Council Land Sales: What You Need to Know

In August, your Council began the process of evaluating and potentially selling several small parcels of Council-owned land. I'm writing to cut through the complexity and explain why this matters to you, and how you can have your say before any final decision is made.

The Big Picture: Why This Is a Concern

Council is moving quickly to potentially sell these lots before we have a crucial piece of information: a Social Infrastructure and Open Space Needs Analysis (SI+OS Analysis).

Why we need this study NOW:

• Massive Future Growth: The NSW Government's new low-medium rise (LMR) reforms are set to significantly increase our local population, potentially doubling the number of homes in areas like Boronia Park and Gladesville.

• More People Need More Parks: More residents mean a far greater need for open space, sports fields, and playgrounds—especially in areas that currently don't have enough within walking distance.

• The Land Grab Risk: Selling land now, before we know what we need, risks selling a key piece of property that will be vital for a new park or playground for future families. I am pushing for the Needs Analysis to be completed before any major land sale decisions are made.

What Is "Remnant Land"? (Simplified)

The Council motion is about what we call "remnant land."

• The Simple Idea: It's supposed to be small, leftover pieces of land (e.g., awkward corners or unused verges) that are considered surplus to our needs.

• The Problem: Many of the lots currently listed are not clearly "leftovers." Some are valuable open space that residents currently use.

• A Past Example: A previous proposed sale on Vernon Street was stopped because residents identified an unrecorded public access easement (right of access connecting the site to Mornington Reserve) that Council staff had missed. Now, a similar lot (REM13 on Serpentine Road) is listed, raising the same concerns—it sits next to a larger, accessible public open space.

The Land Parcels Being Assessed

Council has listed several parcels, identified by a 'REM' number. Crucially, the decision to declare the land "remnant" and the approval to sell it are being combined into a single vote.

Because Council's official Land Register and maps are outdated (the register is over three years old, and clear maps for these lots were not provided in the meeting papers), I have had to create my own 'best efforts' map to show their potential locations.

I encourage you to look at the list and any associated maps provided by Council (when they are released) and share your specific feedback on any parcel you know well.