Land handed back after 70 year lease Coalition rail commitment

A section of land adjacent to the CFA training track in Burke St, Warragul will be handed back to VicTrack.

Baw Baw Shire has leased the land for 70 years but has decided not to renew the lease.

Council officers said not renewing the lease would save council annual maintenance costs, rental and other ad hoc costs.

The subject land is located next to the CFA training track and St John Ambulance building.

Council originally leased the land in 1948, paying a rental of 12 pounds, five shillings and sixpence.

A report to council outlined negotiations and a dispute as to the current lease arrangements of the land.

Ten years ago, VicTrack asked council if it wanted to purchase the lots. Council staff requested VicTrack proceed to obtain valuations for each parcel, however nothing further was obtained from VicTrack and council did not pursue the matter.

The current lease agreement expired in 2009 and in November 2013, council wrote to VicTrack asking they reconsider the rental amount by applying a community rental rather than a commercial rental.

However, VicTrack responded in December 2013 indicating the rental would remain rental.

In November 2014 after several months of discussions with VicTrack, council issued a notice of intent to vacate, which would result in termination of the agreement.

VicTrack responded a month later asking council to reconsider its position and offered a community rental for council’s consideration.

During negotiations for the new lease, VicTrack required council to undertake and environmental management plan for the site.

Officers considered these requirements onerous on council and advised VicTrack the land was not required by council for any strategic or future purpose.

Negotiations became protracted until VicTrack conceded to remove the EMP and apply both a reduced rental and reduced annual increases.

A report to council said in January this year, VicTrack questioned the presence of the circus on the site and advised council had no right to use the land in this manner as council had terminated the agreement and VicTrack considered the activity commercial.

The report said VicTrack had advised the earlier negotiated terms of reduced rental, reduced annual increases and removing the EMP requirement were no as a commercial longer available to council.

Officers said this would reduce council’s ability to hold community events on the land.

VicTrack indicated the land could be leased to another party or sold. The land is zoned public park and recreation and also is subject to a flood overlay, which means development is prohibitive.

VicTrack have entered into separate agreements with the CFA and Vehicle Restorers Club. Their interests will not be impacted if Council vacates this lease.

Cr Darren Wallace said VicTrack should hand over the site for the community to use.

“Let’s see how diligent they are with the clean up of this site. This is of no value to VicTrack, they are just in it for a fast buck.

“The (council) officers have been more polite than I am because I would say, VicTrack, you can stick this one where the sun don’t shine,” he said.

Cr Danny Goss said it was bureaucracy gone made.

He said there had been long and arduous negotiations for the past 10 years. “I cannot believe how silly this has got,” he said.

Cr Michael Leaney said this land was of very little benefit to the shire. He also acknowledged it was a source of frustration dealing with VicTrack.

Construction of a dedicated rail line for Gippsland trains through Melbourne’s south-east metropolitan network will be investigated by a Liberal National coalition if it wins state government this year.

State Nationals leader Peter Walsh and Shadow Transport Minister David Davis have announced that $8 million would be allocated to complete a business case for a dedicated line for regional train services.

Mr Walsh said Gippsland passengers had received a “raw deal” from the current citycentric government, a view supported by Mr Davis who said Gippsland had been taken for granted.

Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood said Gippsland train travellers had “been to hell and back” over the past four years as they continue to take second place to Metro and other regional commuters.

The business case for a dedicated line for country trains through the metropolitan network would aim to find a way to make services to and from Gippsland faster, more reliable and avoid delays caused when regional trains are stuck behind Metro services..

Mr Walsh said the Labor government’s “rushed and ill-conceived” Sky Rail infrastructure had constrained future improvement options for Gippsland.

He said the Coalition would also buy new trains to serve Gippsland.

Mr Davis stated that Public Transport Victoria reports for last June showed that 76.6 per cent of services between Traralgon and Melbourne and only 48.1 per cent of BairnsdaleMelbourne services arrived at their destinations on time, well below the target of 92 per cent; and, 49 services were cancelled.