Possible new housing land soon

POTENTIALLY FUTURE SALE: Blue shows the land Wattle Range Council is moving to have released from 'community' status to allow its potential future sale by the State Government.

Kathy Gandolfi

A POSSIBLE new area for housing could become available in Millicent next year at the former soccer grounds and Italian Club near the town’s business centre.

Wattle Range Council recently resolved to hand back the 3.93 hectares of land to the South Australian Government for potential sale.

The crown land, off Academy Drive, had been in the care, control and management of Council and the land in question, which adjoins the disused railway line, has not been used for some years.

The largest open area involved was last used as the town’s soccer fields in the early 1990’s when new fields and a clubhouse were built at the town’s multiple sports area at McLaughlin Park.

In 2015 the Italian Club was handed over to Council and the building has had no use in the last 12 months.

Council has declared it as surplus to its requirements with a number of other buildings available for hire under its control within the township.

Council’s Director of Corporate Services and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Paul Duka said the land would provide a much needed opportunity for new residential developments in the town.

“Land for residential developments in Millicent is in short supply and this land would provide a good offering for this sort of use and would enliven the whole town,” said Mr Duka.

He said the adjoining disused railway line land, which is contaminated, had been on the market through the South Australian Government for about 18 months and freeing up this uncontaminated land had the potential to enhance the saleability of the entire area.

Prior to deciding to relinquish care, control and management of the land, Council undertook an extensive community consultation process which resulted in three submissions; none of which were negative towards the proposal to revoke the land’s status as ‘community’ which would allow it to be sold by the State Government.

“The submissions were on the whole supportive of the land’s potential to further develop the town with residential allotments,” Mr Duka said.

None of the submissions came from Millicent’s italian community.

Council has declared that it would not be purchasing the land, nor would it receive any proceeds from any potential sale of the land.

A spokesperson for the State government department involved said: “On 9 November the Wattle Range Council made a formal resolution to revoke the community land classification and this is now with the Department for Environment and Water for consideration. A decision is expected to be made early next year and will inform any sales strategy.”