Around 15 undeveloped lots still had caveats imposing conditions for required development before the land could be sold, many with deadlines for completion in November this year.
Council originally sold lots in the business park with caveats placed on their titles to ensure owners would develop the land as envisioned.
An MRC spokesperson told The Riv that a substantial number of property owners had fulfilled their obligations, and that COVID-19 had placed significant strain on many, halting development, and leading to concessions from council.
Cr Geoff Wise, who moved the motion at July’s meeting, said he had been approached by the owners of two undeveloped lots, concerned about how the remaining caveats would impact their ability to sell their land.
He said that several of the current owners and prospective buyers of the lots simply could not have the contractually required conditions in place by the November deadline.
“They’re in more trouble than Ned Kelly,” Cr Wise said.
“The 15 owners of that land in the community are going to come under extreme stress in the next six to 12 months, and I don’t want to see that happen.”
Seconding the motion, Cr Gen Campbell said she had confirmed that the previous council had passed a resolution allowing a former MRC councillor to remove caveats from their own undeveloped lot in the business park without penalty.
“This precedent, established by the previous council, and the confirmation by the former councillor, is the reason, I believe, we have an obligation to support Cr Wise’s timely motion,” Cr Campbell said.
“Our decisions must reflect the principles we promote, and these principles have to be applied fairly and consistently.”
Cr Wise said that while the caveats were helpful in the initial development of the business park, the impending deadlines now posed serious headaches for council.
“A lot of the caveats [can] be invoked in November,” he said.
“The problem is if we try to invoke those caveats and — in simple man’s terms — take the land back, we’d have to go to the Supreme Court, and we’d have to go to it on an individual basis.
“Every block will have to be looked at individually, and that’s a lot of cost.”
Seven of the eight councillors present supported the motion, with Mayor John Harvie excluding himself from the discussion due to a conflict of interest.
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