The North East Catchment Management Authority and Indigo Council are working to clean up an old NECMA depot in Tangambalanga as river access for the community becomes one step closer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 5643 square metre site was identified by NECMA as being "surplus to requirements" in 2017, and Indigo Council expressed interest in purchasing it.
NECMA chief executive Katie Warner said in line with government processes, the organisation was going through due diligence to make sure the asset was in a good condition to be sold.
"We've had to upgrade the title to a Torrens title, and because of the nature of the site, the other thing we have done is some testing to make sure it is safe for sale," she said.
"That has identified that we need to remove an old shed that's on the property and a little bit of the soil that's around it.
"We're in the process with Indigo Shire to identify appropriate companies we can get quotes from, and once we understand the scale and nature of the work, can proceed with the clean-up."
Ms Warner said there was not a specific example of the chemicals stored and that the site was secured.
"It's just the nature of the use of the site over a long period of time (that warrants the works)," she said.
"The Kiewa Depot Site has a history dating back to the 1950s.
"It was an asset of the Kiewa River Improvement Trust, and then the Upper North East River Management Authority, and most recently NECMA after catchment management authorities were created in 1997.
"It was no longer required ... we relocated to another site in Tallangatta that was assessed as being more appropriate for needs at that point in time."
Ms Warner hoped the process would speed up once the remediation works had been completed and the sale could be finalised.
IN OTHER NEWS:
At the 2017 December meeting, it was decided the council would make an offer for the depot under the Surplus Government Land First Right of Refusal program, which provides government agencies the first bid before it is offered to the public market.
Councillors agreed to a maximum price council would pay, which was not disclosed at the meeting.
The site was listed in 2017 as having a value of $220,000, though council can seek a reduction under the community benefit provisions of the right of refusal process.
At the December council meeting, 13 letters of support from the community and a petition with 316 signatures were tabled.
Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here
