Veteran City of Ballarat councillor Grant Tillett says the issue of municipal reserves being rezoned and sold for residential development is 'a huge beat-up', while acknowledging the council's failure to update land titles is a 'disgrace'.
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In a forthright interview, Cr Tillett said he had worked on the original Wendouree sub-division in the 1970s, which he recalled as being something in the order of 74 acres (18ha), stretching from Forest Street to the freeway and Creswick to Learmonth roads.
He says the practice of requiring developers to vest land in council for potential public benefit was a common quid pro quo arrangement, no longer used.
"We require a financial contribution these days," Cr Tillett said.
"The process of vesting land in council stopped maybe 20 years ago."
Cr Tillett says the decision to sell the parcel of land at Ealing Avenue was a correct choice, given the area is already well-served by parks in three directions, all within 10 minutes of the block.
He says he sits on a panel with fellow councillors Ben Taylor and Mark Harris, instructing council officers to identify City of Ballarat-owned properties surplus to current needs, in order to rationalise the assets.
"At the time that panel was formed," Cr Tillett told The Courier, "under the previous CEO, all monies received from those sales would be quarantined in a reserve fund to purchase suitable land for public use in the future."
Cr Tillett says he is unsure if that is the arrangement under the interim CEO.
He says he would be willing to stand on the steps of Town Hall to defend the decision to sell the parcels of land on offer.
In a series of statements in response to questions from The Courier, the City of Ballarat concurred with Cr Tillett in saying the ultimate responsibility on the sale of council land and assets rests with elected councillors.
'The elected Councillors of the City of Ballarat ultimately make the decision as to whether or not a parcel of land is surplus to the needs of the community,' the council's statement read.
At the time that panel was formed under the previous CEO, all monies received from those sales would be quarantined in a reserve fund to purchase suitable land for public use in the future.
- Cr Grant Tillett
'Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis after a lengthy period of community consultation is undertaken in accordance with legislative requirements. Significant research is undertaken by officers who report to Council in a public and transparent manner in relation to the implications of the sale and these reports are available in the public agenda.
'These decisions are made in open Council and reported in the publicly available minutes. The availability of open spaces for the benefit of the community is a predominant factor in these considerations.'
The City of Ballarat have identified the following parcels of land as surplus to community needs:
- Kurrajong Rd, Wendouree
- 1-3, 7, 9 & 11 Yarramie Court, Mitchell Park
- 5 Yarramie Court, Mitchell Park
- 14 & 16 Boak Avenue, Mount Helen
- 15 Lake View Court, Ballarat North
- 12A Albert Street, Sebastopol
- Lot 1 Giot Drive (Earling Ave Reserve), Wendouree
However a source within council expressed concern census data wasn't considered properly in the ratification, leading to unintended consequences such as increased car reliance and a reduction in public space in suburbs of lower economic capability, where the affordability of alternatives such as gym membership are not always feasible.
There was also concern a perception might develop where wealthier areas seem preferred in the development and maintenance of public parkland, even if that outcome was unintentional.
Census data sighted by The Courier shows a higher population of females living at least three of the areas where land has been identified as surplus, and several of the areas have lower than average income statistics.
The City of Ballarat says developers who make applications for sub-divisions must provide community infrastructure as part of their development contribution. The infrastructure may include roads, footpaths, nature strips, open spaces, parklands and playgrounds.
'These parcels and assets vest in Council at the completion of the subdivision as they are community assets, which Council owns and maintains for the benefit and use of the community.'
The original landowner and developer, estate agent Neville Richards, stands by his opinion the land should revert to recreational use and not be sold.
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