Council purchases vacant land

Council has resolved to purchase a property in Edgecliff Rd, Umina, following a recommendation from council officers to buy the land to avoid compensation claims over a water supply easement and two water trunk mains.

The site at 29 Edgecliff Rd, Umina, was zoned for restricted development and is currently vacant.

Contained within the site is an easement for water supply and two water trunk mains that service both Mt Ettalong and Patonga reservoirs.

According to council's survey from December 1997, the water main was not wholly contained within the water supply easement within the site.

In April 2003, the owner of Lot 128 approached council's water and sewerage directorate seeking advice on engineering requirements for building over or near the water main.

The owner was informed that building over the water main was not allowed and council would undertake investigations before determining a course of action to resolve the situation.

Three options were investigated.

These included relocating the water main to within the existing water supply easement, acquiring an additional easement and purchasing the property.

According to the council report, relocating the water main would be difficult due to the steep nature of the site.

The council report also stated that acquisition of an additional easement "may result in council compulsorily acquiring Lot 128" which may include "compensation payments as well as significant legal and administrative costs."

The report stated that purchasing the property would eliminate difficult and costly work involved in relocating the water main to within the easement and negate potential compensation claims.

Council agenda WAT.7, September 27