The future of this block in Bungendore was under the microscope at a recent council meeting. Photo: Google Maps screenshot.
A regional council has knocked back a proposal for a new public park in Bungendore as it moves to sell one of its properties.
The site, at 19-21 Gibraltar Street, was purchased by Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) as part of the planning for Bungendore High School.
At the time, the NSW Department of Education had pushed to build the town’s new high school at the Majara and Gibraltar streets precinct, leading the council to purchase the block as a replacement for a council building on Majara Street that would be affected by the school’s construction.
However, the government switched the school’s site to a four-hectare parcel in Birchfield Drive in September 2024.
QPRC bought the vacant block in 2021, but as part of a Deed of Settlement, it must repay the $1.3 million it paid for the Gibraltar Street site by 2030.
At a recent meeting, councillors debated the site’s future, with options including selling the site, subdividing the block (before selling it as two or three lots) or developing it.
Cr Ross Macdonald put forward a plan for the council to engage a real estate agent so the site could be sold.
He said developing the site would represent an extra (and ongoing) expense for the council to manage.
“How are we going to increase the town’s usability when we are going to be funding and upkeeping another park? … If you want to inject interest and activity into Bungendore, go where [infrastructure and facilities] already exist.”
He also suggested that any profits from the sale could be put towards a community infrastructure project in Bungendore.
Cr Morgan Broadbent urged his fellow councillors to accept the proposal, saying the approach would offer something “close to a net positive outcome” for Bungendore.
“It’s not exactly what the community wants — or a portion of the community wants — but it gives us a pathway to achieve some of the things that the community wants,” he said.
“For that reason, I think it’s a sensible path forward, and it gives us a balance.”
Council documents also state that several Bungendore real estate agents provided appraisals for the block after being contacted by the council.
Cr Mark Schweikert pushed back on the proposed sale during the discussion, saying it should remain in the community’s hands.
“It’s quite ironic that Bungendore has just won the Top Tourism Town in Australia, and we want to take a prime piece [of land] like this and just give it over to somebody, to a developer,” he said.
“We would have very little control over it … I like the idea that if it has to go, then the money goes back to Bungendore — I think that’s a given.”
Cr Katrina Willis also failed to win support for her contrary motion, which would see councillors receive a report on how the council could fund a public park in Gibraltar Street.
Her vision for the site included adaptable spaces (for uses such as shows, markets and other events), picnic tables, water fountains, public toilets and an information kiosk.
She said there had been calls for more green space in Bungendore, while consultation over how the council should handle the Gibraltar Street site included a desire for another community space.
“A park would be in keeping with the country character of the town centre … If sold, council can’t protect the integrity of the site in this historical centre [of town].”
Council documents state that developing the block could cost between $25,000 and $1.5 million (depending on how it is utilised).
Mayor Kenrick Winchester said that while a park would be “great”, there were existing facilities in town that needed upkeep and investment.
“I really think we just need to get on with it — sell this block and move on with life … If that [the initial school site] had not happened, we would not own this block of land.”
The meeting also heard that a formal offer for the site’s sale would need to be approved by councillors.
In late September, QPRC was also appointed as Crown land manager for two reserves, which were flagged as being part of Bungendore High in its first location.
