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A Winnipeg city councillor's motion to sell land that was once eyed for a water park at The Forks was shot down by his fellow councillors this afternoon.

St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel wanted to sell the land, known officially as Parcel 4, to the Forks North Portage Partnership for $6 million.

That's $500,000 more than what a hotel chain was going to pay for the land, at the corner of William Stephenson Way and Waterfront Drive, in order to build a water park.

But councillors were caught off guard by Swandel's motion, which was walked onto the council floor at Wednesday's council meeting.

One by one, councillors rejected the idea of a single-source sale of the land without any public consultation. In the end, it was voted down 13-1.

The water park proposal, which would have included a hotel complex, was pulled by the developers after many councillors spoke out against it and it looked to be headed for defeat.

Swandel said he has been looking at the idea more closely since he left the executive policy committee, also known as the mayor's cabinet, earlier this month.

"It's something that has come up in conversation. It's something I looked at doing before," he told reporters Wednesday.

"Never had the time to really look at the detail of it. And now that I've got a bit of time on my hands, I'm able to look at the detail."

Councillors, Forks CEO surprised

Prior to Wednesday afternoon's vote, Swandel was grilled by some councillors who had concerns about his proposal.

Charleswood-Tuxedo Coun. Paula Havixbeck said the public should be consulted on whether to sell Parcel 4, while North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty called the whole idea "downright dangerous."

Swandel accused the councillors of showing a lack of "political courage."

River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow, who seconded Swandel's motion, said the intent is to start talking about the idea, not to vote on a sale immediately.

Meanwhile, Forks North Portage chief executive officer Jim August said he was also surprised by Swandel's motion.

It would too early to say whether The Forks would buy the land, August said earlier on Wednesday, noting that they had spoken about wanting to build more parking structures, and possibly some residential units.