By Nikki Sorbello

Copyright abc

A controversial bid to turn 26 hectares of Bundaberg’s green space into an affordable housing estate has been scrapped and labelled “unfeasible”.

The land, four hours north of Brisbane, was to be gifted to not-for-profit housing provider Regional Housing Limited by the Bundaberg Regional Council.

Its decision to gift the land was strongly opposed by parts of the community who wanted the land to be included in the neighbouring Baldwin Swamp Environmental Park for protection.

On Friday, the council confirmed the site would not be used for affordable housing, citing costs and community sentiment.

“Due to the quality of the land, the civil infrastructure costs would be too high, and the lot numbers would be overly restricted,” Mayor Helen Blackburn said.

Cr Blackburn said while the land could be sold and used for housing by a private developer, the council had heard the community’s opposition “loud and clear”.

“We will be looking at trying to integrate the entire parcel into the Baldwin Swamp Environmental Park,” she said.

The community has been lobbying for the land’s inclusion into the environmental park since the council took ownership of the area in the early 2000s.

Baldwin Swamp Protection Group’s Maureen Schmitt said the decision was a “massive relief”.

“The community has been very much against this from the very beginning,” she said.

“It’s a win for the environment, and we hope a win for the environmental park, and a win for the community, for future generations.”

Cr Blackburn said the council would continue to work with Regional Housing Limited to find alternative options for affordable housing.

Regional Housing Limited business development manager Kris Robinson said the group knew from the outset that developing the site would be a challenge.

“We’re just focused on looking at any opportunity that we can to create additional affordable housing,” Mr Robinson said.