BY REBECCA THISTLETON
Residents fear village will cut public space
CAULFIELD residents fear a $1 billion development at Caulfield Racecourse will reduce open space. Community group, Supporters of Caulfield Reserve, claim the public has been ‘‘locked out’’ of the decision to build the Caulfield Village.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy signed off on the project last week. Melbourne Racing Club will build the village on a five-hectare site currently used as a car park off Normanby Road, near Caulfield station. The development will include a 20-storey building with office space, 70 homes along Heywood Street and up to 200 retirement dwellings. A planned public park on the racecourse will include a children’s play area, shade areas and toilets, as well as a boardwalk around the lake with fishing areas.
The project will take seven to 10 years to complete and Mr Guy said it will generate 4800 jobs during construction and 1100 jobs when completed.
Supporters of Caulfield Reserve spokeswoman Roslyn Gold said she kept a close watch on the proposal because public space was under threat. Ms Gold said plans presented to the public seemed to be a ‘‘done deal’’ between the club and council.
Caulfield MLA David Southwick said he knew open space was a concern to residents but that the proposed development would make better use of land and park space.
Melbourne Racing Club development and strategic planning manager Brian Discombe rejected Ms Gold’s concerns. ‘‘The process to date has been vigorous, open and transparent and the club is committed to keeping the community informed,’’ he said.
Glen Eira Council community relations director Paul Burke said councillors made decisions in open meetings of council or the Caulfield Racecourse Precinct Special Committee. ‘‘Any substantive decision that the council may make as a result of any meeting is only taken in the council chamber,’’ he said.
Glen Eira Debates 
July 4, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Cracks are showing. Only “substantive” decisions are made out in the open and in council meetings.In other words all the preliminaries are organised earlier behind closed doors. This is the first time that we get any qualification to the decision making processes. As far as I’m concerned it’s a huge admission of this council’s failure and years and years of cover up.
July 4, 2011 at 3:46 PM
There should be laws against people making untrue statements that are then published. Discombe’s words are so untrue that it’s mind boggling whilst Soutwick somersualts aren’t much better. Burke is just burke.
July 4, 2011 at 9:59 PM
It obvious that we are losing open space, every-time a house is removed and numerous dwelling replace it we lose open space. Every-time infrastructural is placed in our parks we lose open space. Every-time a car park takes over green areas we lose open space. How many times have you this happen.
And how many times have you seen new open been presented to the residents.
A few scraps here and there, if we are lucky.
You want a recipe for trouble here it is …… rising population with ever decreasing space for home facilities and recreation. With rival groups battling it out for what’s left. This is what Newton and Burke are handing to us all.
July 4, 2011 at 11:34 PM
I hope you are all aware why Queen Victoria gave in late 1850s, about 150hectares to the residents of the areas caalled Stonnington and Glen Eira today….. it was because in her country Mother England she found that when people arrived in inner London the lives of the rich were being spoiled by overcrowding. When in London we see parks Hyde park and Gloucester Square for example which remain the same size as at the time of the grant unlike our CAULFIELD RACECOURSE RESERVE which at the moment is on offer to us. This is a joke as the are being offered is only 15% of the total area.
This fact along with the new occupants of C60, who will only be able to stand on the footpath if they would like fresh air or sunshine is unbelievable.
July 5, 2011 at 10:35 PM
Its hardly a fear, its a *fact* that open space is shrinking. The original Crown Allotment (which Caulfield Racecourse And Public Reserve is a part of) is much smaller than its original size. Via the Land (Revocation of Reservations and other Matters) Act 2009 another chunk was sliced off to help the MRC make oodles of money for themselves. The so-called Agreement with the MRC maintains the MRC’s absolute right to remove public access if it interferes with horse training. It has already ursurped a significant chunk of the Public Reserve for other purposes, with the encouragement of the Government. And all of this is at a time when interest in horseracing is declining. As the MRC said, it “needs” to find other revenue streams, and it should be very grateful it has rich and powerful friends at Spring Street.