Fed: Point Nepean land will not be sold, says govt
MELBOURNE, Aug 25 AAP - Land that the commonwealth offered for sale at Point Nepean,south-east of Melbourne, will be retained in public ownership and leased, possibly fora tourism venture.
The 90ha block of former defence land has been the subject of an intense communitycampaign since the Victorian government rejected a federal request for it to buy the landand the commonwealth put it on the market.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Defence, Fran Bailey, announced the government'sdecision to abandon the sale process and retain the land to reporters in Melbourne todayto loud applause from a group of local residents.
"By preserving Point Nepean we will leave a legacy for all of us to enjoy for yearsto come," she said.
The land and historic buildings would be offered on a 40-year lease with an optionfor an additional 10 years for educational, recreational, community or tourism purposes.
Ms Bailey promised that public access would be preserved, and ruled out any residentialdevelopment.
"There's not going to be a multi-storey highrise hotel down there," she said.
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KEYWORD: NEPEAN LEAD
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