Council knocks back offers on vacant blocks

Bunbury City Council has knocked back offers on several waterfront sites and is entering into negotiations with potential buyers.

The council received six offers on four of the five prime blocks of land which have been the focus of a marketing campaign.

The blocks – two at Ocean Drive and one each at Clifton and Blair streets and Koombana Drive – were part of an expression of interest campaign run by real estate experts Colliers International and were to be sold on the condition they would be developed.

A portion of land near Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on Blair Street failed to gain any interest and is again being offered to the market.

After potential buyers pitched their ideas for the remaining blocks last week, the council last night supported refusing the offers.

The prices offered and developments proposed are being kept under wraps, but Mayor Gary Brennan said there were a “number of reasons” the offers were not accepted.

Negotiations between the council and the interested developers will continue in a bid to “reach a better outcome for both the city and applicants” within six months.