A LACK of long-term plans for a community centre has seen a Riverland council proceed with plans to potentially sell the property.
Renmark Paringa councillors passed a motion at last month’s general meeting to request approval from Minister for Planning and Local Government, Vickie Chapman, to remove the community land status for the McCormick Centre for the Environment.
Renmark Paringa director of corporate and community services Tim Pfeiffer said the property had “a comparatively high annual maintenance cost, therefore requiring a viable and long-term use to justify council’s continued investment of our community’s financial resources”.
“Over the years, there have been two expression of interest processes to find a viable and long-term use of the McCormick Centre and 11 different options have been investigated,” Mr Pfeiffer said.
“After the revocation process commenced, Council was pleased to lease the McCormick Centre to PIRSA on a short-term basis to assist in implementing the fruit fly management program.”
It is understood no responses were received for council’s public consultation process regarding the McCormick Centre’s future.