Govt land sell-off: $3 billion in prime properties up for grabs

[red750]

The largest military property sell-off in Australian history is underway, after the Albanese government agreed to put 64 ‘vacant, decaying’ Defence sites – estimated to be worth as much as $3 billion – on the market..

 

Some of Australia’s most valuable and historically significant military landholdings are now up for grabs, including Victoria Barracks in Sydney’s exclusive Paddington and its Melbourne counterpart, as well as the birthplace of the RAAF, Williams Base at Point Cook. Theis is an operating airfield and home of the RAAF Museum

[onetrack]

I could see this coming years ago, as Defence started on its major shopping list. I notice that the massive chunk of SAS land on the W.A. coast at Swanbourne (Campbell Barracks) isn't mentioned.

 

There's 236Ha of pristine, mega-mega dollar, ocean-front land there, that at current values would bring in mega-billions if sold off. I see where our local nefarious resident land developer, and Politician suck-hole, is licking his lips over the sale of Campbell Barracks, saying it "could bring in $1.3B for the Govt" if sold. Pigs bum it's worth $1.3B, more like $13B - but I'll wager he'll exert pressure on the Govt to sell it to him for $1.3B.

 

This is the value of that land in that region. A 1925 house on 1181 sq m of land in the area, sold last Oct for $12.8M. In the aerial view of the house and golf course, you can see the Campbell Barracks land in the distance.

 

https://www.domain.com.au/property-profile/11-pearse-street-cottesloe-wa-6011

[Jerry_Atrick]

I know the military and the department of defence are always reviewing their property portfolio to optimise it for modern day use. A war machine costs money and requires modern amenities. 

 

However, I can't help but think there are brown paper bags passing about in the halls of our decision makers. Not for sall of the properties. But Victoria Barracks in both Melbourne and Sydney, for example, are historically significant and an essential part of the fabric of their area; they are architecurally and environmentally a part of the culture and provide a welcome relief from the many bland building around them. 

 

Of course, they and the land they are upon are a developer's nirvana. And developers have little regard for the quality of the environment of what they develop to the communities they affect. 

 

Yes, they will be expensive to maintain. But sometimes things are important enought to warrant the cost. Otherwise we end up with bland, faceless streetscapes with no acknowledgment of our past, nor the variety and space that can bring enjoyment to dull days.