Council buys $2.6 m site

Paul Dunlop
CARDINIA Council will spend $2.6 million to buy back the site of its Pakenham headquarters, paving the way for a major redevelopment of the civic centre.
Councillors voted unanimously on Monday to purchase the site from the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
The decision follows a longrunning saga over where council should make its future home.
Councillors said they were now moving in a different direction than previous administrations but were confident the call to stayput was right.
“This is a hallmark decision,” Cr Ed Chatwin said.
Cr Bill Ronald went further, hailing it as “a great decision for the community”.
Cr Ronald said he had fought to have the shire offices remain on the hill in Henty Way since the council and the State Government negotiated a land swap deal in 1999, which was to have seen the site become a home for a new VCE centre for Pakenham Secondary College.
“Thankfully common sense has prevailed,” Cr Ronald said.
Council is yet to officially discuss plans for the redevelopment of the shire offices but has previously said staff cannot continue to work in their presently cramped conditions.