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Surplus land to be sold to the highest bidder

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Council-owned land at 58-60 Station Street in Bayswater is proposed to be sold by public auction, following a decision not to sell the site at a discounted price for social housing.

Council will commence the statutory process to sell the property on the open market, give public notice of the proposed sale and undertake community consultation.

The corner block, opposite a shopping centre car park and Bayswater Station is the site of the former Bayswater Youth Hall, which was demolished in 2019 because it was unsafe for community use.

Council rejected a proposal to sell the land at a discounted price to a community housing provider that would apply for state government grants to develop the land for social housing and manage tenancies on an ongoing basis.

Knox Mayor, Councillor Jude Dwight said this decision brings into focus the competing needs that Council seeks to meet for our community.

“We had to weigh up our commitment to increase social and affordable housing with our policy that council land be sold at ‘best and highest’ value unless we can justify a lower value based on circumstance, and our commitment to retain and increase tree canopy coverage in Knox,” she said.

“Community feedback on the proposal was sought over four weeks in June and July, asking what people would like Council to know when deciding whether or not to sell the site for social housing at a subsidised rate of 62% below market value.

“In reaching our decision, Council has carefully considered community feedback,  together with housing demand data, expert advice, our policy commitments and details of the proposals received by the housing associations, including the sale price, building design and management.”

Of the 31 responses received, there was general support for social housing with some concerns expressed about selling council owned land at a subsidised rate, protecting trees onsite, community safety and devaluing existing homes.

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