Despite concerns over transparency, Brisbane City Council has approved a behind-the-scenes transfer of a lease of the former Stafford Bowls Club from Crushers Leagues Club to Brisbane Racing Club.
BRC indicated it would spend $7.5 million improving the site, which had not been used since 2016, and grant $200,000 a year to the local community as part of the deal.
It would also provide "financial and in-kind support to the activities of the Gibson Park Committee" — Stafford District Cricket Club, Padua College and Brothers Junior Rugby League Football Club.
In 2018, Crushers, operating as Brothers Grange Community Sports Club, lodged an application with the council to refurbish and extend the Stafford Bowls Club building and retain two bowling greens, converting one to a synthetic surface that could also be used for other activities.
The plans for 352 Stafford Road also included alfresco dining, a sports bar and cafe, room for 78 gaming machines and an extra 140 square metres of floor space.
Crushers' plans were approved and a 20-year lease was granted by the council on June 11, 2019.
But the club has since indicated it cannot come through on the project due in part to its liquor licence being approved by the state government only late last year.
The club's gambling licence is still pending.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Crushers was "unable to resolve the transfer of previously held licences" as part of the lease.
"In their plans to revitalise the site, BRC indicated activating this facility would create approximately 60 new jobs and deliver a revitalised new club to be used by locals, members and sporting clubs," Cr Schrinner said.
Marchant Ward representative Fiona Hammond said although she was personally against gambling, leasing the site's facilities would provide significant benefit for the Stafford community.
Claims community left out of 'sweetheart deal'
But Opposition leader and Labor councillor Jared Cassidy said Labor slammed the new agreement as "not open, transparent or accountable".
He said while Labor supported the lease arrangements in 2019 because the "community wanted to see that facility used" and Crushers entered a tender process to be assigned the lease, the Opposition also raised concerns at the time over the club's ability to fulfil its promises.
"That was three years ago, and there was a $200,000 a year commitment to the local community made then, and that never came to fruition obviously," Cr Cassidy said.
"An arrangement has been made between Crushers Leagues Club and Brisbane Racing Club behind closed doors.
"Given Crushers haven't come good on any of the upgrades, any of the community contribution they promised, it is appropriate they no longer have the lease.
"Obviously, a deal has been struck between [these clubs] ... but what input did the local community have?"
Independent councillor Nicole Johnston and Greens council representative Jonathan Sriranganathan also raised concerns with the lease transfer.
Cr Johnston called it "one of the worst decisions the council" has made regarding community facilities in Brisbane.
She said the council had failed to step in over the past three years when it became clear the lease terms were not being met.
"[This was decided] without an expression of interest and tendering process which is normally done for community leases," Cr Johnston said.
"Why is this sweetheart deal happening?
"It does not help when big business takes over small community groups."
However, Community, Arts and Nighttime Economy Committee chairwoman Vicki Howard defended Crushers' lack of action during the COVID-19 pandemic, which began shortly after the lease was awarded.
Three councillors declare conflict of interest
Cr Sriranganathan also weighed in and called BRC a "parasitic leech which strips money from pockets of the poor".
He also described BRC as an "evil organisation" that was "not a good fit for the [former Stafford Bowls Club] site".
"The correct process would have been to go out to tender or to seek expressions of interest so that a range of community groups across the city could offer to take on this facility," Cr Sriranganathan said.
Alternatively, the council could have gone back through previous expressions of interest … to see if any of those previous groups that had offered were still interested."
Despite the lengthy debate, the council approved the lease transfer in a division, 15 votes to five.
Northgate Ward's Adam Allan, Runcorn Ward's Kim Marx and Hamilton Ward's David McLachlan all declared conflicts of interest saying, they had received gifts worth between $500 and $2,000 from BRC and left chambers for the entirety of the debate.
In Cr McLachlan's absence, Peter Matic took over as deputy chairman of the chambers.
BRC was contacted but declined to comment.
