View the Proposed Council-owned Land for Sale - 17 November Council Meeting agenda item.
For immediate release – Friday 13 November 2026
East Gippsland Shire Council will consider offering eight properties for sale at the November Council Meeting.
General Manager Assets and Environment Stuart McConnell said the proposal aligns with Council’s commitment to managing community assets responsibly and ensuring public resources are used efficiently.
“Council has a responsibility to regularly review its property portfolio and ensure that land holdings continue to meet community and organisational needs," Mr McConnell said.
Where land is identified as being no longer required for Council purposes, it is appropriate to consider whether it can be returned to productive use while generating funds that can be reinvested into community services, infrastructure and priority projects.
Should Council give notice of its intention to sell surplus properties, the community will have the opportunity to provide feedback as part of a community engagement process. After that engagement process, a decision to proceed with any sale will be made by Council.
The properties are:
• 9 Gays Access Road, Club Terrace
• 3 Princes Highway, Cann River
• 6 and 8 Staunton Street, Lakes Entrance
• 1 Tyson Street, Cann River
• 1A Bredt Street, Bairnsdale (excludes walking track)
• 321A Depot Road, Omeo
• 217 Bonang Road, Bonang
• 145 Bung Bung Lane, Benambra
In considering these properties, Council officers reviewed their location and zoning, topography and the future needs of the community and Council. The properties identified are stand-alone allotments with residential, township, commercial or farm zoning.
The properties have been deemed potentially developable, suitable for grazing or cropping purposes or able to be consolidated with adjoining landowners. They are not required for Council purposes now or into the foreseeable future.
Council will also consider how proceeds of proposed sales are used. This includes the 1 Tyson Street property in Cann River – the former Cann River Kindergarten – and how those funds are held to reinvest in the Cann River community. A revised Sale of Land Policy will also be considered by Council soon to give clear direction around how the proceeds of the sale of some land parcels are reinvested.
"As part of prudent financial management, the proposed sales will enable Council to realise the value of underutilised assets while reducing ongoing ownership and maintenance costs," Mr McConnell said.
Depending on the circumstances of each parcel of land, land may be offered through a public tender process or through direct negotiations with adjoining landowners where this represents the most practical and beneficial outcome.
Mr McConnell said the proposed land sales align with Council's development of a Financial Sustainability Strategy to address forecast pressures on its finances and guide decisions over the coming decade. This includes the need to actively manage Council’s asset portfolio, optimise asset performance, and explore opportunities to strengthen Council’s long-term financial position.
Funds generated through the sale of surplus land can assist Council in reducing costs associated with holding underutilised assets and help support the delivery of essential services and infrastructure for the community.
Financial sustainability is an ongoing pressure not just for East Gippsland Shire Council but for councils across Victoria and Australia. The financial sustainability strategy is an important part of how Council responds to that challenge.
Related media releases:
Council sets focus on financial sustainability