A DEVELOPER feels he's been "played" by Wodonga Council after his offer for CBD land was rejected. Rescom owner Brad Matthews was aghast councillors on Monday backed a $3.550 million sale to Criterion Property and Capital ahead of his $3.589 million deal. "I'm absolutely gobsmacked with how the 'process' went because there was no process," Mr Matthews said. "We definitely felt through this process we've been played, we can't understand it." Mr Matthews said his proposal for the land marketed as CBD West, which once housed Wodonga's swimming pool, police station and court, was a "superior offer". He pointed to his plans for a "vertical village" across the land with a hotel and cinema among buildings ranging from two to six storeys. Mr Matthews said based on that and his higher price he expected councillors would support his proposal. His confidence remained high despite the council having entered a heads of agreement with Criterion. "I still thought there would be an open discussion with the councillors and the council would debate the merits of each proposal and they didn't," Mr Matthews said. Council chief executive Mark Dixon told councillors the heads of agreement aided the Criterion bid. However, Mr Matthews said he had offered to sign a heads of agreement in July before he knew of Criterion's interest in the land. He only learned Criterion signed such a pact in October when the council told the public of its intention to sell the land to that company. Mr Matthews suggested the extra $39,000 that Rescom was willing to pay for the land would "go a long way" to cover the costs that may be incurred by breaking the agreement with Criterion. Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie told Monday's meeting she was pleased with the process from staff. Cr Speedie said she was "sure" the interest of the losing bidder "would not diminish in our city". The Melbourne-based Mr Matthews responded by saying he would be reticent to do further developments in Wodonga. "We've got an existing project we'll see through in Baranduda but for future projects, because of lack of transparency, I doubt we'll venture back there again," he said. Mr Matthews said he expected if his company had won council approval to buy the land it would then have been subject to 28 days of feedback and Criterion could have produced another offer. "It then becomes like a Dutch auction," he said. Criterion founding director John Mooney told The Border Mail in October his firm was in the process of developing a master plan for CBD West.
"I'm absolutely gobsmacked with how the 'process' went because there was no process," Mr Matthews said.
"We definitely felt through this process we've been played, we can't understand it."
Mr Matthews said his proposal for the land marketed as CBD West, which once housed Wodonga's swimming pool, police station and court, was a "superior offer".
He pointed to his plans for a "vertical village" across the land with a hotel and cinema among buildings ranging from two to six storeys.
Mr Matthews said based on that and his higher price he expected councillors would support his proposal.
His confidence remained high despite the council having entered a heads of agreement with Criterion.
"I still thought there would be an open discussion with the councillors and the council would debate the merits of each proposal and they didn't," Mr Matthews said.
Council chief executive Mark Dixon told councillors the heads of agreement aided the Criterion bid.
However, Mr Matthews said he had offered to sign a heads of agreement in July before he knew of Criterion's interest in the land.
He only learned Criterion signed such a pact in October when the council told the public of its intention to sell the land to that company.
Vision: An image produced for Rescom to show its plans for a 'vertical village' at the site which once contained the Wodonga swimming pool, court and police station.
Mr Matthews suggested the extra $39,000 that Rescom was willing to pay for the land would "go a long way" to cover the costs that may be incurred by breaking the agreement with Criterion.
Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie told Monday's meeting she was pleased with the process from staff.
Cr Speedie said she was "sure" the interest of the losing bidder "would not diminish in our city".
The Melbourne-based Mr Matthews responded by saying he would be reticent to do further developments in Wodonga.
"We've got an existing project we'll see through in Baranduda but for future projects, because of lack of transparency, I doubt we'll venture back there again," he said.
Mr Matthews said he expected if his company had won council approval to buy the land it would then have been subject to 28 days of feedback and Criterion could have produced another offer.
