secret government deal.
SOME of Brisbane's most prized public land was given away for 120 years for a paltry sum in a secret deal between the ABC and the State Government.
The national broadcaster paid just $12 million for the riverfront site at South Bank parklands for its new Queensland headquarters.
It has four storeys of offices and studios and panoramic views across the water to the CBD skyline.
The generous deal means the ABC pays less than $2000 a week for the state's prime green space.
Property records reveal that a similar site that the nearby Conservatorium of Music is housed on has a site value (land without buildings) of $33 million.
The Courier-Mail also learnt that former premier Anna Bligh championed the deal, and recruited the support of then prime minister, Kevin Rudd.
The ABC yesterday denied hiding details of the transaction for three years by blocking Freedom of Information searches by Channel 7 news.
"The ABC has been exposed this week of hypocrisy and of trashing its professed ideals of openness and accountability," said Michael McKinnon, Seven's FOI editor.
"The ABC demands accountability from other government departments, but fought tooth and nail from letting the public know what it cost.
"It's appalling.
"They showed contempt for Queensland residents who have lost a priceless, irreplaceable piece of parkland."
However, the ABC said Seven was seeking details of sale documents when there were none - because it was a lease.
"We weren't being obtuse. He (McKinnon) was asking for something that didn't exist," said a spokeswoman for ABC managing director Mark Scott. "It was in Anna Bligh's electorate. She was working very hard to get us there.
"She wanted to enhance the area as an arts precinct."
The Queensland Symphony Orchestra also shifted to the new building on Grey St between the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
The ABC building is not open to the public while the output of programs has been criticised as being too low, given the building's state-of-the-art nature.
The deal was marked with controversy from the outset, with South Bank condemned for sacrificing the parkland for the ABC.
At the time, lord mayor Campbell Newman said the deal was improper and formally asked the ABC to withdraw
Mr Newman said allowing the project to proceed would be akin to allowing a four-storey building in the Botanic Gardens or New Farm Park.
"And it was a deal done behind closed doors without any scrutiny of the approved development plan," Mr Newman said at the time.
"The South Bank Corporation is thumbing its nose at the community."
Property records reveal that the 9400sq m site that the nearby Conservatorium of Music is housed on at 140 Grey St has a site value (land without buildings) of $33 million.
Brisbane commercial agents say it is not unusual for a leasing rate not to be indexed because as long-term leases such as these run down, so does the value of the asset.
They say in South Brisbane commercial office sites would currently sell for between $3000 and $4000 a square metre.
What $2000 a week will get you
