A local council in suburban Melbourne has accused the Federal Government of not discussing plans for a new immigration detention centre with residents.
The Department of Immigration says no decision has been taken on developing land in Broadmeadows, purchased from the Department of Defence last year.
But the Hume City Council's executive director, Frank Dixon, says there has been no indication that plans for a new detention centre have been rejected.
Mr Dixon says the council and residents will protest against any new centre until a final decision is made on the site's future use.
"It's been set aside for the purposes of developing an immigration detention centre. It's a preferred next site, as far as advice that we've received from the department.
He says: "If a definite decision hasn't been made yet, then that's pleasing. But we want to make sure that, when the decision is made, it will be that the Government will not be proceeding with the construction of it."