By CASEY NEILL
THE sale of a former Springvale council depot site for $11 million will help to fund the $25 million Springvale Civic Site Masterplan.
On Monday night last week councillors agreed to sell the 20,000 square metre site at 32-40 View Road to developer Met510.
Councillor Matthew Kirwan agreed that the preferred tenderer was a high-quality residential development and the best of those put forward.
“But this site – next to the upcoming new Springvale community precinct – is an ideal one to make a decision that maximises community benefit,” he said.
“One way of doing this was to support an aged care facility or retirement home for older Springvale residents, as older residents have the time and inclination to make the most use of council community facilities and this would have put them within walking distance.”
Cr Maria Sampey also said aged care would have been a better choice, because the city was ageing and waiting lists were “unbelievable”.
But Cr Peter Brown said the tenders including aged care were below the site’s sworn valuation, so the council could not legally accept them.
He said doing so would also have resulted in the council spending $3 million to subsidise a private operation instead of on the Springvale Civic Site Masterplan.
Cr Brown said the preferred tender was not the highest, but did provide the best outcome.
“When we sell land, what do we want for the outcome on the site and the neighbours?” he said.
Cr Roz Blades said “tenders aren’t all about money”.
“Tenders are a bit about a vision as well,” she said.
