The recent sale of Council owned ‘green space’ has caused concern among a local environmental organisation that believes our small patches of grassland should be protected from development for the benefit of the community.
Tony Fontes, from the Whitsunday Conservation Council, said that he was shocked to see so many pieces of natural land sold to developers without public consultation.
“Is our Council so out of step with the importance of urban green space that selling our urban parks to developers is on the cards? Unbelievably, the answer is yes,” he said.
“It seems that the Council is so focused on development at all costs, they have forgotten the community.”
Mr Fontes points out that green spaces make urban environments more liveable by regulating temperatures, reducing runoff, increasing biodiversity, and decreasing flood risks.
He also states that parkland stimulates social cohesion and supports physical fitness and activities.
A Council spokesperson said that Whitsunday Regional Council also values green spaces within the community and currently has an urban green space network composed of over 129 hectares of recreation parks, 370 hectares of sporting facilities, and 278 hectares of nature reserves.
The spokesperson confirmed, however, that several vacant lots zoned residential and commercial had been identified for sale in November.
“These sites do not have a role in the greenspace network to help meet desired standards of service or the lifestyle and environmental needs of our community,” said the spokesperson.
“The identified blocks don’t have a role due to their small size, location in proximity to more suitable parkland, lack of biodiversity, and lack of recreational infrastructure.
“No existing parklands currently utilised by the community are part of the sale.”
Council states that it would prefer to spend money on further invigorating or increasing the services of recreational assets in larger regional and district parks, as studies have shown they have a greater attraction value that encourages people to get outdoors.
With these factors in mind, Council decided to shed surplus land assets that don’t have a role in promoting lifestyle or environmental benefits in the greenspace network.
They believe this will allow for more funds to re-investment in parks that will benefit the community further.
The land parcels that Council is selling, include:
o 2 Sinclair Street, Bowen
o 82-92 Santa Barbara Parade, Bowen
o 9D Dalrymple Street, Bowen
o 27-29 Queens Street, Bowen
o 31-33 Queens Street, Bowen
o Lot 5 King Street, Bowen
o 1 Industrial Road, Collinsville
o 42 Carlo Drive, Cannonvale
Image: Council state that the sale of small green areas will increase investment in larger parkland
Image: Council state that the sale of small green areas will increase investment in larger parkland
