Councillors on Tuesday approved the start of a complex rezoning and acquisition process for the J.H. Vagg Memorial Park. Fonterra has expressed an interest in taking over the land, but has yet to outline its plans.

In approving the move, councillors added the conditions that money raised go back into the local community and that plaques honouring James Henry Vagg, one of Cobden’s earliest settlers, be preserved on the site.

Three Cobden community members spoke before the meeting, including Maureen Simper, who launched a petition calling for money from the potential sale to stay in Cobden. It received more than 220 signatures.

“The shire didn’t give anyone much time to organise anything, there seemed to be that it was all cut and dry prior to the ad in the paper,” she said.

Fellow resident Mick Barling said the park provided an important buffer between the factory and the Cobden township.

“Fonterra should be happy to have a park beside them that separates the surrounding homes from their factory,” he said. “If it’s not going to affect people’s jobs, leave the park as it is.”

Progressing Cobden’s Frank Martin said the community had concerns over what the land could be used for.

“Council may know what Fonterra’s plans are, but... the community doesn’t. If the acquisition went ahead I think there would be real concerns about the intended use of the land. Any industrial intrusion into what is now an effective buffer zone would be a bad thing,” he said.

“Fonterra is a great industry to have in Cobden and we as a community need to be supportive of them… But equally, Fonterra needs to recognise its obligation, its duty to work with the community to foster a strong bond with the community, and personally I don’t think there’s a strong bond between Fonterra and the community.”

Councillor Ruth Gstrein said a common theme in the submissions received on the plan was that ties to the Vagg family should be preserved and any money raised should stay in the community.

Fonterra has said the land would be bought for future expansion of its site, but that it did not have a specific use in mind yet. It said the land would not be used as a car park.

Last month, a spokesperson said if the purchase went ahead it would work with the Vagg family and Cobden community “to ensure the memory of J.H. Vagg is respected and preserved”.

The council also ruled that it would hold off on a plan to sell Cobden’s community street stall for 12 months. The building, part of the Curdie Street arcade, was earmarked for sale as it was not well-used.

In calling for council to hold off, Progressing Cobden’s Frank Martin said the potential sale had provided the impetus needed for the community to work on how it could better use the stall.