A petition has been organised which is to go to the Legislative Assembly of Victoria. The objectives of the petition are:
- To suspend the decision on the C60 amendment
- To ensure that a proper Master Plan is developed for the entire Phoenix Precinct
- To ensure that a Committee of ALL STAKEHOLDERS (including community representatives) is created to oversee the Master Plan, and
- To ensure that the plan incorporates the social, environmental and economic mandates of the legislation
We have uploaded the petition and ask readers to:
- Download a copy, print it off and then ask their neighbours, friends, associates to sign
- Ensure that signatories understand what the current proposed C60 amendment (if accepted by Council) will mean to their lifestyle, and well being
- Once signed, we ask that all petitions be handed in to the organisers of the April 28th Community Forum. Full details are available from http://melbournecommunities.org.au/caulfieldheath.html
Glen Eira Debates 
April 19, 2011 at 3:54 PM
What a sad indictment this petition and the Supporters of Caulfield Reserve are on council. There is more information in the latter’s website than has ever been produced by Glen Eira Planning Department. That it gets to the stage where residents are so fed up with the lack of initiative and action shown by council, that they take things into their own hands is also a reflection of the failures of council. They have had their chances to assert control and authority over the MRC for years and years now. It hasn’t been done. I congratulate all those individuals involved in setting up the petition and the website. It looks like the old adage of god helps those who help themselves is the way that things must go in Glen Eira until the next election at least.
April 19, 2011 at 5:47 PM
Love it! Imagine the headlines with 20 or 30 thousand signatures handed in to parliament. Won’t Lipshutz look like the absolute **** that he is and Newton will be spitting chips!! Fanstastic stuff. Bypass council every single time. They are useless bastards anyway and a total waste of space.
April 19, 2011 at 6:05 PM
The tragedy of this whole nasty saga is that instead of working with residents this council has done everything it possibly can to alienate ratepayers. There is absolutely no reason on earth why the amendment should be considered on the 28th. Nor is there any justification for the failure to advertise this properly. What’s clear is that the community’s views are totally irrelevant to what the powers want. They have thus forfeited all rights to claim that they speak for residents, or that they represent them in any shape or form.
April 19, 2011 at 6:27 PM
A friend of a friend of a friend has just told me that Lipshutz is going on leave for a month or so. That’s one of the reasons behind the rush to get the C60 out of the way. Wouldn’t look too good if it came up whilst King Michael was o/s and they were a vote short! Pity that Newton can’t vote – that’s why he needs Lipshits.
Pilling is the 64000 question. How will he vote? Will he be bought off by promises from Newton and the gang, or will he stick to his election promises and green policy. I’m waiting with bated breath to see how all this manoeuvring, and behind the scenes power games play out. Oh, and the final coda to all of this is the future of Newton. He’ll be in a new cushy job with the MRC by year’s end no doubt. Good riddance I say!
April 19, 2011 at 6:58 PM
Fantastic news. Just when I was depressed thinking of 20 years + of inappropriate development and considering selling up and moving to another suburb(and Council), this gives me some hope…and explaining to every signatory the truth about this Council and Newton and his gang of four has made me all warm and fuzzy inside. Maybe the gang of four should consider getting out of Glen Eira before they are run out of town.
April 19, 2011 at 11:42 PM
I’d also like to add my compliments to the organisers of the petition and the forum. The speakers are really impressive and it should be a great night. These people are doing what should have been done ages ago under the auspices of council, such as getting expert opinions and really informing people about the issues. Another big black mark against the culture of Glen Eira Council and its autocratic and secret style of management.
April 19, 2011 at 10:53 PM
I’ve already got 13 signatures, and that’s without even trying. People are so pissed off with this council that they’re ready to form a lynchmob.
April 20, 2011 at 6:28 AM
Every signature on the petition is a vote of no confidence in, and condemnation of Glen Eira Council. It’s that clear.
April 20, 2011 at 7:57 AM
Hooray, thank you to whoever is organising this. I will certainly be out there getting signatures.
BUT I have one big concern “community representatives”: Arguably Council members are the community representatives, however, I think you mean non-council community reps. Perhaps the wording could be changed to ensure both Council and non-council representatives are be included.
April 20, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Ben, reckon it’s pretty clear. There’s reference to councillors from both stonnington and glen eira and then the phrase ‘community reps’ – so obviously not talking about councillors here.
