Wollongong council is continuing its efforts to rid the city of “surplus" public land, voting to instigate the process to sell off suburban blocks in Coniston, Warrawong, Lake Heights and Fairy Meadow.
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This week, a majority of councillors agreed to prepare rezoning plans for four lots, which would change them from community land to be “operational”.
The council hopes to receive about $568,000 for their future sales.
The largest of the blocks, at 44 Rann Street, Fairy Meadow, was given to the council as a dedicated public reserve in 1972.
Covering more than 1600 square metres, the site runs next to the rail corridor. The council said there was no play equipment and “no evidence of usage by the public”.
In information presented to councillors, the council said it had reached agreement with two adjoining land owners to sell the land – which it plans to rezone as medium density residential – in two lots, for $154,000 and $60,500.
In Lake Heights, a 588sqm block at Ranchby Avenue has been valued at $300,000, with the council planning to rezone it as low density residential.
In deciding whether to rezone this land, the council sent out 66 letters to nearby residents. Three objections were received, with residents saying the sale and future development of the land would result in greater traffic congestion and problems with parking and access.
Another resident said children from the area played on the streets, as nearby residents did not have sufficient backyard space.
The final two lots, in Pine Crescent, Coniston and Third Avenue, Warrawong are small narrow drainage lots which are proposed to be sold for $27,000 each to adjoining landowners.
Greens councillors Mithra Cox and Cath Blakey voted against the rezoning and subsequent sales, with nine other councillors voting to allow the rezoning to proceed.
Cr Cox said there should be more discussion about whether the surplus land could be used to build affordable housing before the council considered their sale.
But Labor councillor Vicky King said the sale of the properties would “increase the value of our general revenue”.
In October last year, councillors voted to pave the way for the rezoning of five other “surplus” blocks, located in Corrimal, Dapto, Bulli, Bellambi and Mount Ousley.
All five were were dedicated as “public garden and recreation space” in the 1950s and 60s, and were to generate an income of about $3.5 million. The council has also recently sold a number of tiny, unusually shaped blocks – including one parcel which blocked a Lake Heights couple’s driveway.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
