CARDINIA councillors praised the negotiating skills of CEO Garry McQuillan in helping to buy a parcel of land at Beaconsfield that will become a future sporting hub.

Council announced last week it had bought 12 hectares of land at the corner of Holm Park Road and Beaconsfield-Emerald Road.

Councillor Bill Ronald said the $2.6 million purchase ended long negotiations.

“It’s fallen over a few times and got back up again and it’s been resolved largely due to the extraordinary negotiating skills of Garry McQuillan,” Cr Ronald said.