Shire to donate its land to local SES

THE Surf Coast Shire plans to gift the councilowned land now occupied by Torquay and Winchelsea’s State Emergency Services (SES) units to the SES itself.

Councillors considered a report on the matter at their meeting last week.

Following a review of the shire’s property portfolio in late 2018 it was identified that both SES sites were occupying council-owned land at 130 Messmate Road, Torquay and 325 Mousley Road, Winchelsea respectively.

The SES also contacted the shire’s officers requesting long-term leases to ensure security of tenure. However, the shire sought to explore an opportunity for the land to be owned by the state government, as the asset does not provide a municipal purpose and the state government’s ownership would ensure the SES have ownership over the land they presently occupy.

In accordance with the Sale of Council Land Policy, officers then advertised the council’s intention to consider the gifting of both properties to the state government in local newspapers.

At their meeting, councillors resolved to transfer (at no cost or the minimum cost required to facilitate the sale) 2,504sqm from 325 Mousley Road, Winchelsea and 1,823sqm from 130 Messmate Road, Torquay fronting Messmate Road to the state government.

Subdivisions will create separate titles for the two new properties.

Costs associated with subdividing and transferring the land will be shared equally between both parties.

The council will issue a public notice of intention to sell the property and consider public submissions, with chief executive officer Keith Baillie authorised to execute the land transfer if no submissions are received.

Cr Heather Wellington said security of tenure “was an extraordinarily good idea, given what’s happened at the Winchelsea Tea Rooms”.