Joint use of council land discussed

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32666, 23 July 1971, Page 14

Joint use of council land discussed

When the Heathcote County Council last evening discussed the possible joint use with the City Council of the old city waterworks land at Hunter Terrace, Cr W. N. Rathbun successfully moved that the meeting go into committee.

He said that the discussion would involve financial details and if it was an open meeting it could prejudice negotiations with the owner of the land, the City Council. Cr E. J. Somers opposed going into committee. He said the council had for three years been trying to get the use of a derelict bit of land. If $2OOO rental was fixed, let it be, or seek land elsewhere. If it was a peppercorn rental all to the good. When Cr E. L. Tyndall said publicity would be prejudicial, Cr R. H. T. Thompson said the council in May had, in open meeting, discussed a City Council offer on rental.

Cr Somers said he objected to plans being prepared at some cost to the council when the council was not even sure it had got the land. A letter, dated May 18, from the City Council, was then read. It referred to a joint meeting between the two councils and said that the City Council would rent the 1 acre 33 perches at a nomipal figure and help in other ways if the scheme decided was mutually acceptable to both councils. In an earlier letter, the City Council said it would rent the land for $lOOO if it was to be used for a community centre, but would consider a peppercorn rental if the project catered for a wider section of the public, such as with a sports stadium.

“Before we spend money on high falutin plans and go cap in hand to the City Council .. . ” said Cr Somers. Cr Tyndall: We are not going cap in hand. The chairman (Mr J. S. Scott) said there had been

no discussion on what Heathcote might pay and what the City Council might pay. The meeting then went into committee.