Breaking News
Council set on buying Betty's place
Chelsea White
20 February 2008
IT SOLD at auction to a private bidder for $4.4 million but Manly Council is still determined to buy the former Betty Cuthbert property on Little Manly Beach.
The council plans to negotiate with the property's new owners to turn it into open space.
The Stuart St property sold at auction in mid-December to the Lane family.
The council did attend the auction but did not make a bid. That followed two years of unsuccessful negotiations with the previous owner of Number 38 which was zoned as open space 30 years ago.
It was revealed at Monday night's council meeting Manly had made offers prior to the auction and would pay up to $4.2 million.
Councillors voted to buy the property with or without the support of the owners.
The council said it will match the $4.4 million by using money from action group Manly Open Space Supporters to cover the shortfall.
The Lanes, who were not informed of the council's debate or its plans to acquire their new property, were not available for comment yesterday.
Deputy mayor Mark Norek said the council had pledged to buy the property last year and needed to honour that.
"We made a pledge and it wasn't just a pledge to today's residents, we made a pledge to future generations," he said.
The council would need ministerial approval for any compulsory acquisition action.
General manager Henry Wong said the process came with its own risks as once it had begun the price of the property was not guaranteed.
And if it failed the property could be rezoned as residential, blocking any future bids for open space by the council.
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