The Residents of Eagle Bay Association (REBA) used the event to celebrate saving a block of land for community use, worth an estimated $7-$8 million, that the Busselton shire had planned to sell.

A concerted effort by REBA, that had its genesis two decades earlier, to retain the freehold land for public use resulted in it being given to the Crown.

A poster-sized copy of the new title was displayed at Friday night’s party.

The incoming president of REBA, Lynn Wadley, welcomed the gathering to celebrate their success in preserving “this special and beautiful piece of land in perpetuity for the long-term benefit of the local and wider communities”. He also congratulated the council on its visionary decision to cede the land to the Crown.

The lot provides access to the beach at Eagle Bay, something that would have been lost if all the land had been sold.

“In 1979, as a condition of subdivision, the original owners of the land transferred Lot 48 (Fern Road) to the shire for the purpose of car parking and public amenity,” Mr Wadley said.

“Normally, land required for public purposes is ceded to the Crown and vested in the local authority. For some reason, which no-one can explain and which was most likely an administrative error, Lot 48 was transferred to the shire as freehold property.”

Mr Wadley said that there had been several moves from within the shire to sell some, or all, of the land.

“In early 2004 it was proposed that it be subdivided and sold with the proceeds to be used to pay for new shire offices and capital works,” he said.

Mr Wadley said REBA was established in 1990 and from the outset sought to have the land transferred to the Crown.

He said a concerted campaign by REBA had resulted in a report the council resolved should be prepared in early 2004 being received in December 2007.

Shire staff said there seemed to be no legal impediment to the council disposing of the lot. Development options indicated a potential return to the shire of $7-$8 million and it was recommended a business plan be prepared on development options for the lot.

However, the council, in a narrow decision, 7/5, voted against the recommendation, supporting a motion by Cr Anne Ryan to transfer the land to the Crown so it would be preserved for public amenity and car parking.