THE Town of Victoria Park was quick to declare victory last week when the Department for Local Government announced on its website that the City of Belmont had lost its bid to incorporate the Belmont Park Racecourse within its district boundary. The neighbouring councils have waged a turf war over the valuable riverside land for the past nine months while awaiting a decision from the local government minister, which would see the winning council pick up around $5 million in rates revenue per year when the site is redeveloped for housing. But the champagne was put back on ice at Vic Park chambers when it was discovered someone at the department had mistakenly posted one of two alternate press releases before the minister had made her official announcement. So it’s a case of all bets are off.
