Surplus Land Process

Calls for expressions of interest for surplus land

By Latrobe City Council - 14th March 2002 - Back to News

Latrobe City Council is inviting expressions of interest from community based organisations and community service providers that may be interested in purchasing properties identified as surplus to the City’s requirements.

Latrobe Chief Executive Officer, Richard Hancock, said that independent consultants had completed a process to determine if the North and West Wings on the Traralgon Civic Precinct were suitable for the relocation of the Traralgon and District Historical Society, the Traralgon Band and the Traralgon Neighborhood House. "None of those properties could have been easily modified to meet those groups’ needs," Mr Hancock said.

Mr Hancock also confirmed Council’s intention to retain and utilise the former Traralgon City building as a Library and Citizen Service Centre. Mr Hancock said that a list of properties to be included in the expression of interest process had now been finalised.

The invitations for expressions of interest relate to:

Resource Centre 59 - 61 Breed Street, Traralgon
Part of 13 Breed Street, Traralgon
West Wing, Kay Street, Traralgon
North Wing, Church Street, Traralgon
217 – 223 Princess Highway, Morwell

Mr Hancock said the expression of interest process was adopted by Council at its September 2001 Ordinary Meeting, moved by Councillor Hanning and seconded by Councillor Middlemiss.

"Council has been preparing for the expression of interest process since that time. However, the independent consultant’s process has impacted on the timeframe for advertising. Council has agreed on this staged process in order to exhaust the opportunity for the best outcome for the Traralgon community prior to any open auction," Mr Hancock said.

Mr Hancock said that there were a number of other properties listed in the September 2001 report that will not be included in the expression of interest process at this stage, given other factors that continue to exist. "These include Latrobe House in Morwell and the Morwell Library, both of which are likely to be included in negotiations with the Department of Justice regarding the site of the Justice Precinct in Morwell," Mr Hancock said.

"Discussions are continuing with the Traralgon Neighborhood House regarding their possible relocation to the Kath Teychenne Centre, and the current property occupied by them will not be included in the expression of interest process at this stage.

Mr Hancock said that the expression of interest process will be widely advertised and that while Council would not be bound to accept any of the submissions received, he hoped that a good outcome would be achieved for both Council and the community.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Brendan Jenkins, said Council was particularly keen to hear from community services providers. "While there has already been a great deal of commercial interest, Council gave a commitment to seek other benefits for the community, through this process," Cr Jenkins said.

Expressions of interest close on Wednesday, 10 April 2002. Further information is available from Latrobe City Council, telephone 1300 367 700.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com