THE listing for sale of a prime piece of Millicent parklands by the State Government has been defended by member for MacKillop Nick McBride.
The land adjoins Apex Park and is located opposite the roundabout and the Wattle Range Council offices.
Mr McBride said he hoped common sense would prevail regarding the area used as “parklands”.
“I hope it goes to the community for a token amount,” Mr McBride said.
“The process has to be transparent and we are looking after taxpayers’ money.”
Wattle Range Council has negotiated with various State Government departments and ministers over many years for the former Millicent rail lands.
However, earlier this month, Transport Minister Stephan Knoll advised council the rail lands would be offered on the open market.
Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll (OAM) said it was news to him the State Government had listed these particular blocks of land for sale.
Mr Noll said the State Government was not required to inform his council of their actions.
He said council would investigate its options but also said the land could be an opportunity for a private developer.
The land is being placed on the open market for the first time since the town was surveyed almost 150 years ago.
Members of the now-defunct Millicent Apex Club had beautified the area in the 1960s as it is located near the entrance to the CBD.
It was commonly thought the land was officially designated parklands but it is actually part of the former railway corridor between Mount Gambier and Beachport which was erected in the 1870s.
Although the rail tracks remain in place, it has not carried any trains for over 25 years.
A local real estate agent is selling the vacant land in two separate parcels totalling almost 5000 square metres.
The land includes a section of intact broad-gauge railway line.
Expressions of interest close with the Millicent agent on February 15.
The same firm is also selling a nearby block of 2700 square metres on the same terms and it is also former railway land.
It is on the corner of Cattle Bridge Road and North Terrace and adjacent to Millicent Farm Supplies.
Last week, council authorised an outlay of $70,000 for scientific reports on the extent of contamination in Millicent’s former rail lands.
The South Eastern Times has approached the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure for comment.
State Governments of both political colours have either divested or sold hundreds of Millicent properties over the past 20 years with most formerly owned by Housing SA.
