SCIENTIFIC reports costing $70,000 have been commissioned by Wattle Range Council to determine the level of soil and water contamination at the former Millicent rail lands.
The action was adopted at the January monthly meeting after almost an hour of debate involving most councillors and senior staff.
Testing will occur at two parcels of land separately owned by the transport and environment departments.
Council has long shown interest in the land which has not been used for its original purpose for over 25 years since rail services stopped.
Council chief executive Ben Gower tabled a lengthy report at the meeting, with his recommendation for the $70,000 scientific analysis embraced by elected members.
Mr Gower said the decision by Transport Minister Stephan Knoll to sell the departmental land had “come out of the blue”.
He said council should conduct tests despite the fact it should have been done by the State Government.
According to Mr Gower, council has an obligation to the local community to investigate contamination levels as arsenic, petrochemicals and phosphates had been used on the land in the past.
Councillor Moira Neagle queried whether it was timely to involve Liberal Member for MacKillop Nick McBride in the negotiations with the State Government.
In reply, Mr Gower said council had not yet been able to have a meeting with Minister Knoll but was hopeful of a meeting with Environment Minister David Speirs.
Cr Kevin McGrath said council could offer the State Government $1 for the rail lands, while Cr Graham Slarks was against progressing any purchase deal.
Cr Peter Dunnicliff spoke in favour of spending the $70,000 on the scientific reports.
“We should put it to bed,” Cr Dunnicliff said.
Cr Dale Price agreed and said it was the best option to determine what was there.
“I cannot see a single person buying it,” Cr Price said.
“It is good practice to protect ratepayer funds.”
Deputy Mayor Glenn Brown also spoke in favour of commissioning the scientific reports and pointed out council had been in negotiations with the State Government about the rail lands for the past eight years.
Cr Dean Burrow moved an amendment to keep the contents of the scientific reports confidential.
In response, Mr Gower said council may have no legal grounds to do so as the information was in the public interest.
Cr McGrath suggested the information could be sold to a developer.
Cr Dunnicliff was one of the eight councillors who succeeded in defeating the amendment.
“Ratepayers pay the bill and should know,” Cr Dunnicliff said.
As part of council’s deliberations, usual meeting procedures were suspended to enable a round table debate.
Acting engineering services director Darryl Sexton gave a comprehensive overview of the work undertaken by the Mount Gambier City Council in the rehabilitation of the former rail lands in the Blue Lake city.
Mr Sexton was formerly a senior manager with that council.
