CONCERNED Myrtleford residents have petitioned Alpine Shire Council against any future redevelopment or rezoning of the 'Old Mill' site land in Mummery Road, adjacent to the Myrtleford Recreation Reserve. A petition from 45 signatories tendered at last month's council meeting said the land, originating from the old Myrtleford Sawmill and CCA treatment plant, was gifted to the people of Myrtleford when the mill relocated to its present site and "must be preserved for the benefit of our residents". "The land in question has never been fully rehabilitated and remains contaminated with waste and hazardous materials stemming from the decades of operation of the old mill...it is imperative that any plans for redevelopment or rezoning be transparently communicated to the residents of Myrtleford," the petition read. "We do not believe that the Alpine Shire has any right to rezone or redevelop this land in any manner that does not enhance its legacy for the use and enjoyment of Myrtleford residents." Petitioners said the "reservation of our heritage and the safety of our environment must be prioritised above any commercial or developmental interest". A report from council officers at the June meeting indicated there is no specific current proposal for the land in question, but it is among "under utilised" sites which the Alpine Shire's Land Development Strategy 2024 (LDS) identifies as an "area of investigation for future residential development". Council's LDS, adopted last year, identified Myrtleford, Bright, Mount Beauty/Tawonga South and Porepunkah as areas which will accommodate the majority of the municipality’s future population growth. Councillors were informed council officers have engaged a suitably qualified environmental consultant to undertake further studies that will involve the collection of soil samples to confirm the environmental status of the site and any actions required to protect future sensitive land uses. "In accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2020, council will ensure that the future use of the land will be decided in accordance with the best interests of the community and will undertake such determinations in consultation with the community at the relevant time," the report to council read. Councillors encouraged the petitioners to make a submission in the future during any relevant consultation or engagement period relating to the land's future. By way of background, the report to council last month said the Mummery Road Mill had operated until the late 1980s and upon cessation of production, the then mill owners Australian Forest Industry implemented an approved site remediation program, with the site acquired by the Myrtleford Shire Council in 1992. While a small subdivision comprising of 10 lots was progressed in 1996, the remainder of the current site adjacent to Barwidgee Creek was "to be used for public open space largely aligning with the extent of uncompacted fill covering the area and was rezoned Public Open Space (subsequently translated by the Victorian government to the Public Park and Recreation Zone)."
