Hobsons Bay council has revealed that $2.3 million allocated for a “confidential acquisition” in its 2014-15 budget was to buy the former Laverton Primary School site for parkland and, most likely, social housing.
The total cost for the 1.4-hectare site, excluding GST, is $2.6 million.
According to a previously confidential council report that was made public last week, 10,000 square metres would be necessary for a neighbourhood park and public open space, leaving 4450 square metres that could be used for “affordable housing”.
The Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) says it is proposed to make the Epsom Street property “an appropriate residential zone”.
As revealed by Star Weekly last month, the Hobsons Bay Residents Association had questioned whether the council planned to buy the school site, saying the council should consult the community before spending such a large sum of ratepayer money.
The association questioned why the council wouldn’t consider buying the former Altona West Primary School site, which residents fear could be used for medium-density housing. The former Altona Gate and Eastona Park primary schools in Altona North are also surplus to the Education Department’s needs.
DTF had offered the council an opportunity to purchase any of the four surplus school sites before they were listed for public sale.
The community will be consulted over the parkland’s development and other uses of the Laverton site, which the council says is likely to include residential development.
