'Holy Mile' leases safe

Locke Estate lease holders will seal the next 21 years at their Caves Road sites with business plans to be submitted to Busselton Shire Council next month.

Of the 15 religious, charity and community groups on the “holy mile”, 14 have expressed an interest in renewing their sites and are expected to submit a business plan outlining their environmental and economic plans for their 21-year lease renewal by the end of January.

Council Locke Estate project manager Anne Grove said while all the sites had been formally offered the lease extension, they were required to submit the plan to check their plans were consistent with council’s.

Council CEO Mike Archer told the Times the remaining site would also be advertised for expressions of interest from other groups early next year.

The site was left vacant by the Apostolic Church which did not express an interest in a 21-year lease renewal of its site, Camp Grace, by the council’s deadline in February.

“To date Council does not have any plans for the Camp Grace site other than advertising the site, along with any other sites that may become available, for expressions of interest,” Mr Archer said.

The CEO said staff had not received any expressions of interest from other groups keen to take over the site but did not expect any formal expressions yet as the business plans were still pending.

He said the leases for the 15 sites would expire in November or December next year.

Last year councillors resolved to open up the sites vacated by next year to other interested not-for-profit groups.

Ms Grove said a consultant was also developing a strategic fire management plan for the sites, which would be submitted to council to be considered for adoption.