General News
3 February, 2026
44 buildings on TRC hit list
FORTY-four buildings are on Tablelands Regional Council’s hit list as the organisation moves to get rid of some of its 700 community facilities in a bid to reduce its annual maintenance costs.
Mayor Rod Marti and chief executive officer Nikola Setpanov have made it clear that the council needs to improve its financial position to be able to undertake hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades to its sewerage and water networks.
Dr Stepanov told the July 2025 budget meeting that a forecast 10-year capital works program of $530 million was being brought onto the council’s long term financial plan.
In a statement, the council asserted that many of its 700 community assets across the Tablelands region including land, buildings and other facilities were “underutilised, not fit-for-purpose, close to end of life and not sustainable”.
Last week behind closed doors, the council made its move to reduce the number of buildings under its responsibility, with 44 of the 290 buildings being considered for “divestment” identified for action.
“Councillors recognise divestment action for these ageing facilities is long overdue,” Mayor Marti said.
“These challenges have existed and grown since the 2008 amalgamation of three councils. While previous TRC administrations have attempted to commence a divestment process, none have stayed the difficult journey through to meaningful and decisive action.
“This council is making the hard decisions which must be made. We only have a small ratepayer base of around 13,500 and our ratepayers simply can’t afford the cost of maintaining so many buildings.
“We have to do the right thing for the benefit of our community and to achieve a level of service our ratepayers can sustain while ensuring the facilities we have meet community needs. It’s a rebalancing challenge that simply must be done.”
The next stages include the legal and internal reviews and due diligence processes and investigating the potential options for divestment of each of the 44 community assets.
In its statement, the council said officers would commence “engagement with existing users of the facilities and work with all parties to ensure the best outcomes for both community and ratepayers”.
“Planning the divestment of these assets will now commence, however it will take some time for the final divestment process to be complete for each asset,” the statement reads.
“Council is committed to optimising the provision, management, and disposal of assets at optimal whole of life costs while meeting the required levels of service.
“Divestment of surplus and under-performing facilities enables Council to direct resources toward priority infrastructure and services that deliver greater community benefit, while reducing ongoing operational and maintenance costs for ratepayers.”
The statement said the asset divestment process would reduce depreciation, insurance premiums and other operational costs to improve and strengthen council’s financial sustainability; and encourage assets to be shared among multiple users and groups to increase utilisation rates.
In addition to nominating the 44 assets for investigation, council resolved to transfer its social housing in Malanda, Yungaburra, Ravenshoe and Atherton.
The housing, which includes 62 units and houses, are currently managed for TRC by Tablelands Community Housing Association Inc. Officers will now work with the Department of Housing and Public Works to formalise a permanent transfer.
All the existing community assets located at Atherton’s Lions Park will be disposed of, excluding the Lion’s Park storage shed which is on the list for further review.
The Atherton Community Centre will also be demolished, with council saying it is at end of life and occupies land which can be better utilised for future developments.
Buildings to go:
JCU Accommodation & Caretakers cottage
Amenities block behind Atherton Roosters Clubhouse
Evans Park amenities block
Rotary Park amenities block
Hallorans Hill Observation building
Atherton Junior Rugby Clubhouse and associated assets
Lions Park Storage Shed (Showgrounds)
Country Women’s Association storage shed
Atherton Performing Arts building and storage shed
Malanda Guides Club building
Malanda Scout Hall
Butchers Creek Playground shelter
Barney Daley Hall and cricket shed, Millaa Millaa
Archer Creek amenities block, Millstream
Mt Garnet Rural Fire Brigade shed
Ravenshoe Scouts amenities block
Ravenshoe Little Athletics storage
Old Ravenshoe Scouts shed
Rocky Creek Amenities block
Turf Club storage and equipment sheds, Tolga
Horse stables and walker shelter, Tolga
Ski Clubhouse, Yungaburra
Yungaburra Tennis Clubhouse and 2 tennis courts
