THE state government is planning to sell off a strip of land, vested to the public as a park in a 2002 deal with Victoria Point Shopping Centre developer Lancini Constructions. Last month, the state sent out 20 secret letters to residents of Sycamore Parade, Victoria Point, whose properties back on to the 4841sq m park in Teak Lane asking them if they approved of the land's sale. The letter, signed by state land communications officer Judy Howard, claimed the lack of response by January 9 would be tallied as support for the sale. It also warned residents not to show the correspondence to third parties and the state government refused Redland City Bulletin a copy. In 2002, Redland council ordered Lancini give the land to the state government as a condition of a development application for the Town Centre shopping complex, which included Bunnings, a medical practice, Dan Murphy's and Woolworths. The land was formerly gazetted as public open space in July 2006 and, since then the council has maintained the site, a popular spot for students wagging school and as a thoroughfare to the shops. Redlands MP Peter Dowling said the letter, which he supported, was sent out to determine a better use for the land and not because the developer wanted the site back to extend the shopping centre and car park. He said the park was a useless piece of land which served no purpose and was causing "grief" to the state, council and residents who complained it led to noise, litter and petty crime. Mr Dowling said converting the land into a car park for the shopping centre was a valid solution to the park's "anti-social" problems. "I argued, and so did Lancini, against the land being an environmental corridor because it runs from the back of the Sharks football ground and straight on to Cleveland-Redland Bay Road, which ultimately will be four lanes," he said. "The government decided 18 months ago to divest of any land that can be used for a better purpose and we want people to put forward their cases," he said. Resident Maria Sealy, who has lived in Sycamore Parade for 30 years, said neighbours were angry the state had not listened to their requests to keep the park and install closed-circuit cameras to record bad behaviour. "We asked Peter Dowling to meet with the community two months ago but he declined," Mrs Sealy said. "The best outcome for the community is to keep the park, which was given to the public under a deal with Lancini which cannot be undone." Residents were also concerned a car park would be used by patrons at the Victoria Point Tavern, which has applied for a permit for extended trading hours to 3am. READ MORE: Pub hours don't rule 
