Shire of Katanning councillors vote on transfer of vacant Cullen Street property after 15 years

The Shire of Katanning is set to resolve a longstanding issue regarding a vacant block on the town’s eastern outskirts. Elected members voted unanimously to formally acquire 39 Cullen Street, concluding a 15-year period of inaction on the property’s status. In her report to councillors ahead of the May 26 meeting, Shire corporate and community executive manager Denise Gobbart said the property, along with others, had been put up for auction in April 2007 for the non-payment of rates. “All properties were sold except for Cullen Street (as) there was no interest in the property,” she said. At the next council meeting, councillors voted to write-off the unpaid rates on the property and start the transfer of the land to the council. In June 2010, the more than $19,500 of debt on the property was cleared. However, the Emergency Services Levy charges were not altered for the property and an additional $508 was written off in November 2010. “Since that date no further action has been taken with the property and as (such) the ESL charge type has never been removed from the property,” Ms Gobbart said. It is estimated the official transfer of the land will cost the council $2500 once legal advice is included. There was minimal debate when the transfer was put to a vote at last month’s meeting, with the mover and seconder both noting the time it has taken for the matter to be resolved. “It does look like . . . this is something that should have happened historically some time ago,” Cr Kristy D’Aprile said.