Councillors object to CBD land sale

A Bunbury city councillor has slammed the sale of a piece of land in the CBD for a multi-storey film studio, hotel and appartment complex as "immoral".

Cr Karen Steele made critical remarks during a short debate at Bunbury City Council's meeting last Tuesday night over a proposal to sell the carpark behind the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries to Vue Group.

Cr Steele later told the South Western Times she was uncomfortable with the process because the land had not been publicly advertised for sale.

Vue wants to use the land - worth $2.85 million - for a multi-storey complex which would include a Chinese film and animation studio and a hotel.

The council voted 9-2, with Crs Steele and Michelle Steck objecting, to allow chief executive officer Andrew Brien to prepare a draft contract which will come back to the council for a final decision.

Cr Steele said in her opinion the process was "immoral" because the council would not know if the deal with Vue was the best option.

"We are selling a prime piece of land based on a value that has not been tested in the market," she said.

The council received five submissions after the proposed land sale was advertised to the public.

Resident Brian McCormack said he was strongly opposed to the sale and it was inappropriate for the property "to be sold to a select purchaser rather than made available to the public".

Mr Brien is likely to impose a number of conditions on the sale including an obligation for the land to be developed in a set period of time in a bid to prevent "land banking".

However, Vue Group will almost certainly be allowed to have 18 months to conduct its due diligence before finalising the purchase.

Cr Wendy Giles, who cannot vote on the issue because she lives near the land, made a public submission to suggest 18 months was too long for the land to be "in limbo".

She also fears that Wellington and Prinsep streets were not designed for traffic from high density housing.

Last year the developers fronted a council meeting with concept plans showing the complex could be 15 storeys high.

However, the final plans will only be known when the developers file a development application with the council.