Subdivision and sale of Bowen Street block will ensure best value for new car park

Goondiwindi Regional Council has confirmed that it intends to subdivide the car park on Bowen Street in Goondiwindi and sell the existing house on the site as a new lot.

Council purchased the block that was formerly known as the Co-Op car park in February. The priority of the purchase was the car park itself, along with a block of toilets, but the total 3,634m2 block also included a house and shed.

Council explored several options for the additional assets, and decided that subdividing the block and selling the house as a separate lot was in the best interest of residents. The house has existing access via Macintyre Street along the Macintyre River.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said the sale of the house in its current condition would offset some of the cost of the initial purchase and ensure better value for ratepayers.

“Council’s main interest in this block was always the existing car park, to provide more off-street public parking within the town centre,” Cr Springborg said.

“The purchase already presented significant value for money, as the bitumen car park is fit-for-purpose and includes a toilet block which can now be made available to the public – but the decision to sub-divide the block and sell the house really represents the best value for money for ratepayers,” he said. “Council is not in the business of using ratepayer dollars to buy investment properties, so this sale will further reduce the cost of the car park, which is the real focus.”

Council initially purchased the block for $580,000 cash along with the forfeiture of the car-parking bond tied to the block. The Goondiwindi Co-Op was sold in August 2020, but the adjacent car park was not included in that sale and had been on the market for some time.

Council is now beginning the application process to subdivide the land. It will then engage a real estate agent to conduct the sale and ensure an open and transparent manner. The  process is expected to take several months.

The new car park will complement the existing three free all-day car parks within the Goondiwindi CBD, located at McLean Street, Bowen Street and Callandoon Street.

There are more than 140 unrestricted parking places in these car parks, and many streets adjoining Marshall and Herbert Street have unrestricted parking suitable for large vehicles.

“As we all know, Goondiwindi is a very busy town centre and so I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to acquire this site in such a central location,” Cr Springborg said. “This is about turning what was private property into a public asset for the whole community – residents and visitors alike – and planning for the future development of the town.”

Council’s engineering team is now preparing several re-design options for the current parking configuration, including some options with additional RV parking, and hopes to have an update on this process in the new financial year. Council also plans to be able to make the toilet block available to the public soon.