WATTLE Range Council’s proposed Millicent railway precinct redevelopment has hit a stumbling block amid claims of a lack of interest from the state’s transport department.
Elected members were informed at last month’s meeting of issues between council and the department which had resulted in a delay in acquiring the land, which is owned by two State Government entities.
The old soccer field and the Italian Club is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources as Crown land, while the railway land is freehold owned by the Transport Department.
An officer report said communication from the Crown Lands Department “has been outstanding”, but the information flow from the Department of Transport “is almost non-existent and all requests for status updates appear to be met with apathy”.
The report further states more than six months was lost as a result of departmental staff failing to inform council it needed to express an interest in the property.
Furthermore, it claims the department has not provided valuations of the land to council.
Council formally advised the two respective ministers of its interest in acquiring the land in 2016.
More than $1.15m was allocated to developing the Millicent railway lands in council’s 2017/18 business plan as part of an ambitious capital works program.
In 2012, the State Government formally decided the land was surplus to its requirements and would be available for sale to developers.
Issues around re-mediating the site, particularly in relation to contamination, may stagnate the project further.
A meeting has been called with all interested parties to determine next steps.
The Transport Department was contacted for comment.
