TENDER PROCESS TO COMMENCE FOR BOHLE PLAINS LAND

Natural Resources and Water Minister and Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland Craig Wallace today said that developers would be invited to tender for Townsville’s 250-hectare Bohle Plains residential development project before the end of the year.

Minister Wallace said a project steering committee comprising of state and local government agencies met last week to discuss the project plan and make initial recommendations.

“The selection of both the estate agent and developer will be undertaken by an evaluation panel who will report to me through the steering committee,” Mr Wallace said.

"The Bligh Government will offer a term lease to the successful tenderer who will be initially required to resolve any native title issues relating to the subject lands and prepare a detailed master plan for approval.

"The Bligh Government is planning for and managing growth and this land will go a long way in assisting to do this.

"The steering committee will ensure that the final master plan incorporates affordable land alternatives to assist with the delivery of a product on the market that is targeted to first home buyers.

“In addition, an agreement with the successful tenderer will ensure delivery of allotments for social housing."

The plan would also have to consider associated social infrastructure such as public open space provisions, parkland and the protection of the scenic amenity of Mt Louisa.

Under a timetable set by the steering committee, real estate agents will have from September 26 to October 10 2008 to file expressions of interest to market the land.

Tenders for the land will open by the end of the year.

Mr Wallace said the Bohle land release project was made possible by a land study finalised in 2007 that considered the most appropriate use and tenure of 14 parcels of land (totalling 9,460 hectares) of land in the Bohle area.

"The report recommended that the land could be made available for urban development and a range of community uses," he said.

The land release is part of a Bligh Government commitment to review the use of up to 20,000 parcels of state land throughout Queensland, as a response to increased population growth in regional centres.

Media contact: Minister Wallace’s office, 3896 3688.