Councillors oppose money grab rezone proposal of Hill End site

A proposal to rezone the former Hill End Primary School site to enable the property to be sold will be opposed by Baw Baw Shire Council.

It is currently proposed to rezone the state government owned land to rural living. The planned rezoning comes after the Education and Training Department deemed the site surplus to its needs.

The rezoning is required to facilitate sale of the land, which councillors described as a “state government grab for money.”

The proposal was met with strong opposition from the Hill End community who have utilised the site as a community hub and meeting place for the past 10 years.

Council considered purchase of the site in April. The valuer-general’s office valued the 0.8 hectare property and buildings at $100,000, which had not been budgeted for by council.

Instead, council voted to support Environment, Land, Water and Planning Department taking over the site and entering into a formal arrangement with Hill End Community Inc.

Council will make a submission indicating its opposition to rezoning the land rural living but would support rezoning the land to farm zone.

Elizabeth Buckingham said the Hill End school site was a community hub and a “linchpin in the community’s well-being.”

“We do not want this removed from us. We need the shire to recognise the importance of this site for our community.

“This is a special community with resourcefulness and vitality,” she said.

Ms Buckingham said the value of the site to the community was far more than the land value.

She said if the shire had to pay $100,000 for it, but that wasn’t a lot of money for a community.

“This is where our community’s strength grows,” she said.

HECI president Chris Williams said they were disappointed that the Fast Track Government Land Service suggested they could just find another site.

“The department didn’t even know HECI was there and we have been there 10 years.

Ms Williams said there was “significant emotive value” involved in the former school site.

The Hill End community recently resolved to fight the rezoning and potential sale. HECI will make a submission to the government.

HECI hosts a quarterly community market, the annual Tanjil Valley Art Show, an annual alpaca camp attended by 40 youth from across the state, community movie nights, and is used as the meeting place for a range of community and social groups.

Cr Peter Kostos said HECI had looked after the site, kept it in good order and improved the property but that was now to their detriment.

“I see this as a state government grab for money. Never in my time on council have I ever seen so many sites come up for purchase,” he said.

Cr Darren Wallace said Hill End was a thriving community who put together art shows, community markets and many other activities at this site.

He said it appeared DELWP was prepared to take over the site but state treasury wanted the money.

Cr Michael Leaney said this was a land sale that shouldn’t even come up for discussion.

“It is a slap in the face to Hill End community. “We are very proud of having active community groups that make a difference. They (Department of Treasury and Finance) haven’t even been up there and had a look.

“It’s bureaucrats in Melbourne making decisions on how we live because they want the money,” he said.