The council is taking the next step in selling off what it describes as ‘surplus’ land.
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It will soon call for expressions of interest from real estate agents to market and sell five properties, including a prime block in the South Goulburn enterprise corridor.
Councillors decided at their most recent meeting to move ahead with selling 10 Ben Bullen Place at Bradfordville, a 2090 square metre block it branded as having “no strategic value.” The land was used by adjoining neighbours for access and storage, a report stated.
The council will also sell 8 Lanigan Lane, a vacant block behind Clinton Street; 23 Hercules Street, a 1012sqm lot in Eastgrove; and 43 Finlay Road, a small block on the corner of Hovell Street. The latter will be subject to a road closure application for an adjoining road reserve and consolidation of titles.
But a 4647sqm parcel at 163 to 167 Hume Street is expected to attract the most interest. The land once formed part of the South Goulburn Caravan Park camping ground, most of which the council sold in 2004.
But in recent time, the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) ruled that if the council wanted to sell the property, it would have to purchase at least six hectares of land with significant trees elsewhere to offset the biodiversity impact.
However, the council argued this was unreasonable given that the integrity of trees in the area had “long been been lost” with commercial development in the precinct. A report to the December 18 meeting recommended that talks continue with OEH.
A registered valuer will be engaged to value and set a reserve on the five properties.
Meantime, the council will also call expressions of interest from parties to conduct public hearings into the rezoning of three other land parcels from ‘community’ to ‘operational.’
The rezoning, if endorsed, would allow 30 Albert Street, 59-61 Hovell Street and 20 Hercules Street to be sold.
The former is half of a park in Albert Street. In November, a report to councillors stated that this could be subdivided off and sold as residential.
“The council currently maintains and mows all of this land, a cost that could be reduced,” the report stated.
“Taking into account that other public reserves such as Victoria park are in close proximity, management is of the opinion that all of this land for a neighbourhood park is not required,” the report stated.
But some residents in the area have already objected.
They will be able to have their say at the public hearings. A date is yet to be set.
Finally, councillors decided to press ahead with the rezoning of three other properties: 2/1 Dossie Street and Finlay Road and a large block at 59-61 Hovell Street, behind Sloane Street.
Money from all land sales will go to council projects, such as the aquatic centre and a regional hockey complex. The Joint Regional Planning Panel is yet to approve a development application for the near $50 million aquatic centre. Detailed designs have been completed for the hockey facility at Carr Confoy fields at Eastgrove.
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