COMMUNITY campaigners have welcomed Loddon Shire Council’s proposed backdown on plans to sell a Wedderburn block donated to the former Korong Shire Council more than 50 years ago.
Peter Goegan said the recommendation being debated by councillors at their monthly meeting yesterday afternoon was good news.
“It is good council takes the feelings of the community into consideration,” said Mr Goegan. “The new recommendation gives us time to get involved as a community and improve the land, and with council permission, make the block in Reef Street more user friendly.”
Mr Goegan and more than a dozen residents launched a campaign earlier this year to keep the land the Anglican Church donated for community ownership.
Council CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald recommended to councillors that the Reef Street property be removed from a list of council land proposed to be sold.
His recommendation also asked councillors to note that council periodically reviewed its property portfolio and the Reef Street block would be considered again at the next review.
Councillors received seven objections to the proposed sale. One resident wrote: “The beautifully preserved Anglican Church and its surrounding precinct is a magnificent asset to the Wedderburn community. The vacant native bush block behind the Church enhances the visual appeal of the resplendent stone Church which locals and visitors to our town greatly admire. Selling off the back block of land for housing will drastically change the aesthetic and this precious natural asset will be forsaken to permanent destruction.”
The Anglican Church in 1973 donated the land to the former Korong Shire for community use.
Councillors were yesterday afternoon expected to sign off on sale plans for the former Korong Vale and District Community Citizens’ Centre. Two objections were received, one from the town’s community planning committee.
Mr Fitzgerald said the town had the recently-refurbished Mechanics’ Institute Hall and sports centre facilities.
“Council has building assets with a replacement value of just over $60 million as part of an asset base valued in the order of $530 million. Council has insufficient income to meet the renewal of these assets and it is therefore important that Council maximises use of assets and minimises costs. Given the service level needs for Korong Vale can be met this facility is considered surplus and it is financially responsible to dispose of the asset.”
Korong Vale Community Planning Committee said if the centre was sold, proceeds should be re-invested in the town.