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Holden ‘not aware’ of interest in test track as a future quarry asset

 

The sale of Holden’s Lang Lang Proving Ground in Victoria is fuelling community speculation that it will be turned into a quarry – a claim which Holden denies.

The Lang Lang Proving Ground, in Melbourne’s southeast, has been listed for sale by real estate company CBRE.

The CBRE advertisement states the site will be vacant in the July to September quarter, with industry insiders estimating the value of the site to be around $15 million to $20 million, according to caradvice.

Recent reports from The Age and the Pakenham Gazette have highlighted community concerns over the historic site being turned into a sands quarry, due to the area being flagged as an “extractive industry interest area” by the Victorian Government.

The 877ha facility was put on the chopping board earlier this year after US car giant and Holden parent company General Motors announced the Australian car brand would be retired at the end of 2020.

“Holden has no comment on the sale of the Lang Lang Proving Ground or any of the speculation that has been associated with it,” a Holden spokesperson told Quarry.

Holden did however confirm that potential buyers have shown recent interest.

Quarry can reveal part of an email that Holden’s government relations director sent to a local councillor, which said it is not aware of parties that are intending to use Lang Lang Proving Ground for quarrying.

“Whilst the sale is a competitive and confidential process, as you could imagine, various parties have shown an interest in the facility for the continued use of its tracks and associated buildings,” the email reads.

“Holden is not aware that any interested parties might want to utilise the site for quarrying. We presume that any development of the site, if it were to be considered by a new owner, would be subject to a rigorous environmental and planning approval process by State Government and local Council.

“Holden is very proud of the way it has conserved and maintained this tract of bushland at Lang Lang since acquiring the site in the 1950s. Much of the bush has regenerated from what was previously farmland before Holden built the Proving Ground.”

General Motors has owned the Lang Lang Proving Ground since 1957.

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