The outcome of preliminary investigations into two Berry properties listed in Council’s Land Sales Program will be considered by councillors on Monday.
Community consultation during this evaluation phase of the process closed on Friday 16 June, with more than 446 surveys submitted about the 23 properties across the city being considered for potential sale.
The properties were endorsed by councillors for investigation as part of Council’s land sales strategy adopted in April, as well as a Notice of Motion to include 10 Alfred Street, Berry.
“The community feedback we’ve received forms part of the review of information of each site to determine whether to proceed to potentially rezone or reclassify land to enable sale in the future,” said Director City Futures, Coralie McCarthy.
“There are strict protocols around reclassifying community land to operational land that requires several stages of community consultation and councillor approvals during a number of years,” Ms McCarthy said.
“The process to change the zoning of each site involves several points of community consultation in accordance with the NSW Government regulations,” she said.
A report to Council advises that work should commence to prepare for the sale of Muir House at 10 Prince Alfred Street, Berry.
The site was purchased by Council in 1976 to house the Berry Museum and is now leased by the Berry Community Activity Centre for a peppercorn rent.
If supported by councillors, staff would commence work to prepare a planning proposal for the reclassification of the land and trigger the legislated consultation process with the Department of Planning, stakeholders and the community, which could take two to three years. Staff would also work with the lessee to find alternative locations to showcase their artwork within the area.
In a separate report, it is recommended that a car park site at 77 Princess St, Berry be removed from consideration of sale. The car park site provides 17 car parking spaces and has received more than 127 submissions from the community concerned about the potential loss of car parking in Berry.
The site had been included for consideration due to the need for cash injection from land sales in the budget, complexities around achieving the intended future use of the precinct for parking as well as apparent underusage in comparison to other carparks in the Berry CBD.
The Council meeting will be held 5.30pm Monday 24 June and the are available on .
