The Kyneton community has had a win in the long-running battle over the former Kyneton Primary School site.
In a major backflip, the state government announced last Wednesday that the property would “remain in public hands” – after working towards selling it for months.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas revealed the government would keep the old school, just hours before Macedon Ranges council was due to decide whether it would buy any of the Baynton Street site.
The government’s decision comes after more than a year of community campaigning to support owning and governing the site.
Kyneton Town Square Reference Group has been one of the main community groups driving the campaign.
Group member Rob Bakes said it was “good news” that the state had moved away from selling the property, but it was only “a part-win”.
“The big thing we have to achieve is that the government allows the community to run the site,” he said.
“They haven’t shown any sign of letting the community take control.”
The state government said it had appointed the Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership to work with the community and the council to oversee the future of the site.
Prior to the announcement, the council was preparing to consider a report recommending it adopt the Kyneton Primary School Master Plan and purchase the “eastern lots of the site”.
The report took into account community feedback on the draft master plan that proposed both council and private ownership scenarios.
The draft master plan was drawn up using a $65,000 contribution from the state government.
The council has now moved that its chief executive brief councillors on the state’s proposal for the site by July 31.
At a community forum organised by the Kyneton Town Square Reference Group on May 6, about 200 residents heard Liberal candidate for Macedon, Amanda Millar, declare that, if elected, her party would keep the school site as government land.
Ms Millar received a petition from the Kyneton Square Reference Group, signed by 2300 residents, which Opposition Leader Matthew Guy tabled in the Legislative Assembly on May 9.
