Manresa Court Road Closing Process and Land Swap

This Consultation is now closed. 

Project Update Summary (November 2022)

During July and August 2022 Council asked the Community for feedback on a proposed land swap with St Ignatius College which also involved proposing to close a portion of Manresa Court, Athelstone. A proposal for a road closure triggers a legislatively prescribed consultation in accordance with the Roads (Opening and Closing) Act 1991. On 1 November 2022 Council considered the Community feedback and in relation to the road closure, resolved to:

• not proceed with the road closing process for a portion of Manresa Court, Athelstone and request that Staff advise the Surveyor-General and all Objectors and Applicants for Easement that Council is discontinuing this process

Also on 1 November Council resolved to:

1. receive the report and Community Engagement Outcomes for the Manresa Court Land Swap
2. advise St Ignatius’ College and the people that responded to the Community consultation process (where possible) that Council will not take any further action in relation to a land swap of a portion of Manresa Court, Athelstone for land encompassing Fifth Creek at allotments CT5094/602 (north of Manresa Court) or CT5565/126 (south of Manresa Court)
3. obtain a further report on options available for Council to bring the entire section of Fifth Creek currently in private ownership into public ownership

The community engagement outcomes can be viewed in full from page 52 here.  

 Background

The proposed land swap proposal involved using leases and rights of access to relevant portions of land and closing a section of Manresa Court. The objectives of the land swap were: 

• Access to approximately 5,080 sqm of land adjacent Fifth Creek that could subsequently be improved through increased care of the watercourse, coordination of weed control, improved biodiversity and plantings and creek restoration work where required
• Extension of the Fifth Creek Walking Trail through the area identified for the proposed land swap
• Construction of a new road and footpath at the eastern end of Manresa Court, including an intersection upgrade.

The Community and stakeholders were invited to make an application for easement or objection in regard to whether a portion of Manresa Court, Athelstone should be closed to vehicular traffic. A meeting for objectors was held on 10 October 2022. The Community were also invited to provide comments about the other components of the Land Swap via survey, email and/or attending a Drop In Session. A community engagement outcomes report which includes minutes from the Objectors Meeting can be viewed in the 1 November 2022 Council agenda here.