By Dongyun Kwon
Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) discussed the discontinuance of the remaining portion (721 square metre) of unused road reserve known as Ormond Street abutting 2 Edward Street, Healesville.
At the council meeting on Tuesday 13 February, the YRC councillors agreed to investigate the sale of the land on the open market.
Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister said the meeting was a step in the direction of the notice of discontinuance which would be followed by further process.
“It is a little bit more complicated than normal and the size of the piece of land which is over 700 square metre of developable size,” she said.
“So, a process has gone through advertising it, looking at public use and the future use of the property.
“It has been determined the best approach [the sale of the land on the open market] given the size of the property rather than for it to be resolved through a private treaty and a purchase to the individual that put in the request.”
If the road is to be discontinued, the council would choose one of the following options; retaining the land for the short or long term, selling the land by private treaty to the abutting owner or making the land available for sale on the open market.
The councillors agreed that the sale option has the potential to provide the highest possible return on the land asset which meets the Local Government Best Practice Guidelines for the Sale, Exchange and Transfer of Land.
YRC received two public submissions and one of the submitters would like to purchase the discontinued portion of the road by private treaty.
Streeton Ward councillor Andrew Fullagar said he supported the motion about the sale of the land on the open market.
“I just want to acknowledge the submitters, particularly the one who requested to purchase the land,” he said.
“Although we acknowledged that request, we have an obligation as council to do what’s best for the community as a whole and for the council generally.”
