The site of Macedon’s former maternal and child health centre will be owned by Macedon Ranges council for at least another nine months.
The council has delayed the sale of 47 Victoria Street, Macedon, in response to campaigner calls for more time to develop plans to use the site for the community.
Councillor Mandi Mees asked the council at its meeting last week to hold off the sale for nine months on behalf of a group of Macedon residents.
“I feel it’s right, fair and reasonable that we allow the community to take that [time],” she said.
The group, which Cr Mees told the council was led by eight key members and had “extensive support from the wider community”, last month submitted a late objection to the council’s notice of intent to sell the vacant property.
They want the council to retain the building to become a community asset, and have the support of more than 80 other residents in an online Facebook group.
Their submission to council suggested the building could be used for a number of community purposes, such as a men’s shed, bike school, youth services or neighbourhood house.
Campaigner Anastasia Clunies-Ross last month told Star Weekly that Macedon needed a community place like those in most other Macedon Ranges towns.
“It’s sad that Macedon doesn’t have any sort of council or community or neighbourhood centre,” Ms Clunies-Ross said.
Council officers recommended the council go ahead with selling 47 Victoria Street, Macedon.
Their report to council said the campaign group’s submission did not “provide sufficient evidence to support retaining” the site and officers were concerned that it lacked a detailed and financially supported plan.
The report proposed a compromise previously raised by the campaigners – that the sale’s proceeds be put into capital works projects for Macedon.
But Cr Mees said the group, having read the report, still wanted more time to develop a clearer plan to set up a community facility.
