Extract from ABC News
Updated
Photo:
Brisbane City Council sold the Hendra site at tender for $5.25 million. (Supplied - file image)
Brisbane City Council (BCC) has sold a parcel of land
that drew controversy earlier this year over a move to sell it to a
Liberal National Party donor without going to public tender or auction.
The
property has been sold through a tender process for $5.25 million,
almost $2 million more than the proposed sale price under the previous
deal, which was eventually blocked by the State Government.Shortly before the local government election in March, the ABC revealed BCC had signed a $3.3-million agreement to sell a parcel of land near Brisbane Airport, in Brisbane's north-east, without going to tender.
The 8,251-square-metre property at 538 Nudgee Road in Hendra was to be sold to businessman Boon Tan, who was a significant donor to the Liberal National Party.
Dr Tan had approached BCC offering to buy the property, which is next to his East Coast Car Rentals business at Nundah.
But Local Government Minister and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad rejected council's application for permission to sell the site without tender.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said at the time that there was "public benefit in this for the ratepayers", arguing the $3.3 million price tag was $500,000 more than an official valuation of the property.
The agreement was also referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).
The CCC decided to not pursue the matter, prompting Councillor Quirk to label the saga a smear campaign and demand an apology from the Labor Party.
New buyer also has LNP links
On Friday, BCC finalised the sale of the property to JJ Richards and Sons for $5.25 million, after putting it to tender.
Photo:
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk had argued selling for $3.3 million was in the public benefit. (ABC News: Casey Briggs)
The tender attracted four bids.In a statement, a spokesperson for the LNP-led administration said BCC had always acted in the best interests of ratepayers by seeking the best price for the land.
JJ Richards and Sons is also a major LNP donor, having given several hundred thousand dollars to the party over the past two years.
Electoral Commission Queensland donation declarations reveal the waste management company donated $93,000 to the LNP and its candidates ahead of the last state election.
Australian Electoral Commission records show that among other donations, the company gave $125,000 to the federal Liberal Party in the 2014/15 financial year.
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