The new owner of a coastal headland in Far North Queensland may have a fight on his hands to keep it, after Labor declared it would use its powers of compulsory acquisition to claim it if re-elected.
Taylor Point, an 18-hectare beachfront property with wide coastal views in the marginal seat of Barron River, has been privately owned for decades but is treasured by locals as a popular walking and fishing spot.
Audrius Macernis, whose newly formed company has reached a deal to buy it, has outlined his vision to restore Taylor Point's damaged ecology, closing it off to four-wheel drives and declaring it "not for sale".
But Labor MP Craig Crawford said the government was "very committed" to using compulsory acquisition powers if re-elected, and if Mr Macernis refused to sell.
"The premier has made that backing to me, as well as the Labor Party state secretary," Mr Crawford said on Friday.
In response, Mr Macernis, an inventor of safety devices, said, "I wish him all the best".
The beach at Taylor Point is a popular walking spot but Mr Macernis has restricted access. (ABC Far North: Christopher Testa)
'Lack of respect'
Mr Crawford said a re-elected Labor government would first attempt to negotiate with Taylor Point's owner, with compulsory acquisition a "last resort measure".
It has put a $10 million commitment on the table to buy the property, which until recently was listed for sale at $8 million.
Loading...The Liberal National Party (LNP) made an election commitment to work with Cairns Regional Council to make Taylor Point a public conservation park earlier this year.
But LNP environment spokesperson Sam O'Connor said Labor had shown "a lack of respect for people's money" by "spitballing" figures in the media.
He also criticised Labor's threat of compulsory acquisition.
"[It's] extraordinary … to be raising powers like that in the heat of an election campaign," he said.
"We need to not be making these kinds of announcements on the run."
Labor argues the LNP has “no plan” to get the property into public hands.
Taylor Point was bequeathed in 1969 to the Anglican Church, which then sold it to developer Rob Prettejohn in the 1990s.
Labor MP Craig Crawford has described acquiring Taylor Point as his top election priority. (ABC News: Scott Kyle)
Fighting acquisition costly
Simon LaBlack, an accredited property law specialist in Queensland, said landowners could ask a judge to formally review a decision to compulsorily acquire their property, under certain grounds.
But doing so could cost a landowner "theoretically, tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars".
Mr LaBlack said landowners were also "made to fight tooth and nail for compensation" and disputes about valuations could be stressful.
"I've seen that drag out for 10, 15 years at times, from when something might be published about a project, to when things might actually be progressed," he said.
Scrap metal and car wrecks are among the rubbish littered throughout Taylor Point. (ABC Far North: Christopher Testa)
Mr Macernis said settlement on his purchase was due to take place next week.
The sale also leaves uncertainty around the Yirrganydji traditional owners' hopes to help protect Taylor Point, which is a sacred burial area.
Last month, traditional owner Uncle George Singleton told the ABC he wanted the headland to be restored and used as a ranger base for turtle and dugong conservation.
Mr Macernis this week said he was open to discussing his plans with traditional owners.
"We all live on Aboriginal land and to actually have a strong connection where they feel respected, and they also feel it's a very fair, win-win situation — from whatever angle, I think it's beautiful," he said.