Hume council has developed a new framework for managing almost 2000 properties that are owned by the council.
Councillor Naim Kurt said the framework identified more than 1900 vacant or underutilised properties across the municipality.
The framework establishes a process to assess the potential of such land, taking into account place-based needs, financial and social value, legal requirements, and community input.
It also promotes transparent and evidence based decisions on whether land should be retained, repurposed, invested or sold
“This provides the council with a clear and transparent evidence-based approach to how we’re going to manage [the land],” Cr Kurt said.
“How we use it best to benefit the community when there are vacant land holdings which are no longer of need for council.”
The council undertook community consultation on the development of the framework, with concerns raised about communicating the sale and disposal of council land transparently.
“We’re at the end point of what’s been quite a long journey,” Cr Kurt said.
Cr Naim Kurt said during consultation the community asked whether the land could be used to solve affordability and housing crisis.
“This project can go even further than that… can we use them to create innovation hubs… or women’s shelters as well?”
Councillor Jarrod Bell said that the property management framework will not be used as a money-making exercise.
“The number [1900] strikes me every single time I say it,” he said.
“We’re not going to flog off every piece of land and pocket the cash… it is not a fire sale.”
The next phase will focus on applying the framework to individual sites, embedding the process into operations and ensuring that future proposals are supported by clear communication and targeted community engagement.
