Showgrounds carpark compromise

A temporary carpark built at the Redcliffe Showgrounds will be partially retained after Moreton Bay Regional Council reached an agreement with the Redcliffe Show Society.

The $400,000 carpark was built for hospital staff to use for parking while the new Redcliffe Hospital multi-storey carpark was built.

Under the agreement between Queensland Health and the Show Society – which had the consent of Council as custodians of the land – the carpark was to be removed and grass reinstated once the multi-storey carpark was completed.

But last year Council began discussions with the Show Society, with Mayor Peter Flannery saying the carpark was an important asset which was well constructed and could better serve the community than a plot of turf.

Reaching a compromise

Today’s Council meeting heard there were three options for the future of the land – retain the carpark in its entirety, restore the grass entirely or partially retain the carpark and restore a portion of grass.

Councillors voted to keep half the carpark – retaining 144 spaces – and have the rest reinstated as turf.

Councillor Karl Winchester (Div 6) told the council meeting the decision will allow the Society to continue its pre-existing use of the land, while retaining some carparking.

He says the Society initially offered to retain one third of the carpark, but ultimately agreed to the 50-50 compromise.

“It’s important to note that the Show Society agreed to construction of the carpark as temporary,” he says.

Councillor Mark Booth (Div 2) expressed concern about the partial removal of the carpark, saying the money used by the Queensland Health to restore the grass could be better spent on frontline services.

“My desire would be for it to be retained in its entirety,” he says.

Mayor Flannery congratulated Cr Winchester on brokering the deal.

“I think it’s a good compromise – it’s still a great asset that this council didn’t have to pay for,” he says.

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