Keith Campbell
November 29, 2016
The South Burnett Regional Council is testing the market for its former Pound Street depot site for the second time this year.
Last week the Council called for expressions of interest in the large block between Pound and Kingaroy Streets, which was originally used as a works depot by the former Kingaroy Shire Council.
When the depot was decommissioned in 2007, it was found the land had become contaminated.
A lengthy and expensive decontamination process was then carried out, concluding in December 2014 when the block was removed from the State Contaminated Land Register after being given the “all clear”.
The Council then engaged Local Government Infrastructure Services (LGIS) to recommend options for the site’s future use.
LGIS advised the block would be suitable for a major retail development; a commercial government office; a private hospital or day surgery; community housing and/or aged care; a conference/entertainment centre; or mixed use.
In January the Council voted to call for expressions of interest in the block to test the market.
Former Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said at the time the Pound Street site was one of Kingaroy’s prime pieces of real estate.
However, the Council wanted to see it put to a use that would be appropriate for both Kingaroy’s CBD and the region as a whole.
On Tuesday Mayor Keith Campbell said he still agreed with those aims, and the current call for EOI’s was to determine what projects developers were willing to bring to the area.
Mayor Campbell said the site was a major asset and he didn’t see why it should sit unused.
“If this site is developed, it could turn into an income stream for Council,” he said.
“But we are not in favour of development at any cost, and we would like to see this site developed in an appropriate way – ideally, one that fills unmet needs in our community.”
Expressions of Interest will close on December 20.
More details are available on the lgtenderbox.com.au website.
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