Mary Valley auction success

Seven of the eight government-owned Mary Valley properties put to auction in Gympie on Saturday will be back in private ownership.

Six of the properties sold under the hammer at the auction and the seventh is now under contract.

More than 100 people attended the Helmsman auction at the Gympie Senior Citizens Centre with 32 registered bidders making more than 78 bids for the properties through the helmsman process.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the results of the second auction of land showed the Newman Government was committed to rebuilding Mary Valley communities.

“As more property is moved back into private ownership, new residents will make the Mary Valley their home and become part of the once thriving communities there,” Mr Seeney said.

“We are working hard to restore the area that Labor destroyed and then neglected.

“Our plans are not only sell the smaller lifestyle land holdings, but to work with industry and business to restore agricultural enterprises in the valley which will bring new job opportunities and more people to the region.”

The Member for Gympie and Chairman of the Mary Valley Economic Advisory Group David Gibson said the auction showed the great success the Government was having with its Mary Valley strategy.

“I think we can show that this is an example of the Newman Government getting on with the job of revitalizing the Mary Valley – showing that it is serious,” he said. 

“For years Labor sat around and did nothing. They destroyed the community, they did nothing to rebuild the community. Now we see people moving back into homes that they will own, they will become part of that community fabric and that is an exciting g step forward.

“I think, very clearly, since the failed Labor Traveston Dam announcement, we’ve seen the Mary Valley struggle. Property values have been unpredictable and we’ve seen those who want to get on with their life unable to do so. Now certainty has been brought back for the very first time,” Mr Gibson said.

Twenty six Mary Valley properties have now been sold at auction and through normal real estate processes. Three others are under contract.

The Newman Government recently announced the first economic development unit in the Mary Valley with outdoor education group, Higher Group, taking a development lease on a neighbouring property to its existing base.

Higher Ground’s expansion plans are expected to create 22 new jobs.

[ENDS]  25 March 2013

Media Contact: John Wiseman – 0409 791 281