Land swap backed

Jessica Benton
The Bellarine Peninsula’s new councillor has backed a proposed swap of public land for part of a developer’s site at Indented Head.
John Doull said the exchange of the four-hectare council-owned land for 12 hectares at Mira Ira’s Seabreeze Estate would create a “rural buffer” for the town.
“While it’s early days, what’s proposed is certainly something I’d support,” he said.
“I’ve already begun walking the ground with the community association but I’m not sure how it will pan out. What they’re proposing is a good, natural, rural buffer for the area and a good outcome but how the outcome is achieved through council and developers is unsure at this stage.”
Cr Doull said the land swap issue would remain a priority when council resumed in 2009.
Mira Ira cannot develop the environmentally sensetive 12ha site on Batman Road but would use the council land for residential development under the swap proposal. Council would preserve the 12ha site as open space.
A report to council in October recommended against the land swap but former ward councillor Tom O’Connor called for further investigations of the proposal’s social, environmental and financial implications.
Indented Head Community Association president Bill Dix welcomed Cr Doull’s support for the swap.
Mr Dix said the group backed the proposal because it would preserve “sensitive open spaces”.
“It’s generally accepted in the community that the environmentally sensitive land should be owned by council,” he said.
“I can’t see and the community can’t see anything they (Mira Ira) will be able to develop on that area that would be of benefit to the community. We’d like to see passive recreation, walking tracks, a kids’ playground and a barbecue area on the open space that the community can enjoy.”
Mr Dix gave his blessing to development of the public land.
“The council owned land is prime residential land and it’s appropriate for that land to be developed.”
Mr Dix said council had raised concerns about the costs associated with maintaining new open spaces but government grants were available to help cover expenses for public reserves.