Lake Macquarie council will spend close to $1 million buying a waterfront house in Swansea and plans to demolish the property in order to create a larger public park.
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The council unanimously voted on Monday night to acquire 125 Bowman Street for an agreed price of $950,000 and the payment of $1500 for legal expenses.
The property, which fronts the Pacific Highway and backs onto Black Neds Bay, has been earmarked for acquisition since 1980.
It was most recently identified in the Belmont Development Contributions Plan 2017 to facilitate the extension of Swansea town park.
The council has acquired seven properties along Bowman Street over the past four decades to create the park. Only one other property identified for acquisition remains in private ownership.
The owner of 125 Bowman Street approached council in 2018 regarding acquisition by private treaty. According to online sales records, the property was last exchanged for $560,000 in 2002.
The council will use developer contributions to fund the purchase.
The park's extension is listed as a 2023-28 project in the Belmont Development Contributions Plan.
Like other properties it has purchased in the street, the council plans to rent the house until it is ready to progress with the park.
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