Planning Proposal - Land Conversion - Drainage Basins

This project is another phase of our ‘Sustainable MRC’ project, which encompasses a number of service level reviews and decisions made by Council aimed at securing long-term financial sustainability.


Murray River Council was formed in 2016, as part of the NSW Government’s Local Council amalgamations. We went from being two separate Shire Councils (Wakool Shire and Murray Shire) - with various offices, depots, treatment plants, landfills, water and wastewater supply systems, multiple staff and computer and management systems - to one. Over the past 6 years we have been working hard behind the scenes to assess (and where possible) harmonise these services, along with many of our internal systems.

To assist our community in understanding all of the elements we are working on we have created several YourSay project pages all of which address a separate element of the larger Working towards a Sustainable MRC project.

This page will focus on

  • reclassifying land from Community Land to Operational Land as the intended use is different to the current classification.


What we found

During our reviews we have identified more than 700 blocks of land and building assets that we as Council either own or manage. These blocks identified include parks, open spaces, cemeteries, public halls, historical buildings, offices, depots, water, sewer and waste facilities, drainage basins, caravan parks, road reserves, houses as well as crown land. We identified 412 parcels of land as part of the assessment - 244 blocks were classified as Community Land and 168 blocks were Operational Land.

Some blocks of land or buildings host a high visual profile with significant importance and benefit to the community and our way of life. Some sites provide minimal impact or benefit to the community and many sites somewhere in between.

We also found a large amount of properties were incorrectly classified as community land instead of operational land. This has been identified as a historical issue that we need to rectify.

To reclassify the land, Council will need to endorse a planning proposal which will be submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI). We will then go through the planning proposal process to reclassify the land to its correct status for ongoing maintenance and management.


What does this mean in the real world? What will we see from a community perspective?

From a Community perspective there will be some cosmetic changes to the sites which will likely be minimal but it will allow Council to manage the sites in relation to the intended use. The changes will be in line with the Parks and Open Space Strategy and Service Delivery Plan, which outlines the ongoing monitoring and management requirements for drainage basins. Community members will likely notice a reduction in irrigation of the areas, decreased levels of mowing and decreases in the operational times for fountains, if installed.

The land we have identified to be converted to Operational Land is noted on this page (see Blocks to be converted section). These blocks will can not be sold or disposed of as they are required to allow proper drainage of surface water from surrounding residential, commercial or community land. The reclassification to Operational Land is to allow Council to manage the land it as per its intended use.

Community members will have an opportunity to provide comment on this reclassification process via the upcoming Public Hearing Process.

We will provide an update on the Gateway Determination, planning proposal process and timeline once we received advice from DPHI.



How do I find out which blocks are being converted?

We have identified 22 blocks of land which are currently identified as Community Land and being used as Public Open Spaces which are actually drainage basins and need to be reclassified as Operational Land.

The blocks are noted in the Planning Proposal located on this page.


Will I have a chance to provide feedback on the land status conversion?

As part of the Planning Proposal process, there will be an opportunity to provide feedback. This page will provide information on this process as it becomes available.

The Process of a Planning Proposal tab on this page outlines the process which will be undertaken.

What is the difference between Community Land and Operational Land?

Community land is managed by Council and includes areas like parks and sportsgrounds.

Operational land is public land which facilitates the operations of Council including areas like road reserves, drainage basins, water treatment plants, landfills


How are we only now hearing that blocks need to be reclassified?

Over the past 6 years Council staff have been working hard behind the scenes to identify, review and assess all of Councils assets. Councillors have been brought along the journey by participating in workshops and adopting reports to further develop projects and investigate options for creating a more sustainable Murray River Council. There have been many Council Resolutions which have lead to the need for land to be reclassified to allow it to be managed for its intended use. Refer to the Documents tab on this page for a list of resolutions which have influenced the reclassification process.


This project is another phase of our ‘Sustainable MRC’ project, which encompasses a number of service level reviews and decisions made by Council aimed at securing long-term financial sustainability.


Murray River Council was formed in 2016, as part of the NSW Government’s Local Council amalgamations. We went from being two separate Shire Councils (Wakool Shire and Murray Shire) - with various offices, depots, treatment plants, landfills, water and wastewater supply systems, multiple staff and computer and management systems - to one. Over the past 6 years we have been working hard behind the scenes to assess (and where possible) harmonise these services, along with many of our internal systems.

To assist our community in understanding all of the elements we are working on we have created several YourSay project pages all of which address a separate element of the larger Working towards a Sustainable MRC project.

This page will focus on

  • reclassifying land from Community Land to Operational Land as the intended use is different to the current classification.


What we found

During our reviews we have identified more than 700 blocks of land and building assets that we as Council either own or manage. These blocks identified include parks, open spaces, cemeteries, public halls, historical buildings, offices, depots, water, sewer and waste facilities, drainage basins, caravan parks, road reserves, houses as well as crown land. We identified 412 parcels of land as part of the assessment - 244 blocks were classified as Community Land and 168 blocks were Operational Land.

Some blocks of land or buildings host a high visual profile with significant importance and benefit to the community and our way of life. Some sites provide minimal impact or benefit to the community and many sites somewhere in between.

We also found a large amount of properties were incorrectly classified as community land instead of operational land. This has been identified as a historical issue that we need to rectify.

To reclassify the land, Council will need to endorse a planning proposal which will be submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI). We will then go through the planning proposal process to reclassify the land to its correct status for ongoing maintenance and management.


What does this mean in the real world? What will we see from a community perspective?

From a Community perspective there will be some cosmetic changes to the sites which will likely be minimal but it will allow Council to manage the sites in relation to the intended use. The changes will be in line with the Parks and Open Space Strategy and Service Delivery Plan, which outlines the ongoing monitoring and management requirements for drainage basins. Community members will likely notice a reduction in irrigation of the areas, decreased levels of mowing and decreases in the operational times for fountains, if installed.

The land we have identified to be converted to Operational Land is noted on this page (see Blocks to be converted section). These blocks will can not be sold or disposed of as they are required to allow proper drainage of surface water from surrounding residential, commercial or community land. The reclassification to Operational Land is to allow Council to manage the land it as per its intended use.

Community members will have an opportunity to provide comment on this reclassification process via the upcoming Public Hearing Process.

We will provide an update on the Gateway Determination, planning proposal process and timeline once we received advice from DPHI.



How do I find out which blocks are being converted?

We have identified 22 blocks of land which are currently identified as Community Land and being used as Public Open Spaces which are actually drainage basins and need to be reclassified as Operational Land.

The blocks are noted in the Planning Proposal located on this page.


Will I have a chance to provide feedback on the land status conversion?

As part of the Planning Proposal process, there will be an opportunity to provide feedback. This page will provide information on this process as it becomes available.

The Process of a Planning Proposal tab on this page outlines the process which will be undertaken.

What is the difference between Community Land and Operational Land?

Community land is managed by Council and includes areas like parks and sportsgrounds.

Operational land is public land which facilitates the operations of Council including areas like road reserves, drainage basins, water treatment plants, landfills


How are we only now hearing that blocks need to be reclassified?

Over the past 6 years Council staff have been working hard behind the scenes to identify, review and assess all of Councils assets. Councillors have been brought along the journey by participating in workshops and adopting reports to further develop projects and investigate options for creating a more sustainable Murray River Council. There have been many Council Resolutions which have lead to the need for land to be reclassified to allow it to be managed for its intended use. Refer to the Documents tab on this page for a list of resolutions which have influenced the reclassification process.


Page published: 13 Jun 2024, 09:35 AM