Greater Shepparton City Council has commenced consultation with residents and business owners following a request to sell a Shepparton car park to make way for a social housing development.
Council recently resolved to consider the sale or gifting of the Council-owned Maude Nixon and Edward Streets car park following a proposal request from Beyond Housing and Wintringham. Both organisations are Registered Housing Associations with long histories of supporting vulnerable members of the community through a range of innovative housing and support services, Council said in a statement today.
“Although only at conceptual stage, the proposed redevelopment of the site would see the construction of a four storey building retaining the public car park at ground level, residents’ car parking on the first floor, and approximately 30 apartments on the second and third floors,” it said.
Council proposes to contribute to the project by selling or gifting the land for an estimated value of $450,000. Upon completion, Council would take back possession of the ground floor car park land, and Beyond Housing and Wintringham would manage the residents’ parking and apartments.
As part of the proposal, Council is undertaking community consultation to understand the thoughts and concerns of nearby residents and the community regarding the proposed development. Consultation commenced on Friday 14 January and will conclude on Monday 7 February, with Council directly notifying all adjacent land owners and occupiers of land.
“Community consultation is an important step in the process and Council is looking forward to hearing the community’s views about the possible sale or gifting of the land,” Mayor, Kim O’Keeffe said.
Submissions can be emailed to council@shepparton.vic.gov.au, completed online at shaping Greater Shepparton or submitted via post to Greater Shepparton City Council, Locked Bag 1000, Shepparton VIC 3632. Submissions should be titled ‘Notice of Intention to Sell Land – Maude Nixon and Edward Streets Car Park’.
All submissions must be in writing and submitted by 7 February 2022 to be considered by Council. Submitters may also request to be heard by Council in support of their submission at an upcoming Council Meeting.
Council will then consider all submissions including those submitters who wish to be heard, and may decide to sell the land, part of the land or not to sell the land at a future Council Meeting in 2022, it said.
