Title bobs up in shire’s hands

THE state government has kept its promise to rezone its portion of Jan Juc’s Bob Pettitt Reserve from residential to public park and recreation zone by selling the land to the Surf Coast Shire for $500,000.

Labor Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney visited Bob Pettitt Reserve with Surf Coast mayor Rose Hodge to discuss further recreational opportunities at the site such as the new pump bike track now that the land has been sold to the shire.

This important piece of community open space and recreational infrastructure, which is home to a number of community organisations and sporting clubs, is now secure in the community’s hands.

Surf Coast Shire mayor Cr Rose Hodge said that Bob Pettitt Reserve in Jan Juc is at the heart of the community.

“It’s a much-loved and well-used open space, and the efforts of this Victorian government to work with council on keeping this reserve in public hands brings to an end any uncertainty over its future,” Cr Hodge said.

“The transfer of the title for the section of the reserve purchased by the former Department of Education in 1977 back to council means the community and council can focus on continuing to improve facilities at this fantastic reserve like the new pump bike track we have just completed.”

There had been an informal agreement in place for sometime regarding community use of this portion of Bob Pettitt Reserve, which then became part of the 2014 election argy-bargy around selling the site to council.

The Jan Juc Community fought hard to save the community space, and with the government honouring its election commitment, the land will now remain in community hands.

Ms Tierney said that Bob Pettitt Reserve would remain where it belongs: in the hands of the Jan Juc community.

“We have honoured our election promise to rezone the land and sell it to the Surf Coast Shire for its true value of $500,000.

“The paperwork is through and the Surf Coast Shire can now look at further recreational projects for this fantastic community space.”