The Local Environment Plan aims to preserve the Coal Point ridgeline as "Conservation" zoning. Council has for many years identified parts of existing lots backing on the ridgeline as "acquisition" - i.e. the Council would like to buy those parts of the lots and thereby expand the ridgeline conservation area. The land at the "top" half of our block (from about 20m behind the hall) is one such area, and the equivalent parts of the lots on either side of the hall are already owned by Council. Note that no change is proposed to ownership of the hall or the front part of the lot.
The committee believe that having this land in community ownership and zoned as Environment Conservation (E2) land is fully consistent with our objectives, and will contribute to helping the Council maintain a sufficiently large and contiguous area of land to be a viable, and substantial, conservation area. The proposal would also give us a substantial injection of funds, and might result in a reduced land valuation and therefore a reduced rates assessment (Council rates being one of our biggest annual expenses).
If the special resolution is approved at the AGM the current committee intends that the immediate successor committee should open discussions with the Council and at least register an interest in selling the land. It is unlikely that any sale will eventuate in the current financial year, but we should be able to, in effect, "join the queue". We understand that the Council has a standard approach to valuation of land to be acquired and the committee's intention is to negotiate a price that is equitable with prices the Council has paid for other similar part-lots.
An Invitation is extended to all members of the Progress Association to discuss these proposals at the March meeting or with Committee members so that your comments can be included in the preparation of the documents for the AGM to be held at the Hall, 197 Skye Point Rd 7-8:30pm Monday 13/4/15. A light supper will be served on the night.
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