While in Holbrook there is extensive residential land for sale, availability is lacking elsewhere in Greater Hume Shire and development of council-owned landed is needed to address this.
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There are currently 15 vacant properties are in Holbrook with a further 17 acquired by Property NSW are expected to be auctioned.
In comparison there are seven parcels of vacant land for sale in Henty, three in Culcairn, and none advertised for sale in Walla, though council is undertaking a seven-lot subdivision there.
General manger Steven Pinnuck recommended in the report council should undertake costings of a three-lot subdivision on Rosler Parade and investigate options for development of 15 acres of Yankee Crossing Road in Henty; seek development approval for a subdivision on Hawthorn Road in Jindera; and continue working on the issue in other areas.
“This high-level review indicates that unless council undertakes a proactive approach then a number of towns in the council area will at best stagnate and at worse decline in population,” he said.
“In the absence of a private developer there appears to be an imperative for council to undertake residential land development in Culcairn and Henty in a similar vein as Walla Walla otherwise these towns will have little capacity to grow vibrant sustainable communities.”
On Wednesday night, councillors will also discuss tenders for construction of the Walla Walla Early Childhood Hub, but in a session closed to the public.
The budget estimate for the project is $779,255, with funding contributed relatively equally between the council and federal and NSW governments.
Three tenders were received, all “significantly in excess of the project budget”.
The tender details were not disclosed in Mr Pinnuck’s report, and he recommended as management is not in a position to recommend the acceptance of one of the three tenders, it be discussed in closed council.
