Council already maintains the oval and clubrooms at the site.

But under laws covering the sale of crown land, the industrial portion has to be sold at market value.

When council first investigated buying the land in 2012 the state government valued it at $300,000.

Since then the state government laws have changed, allowing for the sale of crown land at a lower value then the full market price if the buyer is a community organisation such as council.

This lower price is still being investigated by council.

Council chief executive Andrew Evans said the purchase would allow council to increase the availability of industrial land, given the proximity it has to the Gordon Street industrial area and businesses such as AME Systems.

“One of the issues council must consider is this would be very useful for further extension of the industrial area.”

Mr Evans said council deserved the oval for $1 after allocating $15,000 to maintaining it for a basic standard, however he said the industrial land would have to be paid for.

He also said current user groups would be upset if the oval was sold to someone other than council.

“Two individual games a week for the entire cricket season are played there,” he said.

“So you can imagine their reaction if the government sold it off and someone built on top of it.”

The issue was discussed at council’s June meeting with some councillors questioning the move to purchase the land.

Cr Gwenda Allgood said there was already land available elsewhere.

“I am very conscious of the land we have at the aerodrome,” she said.

She also said she questioned how many of the user groups listed in council’s report on the proposed purchase actually used the oval regularly.

“It is a wonderful oval but a lot of those listed clubs are not using,” she said.

“I think given the way the Ararat Technical School closed and the way they treated us, it would be nice if they give it to us for $1.

“I am very conscious of what they did to us when the closed that school down.”

Current users of the oval listed in council’s report included the St Andrews and Chalambar cricket clubs, hockey,, school athletics and the Ararat Football Club when Alexandra Oval is washed out.

The report also listed a number of groups that could use the oval should council purchase it.

This includes the Ararat Little Athletics Club, Marcus Cooper running stable Grampians Giants and Ararat Storm Football Clubs.

Council, along with state and federal government departments, has until July 16 to submit an expression of interest to purchase the property,

It will be offered to the public for sale if no buyer is found. Council voted unanimously to investigate what the land would cost.