Call to buy up land in town centre

By Kath Gannaway
THE Healesville Action Group (HAG) is calling on Yarra Ranges Council to buy a “green” in the centre of town to save it from commercial development.
The piece of land on the corner of Green Street and River Street is owned by VicTrack which has sought an amendment to rezone it from Public Use Transport to Business 1.
HAG members Val Owen and John Anwin said first Healesville and then Yarra Ranges councils have leased the land since 1980, and they believe if the land is to be sold Yarra Ranges Council has first right of refusal.
In an email to Ms Owen, sighted by the Mail, VicTrack has said it would sell the land to the council.
“We are happy for the land to remain exactly as it is, and we are also happy to sell the land to the council in accordance with government guidelines, which among other things, require the sale to be based on the Valuer General’s valuation,” Mac Henshall, General Manager Stakeholder and Community Relations for VicTrack said.
“The rezoning would make virtually no difference to the land’s value.
“As land that is no longer required for transport use, it must be valued according to the highest and best use, which is a business use.”
He added that VicTrack had not had a recent request from the council to purchase the land.
Ms Owen said while she has been assured VicTrack have no plans for the site, HAG believes their request to rezone would not only pave the way for development, but would substantially increase the value of the land.
To make a submission, ask for details at any Yarra Ranges Council Community Link, or visit the website www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au.
The closing date for submissions is 9 March.