Landmark decision still a talking point in the town

IT was one of the biggest decisions Cardinia Shire Council has made, and remains a talking point today.
A land exchange with the State Government in October 1999 netted the council 222 hectares of land on the Princes Highway and another 200 hectares of land on the Kooweerup Road.
For this, Cardinia provided the present shire office site, but not adjoining parkland, for the purpose of a VCE/TAFE centre for Pakenham Secondary College.
The land on the Princes Highway is the Lakeside at Pakenham estate. The Kooweerup Road land is the South East Business Park.
Council’s plan at the time was to build a new civic centre incorporating library and health services in John Street.
That vision went awry when Southern Health pulled out of the project in mid2004.
It died altogether last week when council voted to buy back its shire office site and renovate rather than relocate.
Almost eight years on from the land swap orchestrated in association with then Minister for Planning Robert Maclellan, debate over its merits still continues.
Some longerterm residents bemoan the changes in the town, but others emphatically sing the praises of the deal, pointing to the significant economic, cultural and social benefits.
Councillors were mixed in their view of events that transpired in the wake of their predecessors’ decision.
But they were unanimous that ‘staying put’ was now the right way to go.