Family of late Maurice Dillon raise concerns with potential Kingborough Council public land sale of Bruny block

A block of land on Bruny Island may be sold off to fund critical upgrades in other parts of the Kingborough catchment – but the family of the man who gifted the land wants it to remain in the hands of the public.

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THE family of a late Bruny Island councillor who gifted a piece of prime land to the community has raised concerns about its potential sale to the private sector.

A recent Kingborough Council playground audit found more than half of the 45 playgrounds in the municipality were in an unsatisfactory condition and 18 were categorised as needing critical upgrades to comply with the council’s playground strategy.

Mayor Dean Winter said the council was considering selling seven disused council-owned properties to fund the upgrades.

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said funds raised from the potential sale of the blocks would be reinvested in the community. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

The properties being considered for sale:

• 110 Channel Highway, Taroona
• Lot 2, Mt Pleasant Rd, Kingston
• 31 Gemalla Rd, Margate
• Snug Tiers Rd, Snug (near 105)
• 281 Roslyn Ave, Blackmans Bay
• 41 Hiern Rd, Blackmans Bay
• Main Rd, Alonnah (near Hotel Bruny)

Daughter of the late Maurice Dillon, Jo Dillon, said the family was concerned about the sale of the Alonnah land, which looks out over Satellite Island and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

She her father served on council for 42 years and he gifted the land to the then Bruny Island Council in the mid 1970s as part of a requirement of a surrounding subdivision.

“This was on the understanding it would remain as designated public open space in perpetuity,” Ms Dillon said.

“The family wish to see it remain as public open space and only developed in such a way that ensures it will be enjoyed by the local community, shack owners and the many other visitors who currently enjoy the multitude of attractions that Bruny has to offer.

“The Kingborough Council have not sought to develop this piece of prime real estate into the publicly accessible area as originally intended.

“They now seem to be taking the easy road by selling this valuable little piece of Bruny Island to the highest bidder while publicly admitting that proceeds are not likely to be spent on Bruny, but elsewhere.”

Cr Winter said in response that public open space contributions were not a ‘gift’.

“They are required as part of subdivisions either as vacant land or financial contributions,” he said.

“The land was provided almost half a century ago and in the time since, neither the former Bruny Island Council nor Kingborough Council have ever done anything with it. I suspect the fact there are other public amenities like a playground, public toilets, community hall and an oval nearby are some of the reasons why.

“The choice is to leave it as a vacant, residentially zoned property that provides very limited public value, or sell the land and use the proceeds to upgrade the nearby playground and other public spaces on Bruny Island. Public feedback will drive the decision council makes.”

Ms Dillon said the family would be putting in a formal representation to the council urging it to keep the block in public hands.