Express MIDLAND
www.midlandexpress.com.au
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Hanging Rock’s East Paddock has long hosted big-name acts as part of Frontier Touring’s outdoor concert series. Photo: Bruce Hedge and Kyneton Aero Club
Council votes to sell Move to prevent loss of bargaining power
Macedon Ranges Shire Council will sell Hanging Rock's East Paddock to the state government with conditions aimed at securing community priorities. Retaining public open space in perpetuity and ensuring any development on the East Paddock is consistent with protecting the natural, cultural values and views of the site will be vital to any agreement. Ensuring concerts, events and markets can continue, and having council remain on the Committee of Management for the Hanging Rock Precinct will also be key factors. The council will seek an offer equal to, or within 10 per cent of, the current valuation assessed by the council’s appointed valuer. In December 2020, the council disclosed that valuation was $3.065 million. The council rejected a DELWP bid in May 2020, which it
described as “significantly below” council’s valuation. MRSC CEO Bernie O’Sullivan told the Express the most recent valuation, completed in March, was "commercial in confidence". Discussions with DELWP on the ownership of the East Paddock began in 2018 after the Labor state government signalled its intent to purchase the land as part of an election commitment to protect the entire precinct. DIFFICULT DECISION The hefty decision, attracting 245 community responses, proved tough for councillors last week who voted 6-3 in favour of the sale. With some uncertainties still ahead, including the outcome of the Draft Hanging Rock Precinct Master Plan, councillors were forced to consider the risk of losing bargaining power should the state government compulsorily
acquire the land. Councillor Annette Death said the sale was the best option to negotiate a balanced outcome for the community, council and state government. "Through this sale process, council has been in the position to include conditions on the sale that address key concerns raised through the community engagement process," she said. "A risk to council is that, delay or defer, the state government can undertake compulsory acquisition. The officer's report notes this can occur without council's consent on the sale price. But it actually goes further than that, because the council could lose the option to have conditions as outlined in this recommendation.” Continued page 2
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