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Shire Develops Consistent Process for Dealing with Unsolicited Lease Applications

The Shire has developed a comprehensive process outline for responding to unsolicited applications for Trust Land, aimed at ensuring transparency and equity in its dealings with land leases. This process is guided by the Local Government Act (WA) 1995 and provides a clear direction on the disposal of community-owned property.

Key Stages of the Process

The Shire’s process involves several key stages to ensure a transparent and consistent approach:

Approach from Interested Party

  • The Shire provides a document outlining its commitment to economic development, local employment, and sustainability.

Gather Information

  • Discussions and meetings are held between the Shire and proponent to gain an understanding of the nature and scale of the request.
  • The Shire gains insight into its own processes and requirements.

Cocos CV

  • The Shire provides the Cocos CV to ensure a clear understanding of its commitment to economic development, local employment, and sustainability.

Check Zoning

  • The Shire provides a copy of its Local Planning Scheme to determine if the proposed usage is consistent with zoning.
  • If inconsistent, options are discussed with the proponent.

Trustee Engagement/Briefing

  • Proponents are invited to present their concept at a workshop, providing an overview and opportunity for Councillors to ask questions.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

  • Preliminary community and stakeholder engagement is carried out to assist the Trustee in determining whether to proceed with negotiations.

Valuation

  • The Shire arranges a valuation, subject to Community and Stakeholder engagement outcomes.

Lease Term

  • The Shire seeks advice from the Commonwealth regarding lease term.
  • Negotiations commence if the proponent does not agree.

Final Stages

The process culminates in:

Draft Lease and Proponent Commitments

  • The Shire provides a draft lease for consideration, ensuring mutual agreement on terms and commitment to providing due diligence within set timeframes.

Formal Request from Proponent

  • Once the proponent has valued, leased, and drafted the lease, they must provide a formal written request to progress with a lease.

The final stage involves:

Commonwealth Sanction

  • The Shire engages with the Commonwealth for sanction before proceeding with the lease.

Conclusion

This comprehensive process aims to ensure transparency, equity, and consistency in the disposal of community-owned property, ultimately benefiting the local community. By following this process, the Shire can confidently manage unsolicited applications for Trust Land while maintaining its commitment to economic development, local employment, and sustainability.