WATTLE Range Council is set to lease a parcel of prime farm land near Millicent to local farmer James Mowbray.
The council has accepted the offer of $550 per hectare from Mr Mowbray for the 68 hectares (168 acres) of land in three allotments adjoining the Millicent airport.
According to a staff report, Mr Mowbray will be permitted to use the land for cropping, hay production and grazing activities.
Two of the land allotments are owned freehold by the council while the third is Crown land under the care and control of the council.
There is a requirement under the Local Government Act for the council to undertake consultation before the leasing of any community land.
The land has been previously leased by long-term tenant BN and JM Bell and Sons Pty Ltd for cropping and grazing activities since 1993.
Council agreed at its March meeting in a split five/four vote to call tenders for the lease of the airport land for an initial term of three years with a right of renewal for a further term of three years due to the imminent expiration of the existing lease on June 30.
Further consideration of the tenders occurred during a 15-minute confidential portion of the special council meeting held on June 23.
At this time, council resolved to start the community land consultation process.
The meeting also decided the staff reports on the leasing process be kept in confidence.
Before the start of the confidential discussions, councillor Sharon Cox advised she had a material conflict of interest in regard to the tender process as her husband was an employee of BN and JM Bell and Sons Pty.
Cr Cox left the chamber during the discussions.
Public consultation on the airport lease proposal is now under way and comment must be lodged by July 24.
