Council advances reclassification of Community Land (Drainage Basins)

Published on 29 January 2025

Murray River Council has resolved to reclassify 21 parcels of community land to operational land.

The decision follows Council’s May 2024 endorsement of a Planning Proposal to amend the Murray and Wakool Local Environmental Plans, aimed at rectifying historical classification errors.

These parcels, primarily road reserves and drainage basins, were incorrectly classified as community land despite their operational use.

A Gateway Determination, issued in August 2024, allowed the process to proceed, with a subsequent public hearing process finding no valid objections to the proposal.

Twenty parcels are located in Moama and one in Barham, with the Dhungala Estate Drainage Basin (Lot 33 DP 1259774) now excluded from the list.

These 21 parcels are a separate group to the 18 lots of community park space that were removed from the reclassification list last year.

“By reclassifying these 21 parcels, we can reduce maintenance costs on areas that have historically served operational purposes, such as drainage basins,” Mayor, Cr John Harvie said.

“It doesn’t mean they won’t be maintained, just not as frequently as community parks and spaces.”

Council emphasised that the reclassification will not result in any changes to the current operational use of the parcels.

“This reclassification just ensures that our resources can be allocated effectively,” Cr Harvie said.

Council reassured the community that none of the reclassified parcels can be sold unless their purpose or use is altered in the future.

Dhungala Estate Drainage Basin was removed from the reclassification process after the public hearing revealed its ongoing value as a community recreation space.

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Full background to the process, along with the public hearing report can be found here: https://yoursay.murrayriver.nsw.gov.au/pp-land-conversion-drainage-basins