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CENTENARY OVAL'S
FUTURE The Minister for Local Government Rory McEwen said Centenary Oval is dedicated Crown land under the care, control and management of the City of Port Lincoln and is classified as community land for the purposes of the Local Government Act 1999. Land classified as community land cannot be sold unless the classification is revoked, and must be managed (including leased or licensed) in accordance with provisions of the Act and any management plan required by the Act. Mr McEwen said that, while it is his understanding that a private developer, Leasecorp Pty Ltd., has approached the Council to purchase and develop the land, Council has not made any formal deliberation on the land’s future use, including its disposal. Member for Flinders Liz Penfold said ratepayers must lobby Council and State Government Ministers to have Centenary Oval in Port Lincoln designated as “irrevocable” community land similar to the designation of Adelaide park lands. “Reynella Oval is classified as community land maintained by the City of Onkaparinga and the classification is irrevocable. Centenary Oval could be treated in the same way. “Colonel William Light, who has been praised for his laying out of the City of Adelaide, also planned Port Lincoln,” she said. “Light’s original concept was a belt of park land from the town tennis courts to the sea at Porter Bay. “This gives some idea of the amount of park land already alienated from public use.”
Process for revocation
of Crown land Centenary Oval is dedicated Crown land under the care, control and management of the City of Port Lincoln and is classified as community land for the purposes of the Local Government Act 1999. The Act requires that before a council can revoke the classification to enable a subsequent sale of the land, it must first prepare a detailed report on the proposal, conduct public consultation in accordance with its public consultation policy, and obtain the Minister’s approval. The process is designed to provide for open, responsive and accountable government by giving the community opportunity to be consulted on the Council’s proposed intentions for the land, and providing for the Council to make a decision following the community’s feedback. The report must include:
In this regard, the land is owned by the crown and the Minister for Environment and Conservation would assess whether any conditions would be applicable. The Council’s public consultation policy must provide for the publication in the local newspaper of a notice describing the matter under consideration and invite persons to make submissions in relation to the proposal within 21 days of the notice. Should Council receive submissions from the public, Council must also provide the Minister of Local Government with a report on the submissions made. Council would also be required to obtain the approval of the Minister for Environment and Conservation to resume the land from its dedicated purpose under the Crown Lands Act 1929. There is no statutory requirement for public consultation for this process. The public consultation process provides members of the community with the most appropriate and effective means for their views to be put forward to the council, and everyone is encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity if and when it is offered. |
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