City of Greater Bendigo court fight for Marong land

The City will need to seek a court order to carry out soil and water tests on the 300 hectares of farmland that it wants to compulsorily acquire.

Council want the land for a proposed industrial business park on the Calder Highway, which it believes is central to the region’s future economic development. City of Greater Bendigo chief executive officer Craig Niemann said the intention was to go through the court to access the property.

“We believe we have a legal right to access the property and we need to go through the legal processes,” he said.

Mr Niemann said he was not sure how long the process would take. The land is owned by Max and Pauline Carter and has been in the Carter family for more than 90 years.

On Friday police were called to the Carters’ property when Mr and Mrs Carter demanded council officers and contractors get off their land.

The council officers and contractors were there to carry out tests on soil and water but after a brief confrontation, the council officers and contractors left the property.

Mr Carter said he had advised the council that the gates would be locked and that they were not to go on his property.

“The council has brought consultants onto our land illegally,” he said.

“This has been going on for eight years and we are not giving up.

“The only reason they want the land is for monetary gain.

“The council wants to subdivide and then sell the land to make a huge profit.”

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Rod Campbell said on Friday the investigations would determine whether the site was appropriate for rezoning as industrial land for further development.

“Until we have the results from the tests a decision cannot be made about whether the property is suitable for such a development or not,” he said.

“Our research indicates that during the past seven years alone, the take-up of serviced industrial land in our region has been more than 250 per cent above expectations.

“Planning for a major industrial development to support businesses has been under way since August 2004.

“A significant industrial development is crucial to ensure our region is not left out of the predicted growth of the State over the next 20 years.”