Related: Council to push on with Marong plan
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Bendigo councillors opted to push ahead with controversial plans to build a business park on farmland in Marong – despite fierce opposition from the landowners, an independent panel and from within the council chamber.
Town Hall was host to a fiery debate from City of Greater Bendigo councillors last night when they were asked to support the latest chapter in a near decade-long plan to construct the proposed business park.
Council wants to use approximately 313 hectares of farmland to provide an estimated 30 years supply of “industrial and complementary land uses” – unfortunately the landowners don’t want to move.
After an independent panel found there was insufficient justification to force the Carter family to move in March, council last night voted to defer a decision on land acquisition, asking the state government for two more years to consider its options.
But councillors voted to rezone the area for a business park allow the plan to go ahead in future.
Councillors James Williams and Peter Cox spoke in favour of the plan, but against the way council went about trying to compulsorily acquire the land.
Cr Williams, a farmer, said the site’s proximity to Calder Highway and a rail network would make it a hub for all of northern and central Victoria with further infrastructure upgrades.
“It can, in the future, provide unprecedented access to and from our ports and to the regions,” Cr Williams said.
“The Calder Highway needs to go beyond Bendigo, it should go all the way to Mildura.
“Every farmer, town and business north of Bendigo needs access to the Calder … that can ensure a prosperous and thriving future for the whole region.”
But councillors Lisa Ruffell and Helen Leach slammed the proposal.
Cr Ruffell, a businesswoman, said the investment should go into Bendigo east.
“I’ve been saying for eight years – why do we want to acquire good farming land when these people don’t want to move … and we’ve got land in Bendigo east, near an airport and without nearby housing?,” she said.
Both councillors voted against the proposal.
Cr Chapman removed herself from the chamber due to conflict of interest as she owns property near the proposed Marong Business Park.
More on the Bendigo Advertiser online.