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Precinct land secured, finally |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 27 October 2006 |
AFTER a long wait Stephen Porter can breathe a little easier in the knowledge that his farm will not be carved up into ugly housing estates. Stephen is a third generation dairy farmer on the property which has been earmarked for the Maleny Community Precinct.
However, paperwork to finalise the $2.6million sale to Caloundra City Council had been in bureaucratic limbo. For the past 14 months Council has grappled with State Treasury over technicalities concerning the sale of the 62 hectare site which arose following a Probity Audit. That was until last Wednesday when Council and Mr Porter all-but finalised the sale.
| Stephen Porter last week signed the final papers to close the sale to Council of his third generation, 160 acre $2.6million property which has been earmarked for the Maleny Community Precinct. Mr Porter said he wanted the land to be used for an open space project.
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A relieved Mayor Don Aldous said the signing heralded a return to action on the site. He said he was keen to see a golf course, housing estate and community facilities similar to the plan proposed by the Maleny Community Precinct Taskforce in 2004. Ultimately the final decision will rest with the community. But the Mayor said: “I’m extremely confident that the majority of the Maleny people want that (golf course, community facilities and housing) to happen.”
“I want to thank Stephen for being patient with us. He knew all along that there had been no wrong-doing. He believes in what we’re doing. he supports what we’re doing and I think the whole community should appreciate what he’s done. It’s a tremendous asset to the people of Maleny.” Cr Aldous paid tribute to Mr Porter’s honesty in not being lured by the prospect of a better sale to developers while the contract was in limbo.
“Anyone else could have turned their back on the deal,” he said. “Anyone else would have said ‘I’ve got the opportunity to get out of this contract’. Anyone else would have said ‘I’m going to sell this land for an enormous windfall’. But he didn’t do it. He’s a man of his word and a man of integrity. His yes was yes and his no was no.” As for Mr Porter, he is just happy that the land that was his father’s and his grandfather’s before him, will not be carved up for houses.
He admitted he had potentially turned his back on a fortune in order to ensure the land retain its integrity, and its link to the Porter legacy. “With development rights this land would be worth a heck of a lot more than $2.6million,’’ he said. “But dairying was finished for me in Maleny. To keep on going was pretty difficult. So it was a matter of what to do with it. And I just didn’t want it to end up all houses.”
Mr Porter said he was still a “true believer” in the Precinct and the open space and community facilities it offered. “I think it will be a great thing for the town and a great asset for our grandkids. The precinct will be a community asset, community land, possibly a golf course – and some houses which is a lot better than all houses.
“If and when the new taskforce gets together they mightn’t want a golf course. But I think it would be a great thing. If there’s 50-70 acres to build a golf course that’s 50-70 acres that won’t be houses. But that’s only my opinion. The community might think something else.” Maleny Golf Club President Max Whitten paid tribute to Mr Porter’s patience and generosity.
“It has been two long, frustrating years since Stephen Porter sold his dairy farm to Council,’’ said Dr Whitten. “ Had Steve spat the dummy along the way, as well he might have, this fantastic piece of land would not be available for community development. The community should be delighted that Steve showed great patience and true grit while the costly Probity Audit ran its futile course.”
The Maleny Precinct land will be subject to a report to council from Governance and Strategy Director Warren Bunker to determine the way forward. This process will be under the umbrella of Council’s Local Growth Management Strategy and the State’s Regional plan.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 27 October 2006 )
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Range News 2005 - ON 
