Response to questions regarding Caulfield Racecourse
1. Immediate public access to the middle of the racecourse
Members of the public currently have access to the middle of the racecourse everyday between 9.30am and sunset, other than on race days and when there are major events. The hours of access are readily available on signs located at various points around the racecourse perimeter.
2. Development as a public recreation ground and public park
Following discussions which I convened between Glen Eira City Council and the Melbourne Racing Club, agreement has been reached regarding development of new recreational facilities within the centre of the racecourse, as well as improved access and extended hours of access.
Plans for the works have been submitted to Council for a permit, and I look forward to the works being completed in early 2011.
3. Appropriate development of Caulfield Village
The Melbourne Racing Club is seeking the rezoning of land between the Racecourse and the Railway Line. This is a matter for Glen Eira City Council, and not the State Government. The Liberal candidate for Caulfield appears not to understand the planning laws, which provide that rezoning decisions are determined by local government.
4. Development as a major transport hub
Metro are investing in a new café at Caulfield station as part of their plan to turn stations into community hubs. Caulfield is very well served by public transport with the station located on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines and a number of trams and local bus routes.
5. Involvement of local and wider community together with stakeholders at each step of development
In relation to the proposed development known as Caulfield Village, members of the public have had the opportunity to have input into the planning scheme amendment process. In relation to use of the racecourse, Melbourne Racing Club recently held a public meeting regarding the plans for the new recreational facilities in the centre of the Racecourse. I .encourage both Council and the MRC to continue to keep residents and stakeholders involved in the planning for the precinct in the future.
Glen Eira Debates 
November 26, 2010 at 10:49 AM
This settles it. I’m voting green, green, green!
November 26, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Love conspiracy theories – they always have some crumbs of truth in them. This one involves the cloning of Newton aka Huppert. Both singing from the same song sheet written by the MRC!!
November 26, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Good on ye Jennifer and ALP for taking steps to improve Public use of the Racecourse. This is more than we had before. If only the Council would have been more resolute, represent and advocate on behalf of the community we would have been much further advanced. It is quite clear thatr the Liberal Council does not want to help Brumby Government because it is ALP. I just wonder what David Southwick will do once in Parliament. Is he going to advocate for the community he represents or follow the obstructionist ways of Glen Eira Council.
November 26, 2010 at 1:34 PM
Good on ya my foot! Huppert who is supposed to be an ‘expert’ on crown land was part of the labour deal that sold off the triangle for a fraction of its true value. The community gets nought out of all this. Only the MRC and their buddy developers.
November 26, 2010 at 7:45 PM
Pathetic response. Southwick to win in a landslide is my prediction. Labour has greatly underestimated the racecourse issue in my opinion.
November 28, 2010 at 5:02 PM
From PAEA 1987:
8 Minister is planning authority
(1) The Minister may prepare—
…
(b) amendments to any provision of a planning scheme.
Rezoning decisions require amendments to planning schemes. Further,
“a municipal council may only prepare an amendment to a planning
scheme if authorised to do so by the Minister”
While it might be quibbling, the Minister can make themselves the
responsible authority, prepare an amendment to a planning scheme
*and* assess a permit application that requires the amendment. I
should add that I think our now ex-Minister against Planning had
too much power, did not use it ethically, and has been a key figure
in the damage done to the reputation of the planning system.
November 29, 2010 at 6:26 AM
What an incredible result we got in Victoria. And the unnecessary spend and/or waste and/or lack of services clearly were the key factors in delivering the Government to Ted Bailliue Liberals.
But the most surprising outcome is the result in Bentleigh, where Rob Hudson was rolled. I reckon that the unnecessary and therefore quite wasteful spend on GESAC, which attracted lots of money from Labour Governments has became a negative for Rob Hudson.
I think there is a lesson in that for the Glen Eira Council. Do not ignore community views! They were clearly not acceptable by many! The full impact of this huge GESAC project is yet to be revealed. And we are still to see how the issue of Caulfield Racecourse Recreation Public Ground and Public Park issue is going to be resolved by the Ted Baillieu Government?
CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVID SOUTHWICK, ELIZABETH MILLER AND TED BAILLIEU FOR A STUNNING SUCCESS
November 29, 2010 at 11:54 PM
Jennifer Huppert, in her election eve reply, has deliberately misread the signs she speaks of as being displayed around the racecourse. Some signs do in fact say sunrise to sunset but in fact they also say they open at 9.30 and close between 2.00p.m. and 4.30p.m.Effectively in winter this means that some of the access is only for 5 and half hours a day in winter.
She did not try walking through the tunnels by herself did she? Was it welcoming and was the gate at the track end of the station tunnel locked when she almost reached her destination and be forced to retrace her steps in this dispicable means of entry to the park. Did she miss the signs which told hopeful park users that the station entry was locked for about thirty days for Caulfield Cup Carnival preparations. There were only three race days but the gae closed for about thirty days… can you explain Ms Huppert?
2 Ther has been no agreement whatsoever with MRC and GE City Council.
3 The new park as we see it is only a further MRC LAND GRAB for cement roads and car parking for the mMRC partons on up to 363 days a year. From the miniscule plans there appears to be a small car park for residents and a larger on for MRC patrons whether they be at a raceday or major event (up to 363 days a year) all around one of the lakes I guess it owould be a hundred or so cars. what abour a space efor ball. Other parts of the plan are for a concrete road for MRC service vehicles… why couldn’t some of the other hard surfaces be used Jennifer? Would this be for a helipad or something like that?
4 The application also included the idea of a horse warm up area surrounded by a 2.1 metre black chain mesh fence with added obsure material to be chosen after consultation with trainers so as horses will have their sights limited to the surrounds of the other lake until 9.30 every day!!! Now on the topic of fences Ms HUPPERT WHEN YOU ADD UP THE LENGTH OF ALL THE FENCES PLANNED THERIN (THE CENTRE OF THE RACECOURSE) THERE WILL BE NO REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS CAGED UP IN BOX FLATS TO BE FREE OF RESTRICTIVE VISION.
5We call on you to influence the MRC to re-instate the bitumen pathways which enabled residents to cross the said land day and night and to re-instate the simple street lights which showed the way along the path in the evening.
6 We call on all politicians to take steps to enable residents to be able to play ball in this 54 hectare area and for the construction of a gravel walking/bike track around the outside of the main track.
7 Ms Huppert use your influence, do not be put off by suggestions of frightening horses as the MRC sub-let the racecourse as a helipad earlier this month
for a helicopter passenger service which was in service for four days for about twelve hours on some of the days!! Yet another form of pandering to the rich and famous in our community.