April 20, 2011 at 4:45 PM
I’ve been a lurker for a few weeks now and this is my first comment – thus please be gentle fellow readers. My sister who lives in Eskdale Road alerted me to this website and I’m very glad she did. Whenever I visit her parking is a nightmare. On racing days its a double nightmare. I can only imagine what it will be like when there are another four to five thousand people living in this area. The most upsetting thing however is the impact this whole business is having on my sister. She is seriously thinking of moving from a house and a neighbourhood she loves and has spent half her life in. No council, and especially four people, should have the power to decide something as contentious as the C60. This is not democracy, and certainly not what she expected when she voted for the likes of Cr. Lipshutz. I also resent how she has been treated whenever she has rung council to obtain some information. Either the planning people are too busy to pick up the phone, or they are not in their office. I don’t believe this for one moment. At the very least, they could return phone calls.
I for one will gladly sign the petition. I would also urge that another petition be started that seeks the suspension of this council and the investigation of its executive.
April 21, 2011 at 8:24 AM
I agree Peter, Eskdale Road is a nightmare for parking. Council installs paid parking around Caulfield Station forcing all those who want free parking (in these economic times who can blame them) into residential streets. To get Council to respond residents requests for resistricted parking in these streets is an uphill battle that takes months.
Council proclaims it has duty to provide equitable “parking for all users, including residents, visitors, students, commuters and others”. What a crock of s**t. Council’s primary obligation is to residents and to provide a safe environment for others. Council has a responsibility to ensure that facilities that attract patrons provide adequate parking for those patrons and this Council has failed to do so time and time again.
C60 is but yet another example – the MRC now claims C60 includes 2000 off street on site parking. Based on info provided (space, usage workers and patronage) 2000 car spaces would have been inadequate before the increased building heights, now it is woefully inadequate. All onstreet parking (approx. 300 spaces) within C60 will be paid and timed. Paid parking will also be provided in multistorey carparks the MRC will build on Crown Land (another handout to the MRC), free parking will be provided by the residents. Great job Council
April 21, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Disgruntled, you forgot to add that the MRC will pay for the installation of 2P parking signs in surrounding streets. So residents will get both signs and cars.
It’s a testament to council’s negotiating skills – that from a clearly defined position of X parking spaces required for Y usage per m2, they are allowing inadequate C60 parking in exchange for restricted parking in minimal change residential zones and loss of residential amenity. What a sell off and another example of residents being forced to subsidise the MRC.
No wonder the MRC leapt at hte opportunity to pay for parking signs rather than provide the parking as prescribed by the statutes.
April 20, 2011 at 5:01 PM
I had a look at the Supporters of The Caulfield Reserve site. It quotes Phoenix the mythological story. That is not why Phoenix Precinct was named. With just a little enquiry the organisers and in particular ‘gleneira’ editors would know that the foundering Councillors of Glen Eira have chosen the name because of the Phoenix Plant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(plant)I think we should be forever grateful to our first Councillors: Alan Grosbard, Barry Neve, Norman Kennedy, Veronica Martens, Russel Longmuir, and Noel Erlich for this fortuitous choice.
Shame on you ‘gleneira’ that you have not picked this one up. You are just wallowing in negatives. You just can’t see anything positive in Glen Eira. No wonder you attract only people with complaints.
April 20, 2011 at 6:23 PM
My only gripe with Council is regarding planning and consultation. My bins are picked up on time, the streets are clean and generally the parks are maintained. I know a lot of people have had drainage issues but I have found it to be ok. But planning and consultation is pathetic and this needs to be improved dramatically and this will require a different administration to the current. the reason for picking the word Phoenix is non consequential, call it anything you like. And If this is Noel Erlich, focus on your toy shop. I have constantly tried to get bley blades for my grandsons but you are always out of stock.
April 21, 2011 at 4:52 PM
John C. Well you are locky to have your bins collected and street drained without a probem. Eskdale road cannot be cleaned properly as the street sweeper comes along when the street is completely parked out (all the time) as we are required to provide parking for everyone at all times at our expense and with a lot of juggling our bin is emptied if we put it on our driveways, yet another complication when we wish to come or go from our properties! You must remember how hard access really is with cars parked on both sides and vehicles speeding towards you and behind you(up your rear end sometimes) and then the bin is obstructing your progress. A delema you obviously do not experiance John C.
April 21, 2011 at 6:05 PM
I think we are both in agreement. I do not live in Eskdale road but you cannot blame the waste truck or street cleaner – they are trying their best. However, your problem is planning or the lack of it… and that is my issue.
April 21, 2011 at 11:24 PM
I hear Eskdale Rd residents who are lucky enough to have a 2hr Parking sign outside their home on the north side are now obliged to take further action and actually apply for a parking permit. Will the MRC be paying us for this inconvenience? If MRC is paying all the expenses why can’t council just deliver everyone on northside a letter telling them of the situation rather than come along and fine them?