Council land swap

By Melissa Meehan
CARDINIA Shire councillors last week endorsed a move to swap ownership of two parcels of land in Dickie Road, Officer.
Councillors voted to seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare an amendment to the Cardinia Planning Scheme and rezone the land on Lot One from a Public Park and Recreation Zone to a Rural Conservation Zone Schedule 2 and to add an Environmental Significance Overlay to the land. The council would also ask for authorisation to rezone the land that is part of 180 Dickie Road from a Rural Conservation Zone to a Public Park and Recreation Zone and remove the environmental overlay.
Councillor Collin Ross said the land swap would make it possible for the disjointed Cardinia Aqueduct trail to be aligned with the parklands.
“These changes would allow people to use the land with more care, it has less undulation on the land and it would be less arduous for the disabled and elderly,” Cr Ross said.
“It’s an excellent addition falling into line with the shire’s open space policy, and I support the move.”
Councillor Ed Chatwin said the land swap was a good result of work that had exceeded three years.
“This completes one end of the trail,” he said.
“Eventually people will be able to walk continuously from Toomuc Valley Road through to Dickie Road.”