Open process urged for school site deal

Alex de Vos
Ratepayers could be the losers in a “sweetheart” deal to secure council land for expansion of Torquay College, a state opposition MP has warned.
Member for Western Victoria David Koch called on Surf Coast Shire to auction the land adjacent to the college rather than “secretly” hand it over to State Government.
The Government has announced it will “negotiate” with the shire to secure the land for expansion of the college to include year10 to 12 classes.
The expansion would begin after the shire had moved to new offices in a proposed $40 million civic precinct at Torquay’s northern entry.
The Government promised to also build a new primary school alongside the civic precinct.
But Mr Koch believed ratepayers could be shortchanged if the price of the land handover remained secret.
He feared a “sweetheart deal with council in favour of the education department”.
“It’s not the best outcome for the ratepayers,” Mr Koch said.
“I think it’s relevant to put the site into the marketplace.”
Mr Koch also slammed the proposed location for the college expansion on Grossman’s Road.
“That site may not reflect the most efficient or viable place for a secondary college,” he said.
“There have been other options put up and I think the best outcome can be achieved through an open process.”
Former Surf Coast councillor Ron Humphrey, who has announced he will run for Liberal preselection in the state Labor seat of South Barwon, welcomed Mr Koch’s call to auction the land.
He said an auction was the best way of achieving the highest price for ratepayers.
“When I was on council it was our understanding it would go to auction because at the time we had expressions of interest from not just the education department,” Mr Humphrey said.
He accused council of a “history of giving things away to their Labor mates”, such as Point Addis’s Iron Bark Basin.
The previous council swapped the basin with State Government for a site at Airey’s Inlet that later turned out to be unsuitable for proposed recreational facilities.
“The community has every right to be concerned that council is going to do another sweetheart deal,” Mr Humphrey said.
In a statement issued to the Independent, Labor Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield said the Government was “working to ensure the best possible outcome for the local community”.
“In moving forward, the Government will follow the Valuer General’s assessment of market value and Government Land Monitor guidelines as previous State Governments have,” Mr Crutchfield said.
Surf Coast Shire chief executive officer Mark Davies said council was “keen to maximise the revenue received from the sale” to achieve financial stability.
“The sale of the site is an important funding source for council’s community and civic precinct,” Mr Davies said.
“Council is anxious to ensure the sale achieves the best result for the community.”