October 7th, 2025Rea-Lands motion lost
An attempt to try to stop Hepburn Shire Council from selling the bequeathed Rea-Lands Park in Daylesford, or changing its use, was lost at last month’s council meeting.
On July 29 this year the council moved to request CEO Bradley Thomas to prepare a briefing report for councillors with the history of the Raglan Street park, and whether the site could be considered for sale or other use by the council.
Cr Hood’s notice of motion last month asked the council to acknowledge that the land was “generously bequeathed in 1982 to the citizens of Daylesford for their use and benefit by a former shire councillor and shire president, Betty Rea”.
He also asked officers to include in their report additional information that would: investigate how the land could be held in perpetuity as a council asset on behalf of the community for their use and benefit; consider how the land could remain to be known as ‘Rea-Lands Public Park’ in perpetuity; and provide information on re-zoning the land as a Public Park and Recreation Reserve.
The motion was moved by Cr Brian Hood and seconded by Cr Tim Drylie with support from Cr Lesley Hewitt – who originally raised the July motion. Those against the motion were Cr Shirley Cornish, Cr Don Henderson and Cr Pat Hockey. Cr Tony Clark abstained which is counted as a “no” vote. The motion was therefore lost.
Betty’s son Stefan, a former police officer at Daylesford, told The Local in August that he clearly remembered his mother expressing her desire that the land be made available as a park for the citizens of Daylesford and for visitors to the area for future generations,
Stefan said his mother would definitely not have been in favour of selling the land to fund other projects. “She wanted it to remain as a parkland. Obviously, it’s been developed by the Daylesford Community Food Gardeners. They’ve done a superb job with where they’ve got it to today with further tree plantings and other facilities that are there.
“I think she would have been very proud and impressed when they took over the role. She would have been more than satisfied that it was being used for a community park and community purpose here.
“The suggestion for it to be sold off and the funds used by council for any other event, she would have been totally against, as I am and I’m sure quite a lot of other locals are as well.”
Words: Donna Kelly
