REVEALED: How much council paid for Clive Berghofer's land

THE council paid $8 million for land in the heart of Highfields that will play an integral part in a master plan for the development of the suburb.

Philanthropist Clive Berghofer. Picture: David Martinelli

THE Toowoomba Regional Council paid $8 million for land in the heart of Highfields that will play an integral part in a master plan for the development of the suburb.

The price tag was revealed in financial documents at a council meeting, three months after the council bought 19 hectares of prime commercial land from developer Clive Berghofer but would not disclose how much was paid.

The council bought the land to halt another developer's plans to turn the site into a small housing village.

Mayor Paul Antonio called the $7.5 million sale in September a fair price, saying it would benefit Highfields.

"The reality is that Clive was pretty generous," he said.

"I spoke to Chris (Tait, councillor) when I thought about the idea, and said to Chris to go and see Clive and Clive was delighted to be part of it.

"It's brilliant what's happened for Highfields - we did a very fair price."

NEW PLAN: The new area for the Central Highfields Master Plan, which was launched by the Toowoomba Regional Council on Wednesday October 11, 2017. Picture: Toowoomba Regional Council

Cr Tait told The Chronicle in September the move stopped Mr Berghofer selling the land to another developer whose proposal would have met planning scheme requirements.

"There was a community expectation out there that something decent be done with the land," Cr Tait said.

The council revealed its new approach to the Highfields Master Plan in October.

The 45-hectare plan, which includes the land bought from Mr Berghofer's Jeteld Pty Ltd, came after Highfields residents rejected an earlier iteration.

Cr Antonio acknowledged the mistakes made during the previous plan and said the new consultation approach had been well-received.

"What I'm seeing when it comes to the engagement we're having with the Highfields community, all of that anger has gone away," he said.

"I made absolutely sure that I took responsibility for the stuff-up last time and I took control."

The purchase was part of a $11.5 million increase in the TRC's capital expenditure in the first 2017/18 budget review.

Finance and Business Strategy general manager Arun Pratap said several extra projects forced an adjustment in the ledger.

Originally published as REVEALED: How much council paid for Clive Berghofer's land