Coolamon Shire Council Mayor David McCann has negotiated with the Diocese of Wagga to make an offer to buy a lot at 52 Methul Street, Coolamon. With an agreed price set, the council is proceeding to settlement. However, in accordance with the Local Government Act, the council is now required to formally determine if the property is to be identified as Community or Operational Land. The Local Government Act states that: Operational land would ordinarily comprise land held as a temporary asset or as an investment, land which facilitates the carrying out by a council of its functions or land which may not be open to the general public, such as a works depot or a council garage. Community land, which usually comprises land such as a public park, must not be sold except in limited circumstances. Councillors decided to adopt the council’s General Manager, Tony Donoghue’s recommendation that the land be deemed operational until the council “determines what we want to do with it”. “Operational land is basically an asset we can buy and sell; community land is not to be sold without going back to the community for consultation,” Mr Donoghue said.
