WODONGA Council’s long-awaited dream of a rail terminal at its Logic industrial centre has never been closer to reality.
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The council continues to fend off criticism from all quarters for its massive financial commitment to Logic, but has always hoped a rail terminal operator would be the catalyst for further investment at North Barnawartha.
In a year when “short-term pain for long-term gain” was the mantra for central Wodonga businesses faced with disruptions from important road upgrades, the pending new tenant at Logic was the council’s biggest win for the year.
An offer to purchase land was made by Blanalko Pty Ltd, the property arm of SCT Logistics, but the deal is far from done yet.
The wheels are in motion though and ratepayers are already on notice they will be contributing to some of the associated infrastructure.
The Elgin Boulevard re-alignment was completed, but central business district traders faced three months of disruptions.
The same pain was experienced by South Street traders with road works to complement the pending start to the $65 million Mann shopping centre development.
Two anchor tenants, Coles and Kmart, were confirmed for the shopping centre but uncertainty hangs over the fate of the Coles supermarket in High Street.
Cr Rodney Wangman was re-elected mayor unopposed with council deciding there was no need for a deputy.
Questions were asked about the need to send two representatives to a social enterprise world forum in South Korea at a cost of $15,000 when Albury Council baulked at sending a delegate to the same conference.
The council also provided a $300,000 leg up for fledgling soccer club Murray United, to help urgently needed improvements to the club’s base, La Trobe University.
It backed the switching of public holidays from the Melbourne Cup for the Wodonga Cup race meeting held in late November.
The move predictably had its detractors, but the punters voted with their feet and close to 5000 people attended the cup meeting.
Wodonga is among councils statewide nervous about the change of government in Spring Street late in the year.
Labor has promised to cap future rate increases which, if introduced, would dramatically alter the operations of council that is already using 10 cents in every dollar of rate money currently collected to repay debt.
