Council can move at supersonic speed, but only when it wants to!
The planning application for the centre of the racecourse was advertised in the Leader with the closing date for objections listed as the 8th August. We’ve now learnt that the planning conference for this application will be held on the 15 August – that is, one week later! Given that it usually would take at least 24 hours for objectors to be notified by mail, we assume that most people wouldn’t receive their letters until the Wednesday – at the earliest! We simply ask – what’s the rush? Why is there such a short time frame between the close of objections and the actual planning conference? Even more suspicious is the fact that the VEAC report is scheduled to be made public on the 8th August.
We’ve commented before on the inverse correlation that is a clear trend in the way that this council approaches notification to residents regarding planning issues. Far too often we find:
- Poor and negligible publicity and/or advertising
- Missing files
- Not all objectors officially notified
The list goes on and on. We simply assume that this is just part of the overall agenda – anything to do with the racecourse is rushed through, kept as quiet as possible, and signed off on with very little debate, argument, and/or consultation. If the MRC can remove their application at a moment’s notice (ie the April 4th meeting), then Council can surely timetable a planning conference that gives residents time to organise their lives, read the VEAC report, and submit carefully crafted objections.
Glen Eira Debates 
August 3, 2011 at 3:52 PM
Check if Lipshutz is planning another trip O/S and he wants to tie things up before he heads off cos that’s what probably happened last time with C60.
August 3, 2011 at 4:28 PM
“submit carefully crafted objections” – GlenEira give yourself a smack on the head …. what were you thinking!!!
Of course Council doesn’t want objections, Council would prefer not to deal with ratepayers at all. As proof of this, harken back to the Community Consultation Plan. Council thanked the respondents for their time then gave the old “don’t call us, we’ll call you” line before consigning the plan to back of the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet in the unlit dank basement.
August 3, 2011 at 5:06 PM
I have been into the basement and it had lights, lots of them, but the people down there were really strange.
August 3, 2011 at 5:20 PM
What time is the planning conference set down for and where? I want to come along.
August 3, 2011 at 5:31 PM
Much of this is very unclear and as with the C60 the processes worry me. To begin with I’m not sure who is going to handle this application. Originally it was set down for the Racecourse Special Committee – that’s the gang of four (Pilling, Hyams, Esakoff, Lipshutz). The MRC withdrew their application, then the much vaunted “agreement” went before a full council. Now there’s the situation of Forge, Tang and Magee being trustees. The complexities multiply. I’m wondering whether Magee and the rest will declare a conflict of interest or only Tang and whether the final decision will be left to the gang of four or will it come to a full council meeting as it should. My reckoning and reasoning is that even if the trustees declare a conflict of interest there is still a quorum and it should be a council decision and not left in the hands of 4 people who in the past have failed to represent residents. It’ll also reveal where Lobo stands since he’s been the silent man for a long time now.
August 4, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Lobo thinks he is playing it smart. Say nothing and you can’t get into trouble. He thinks he will be re-elected and nonone will notice. He has no chance. The sad part is that he thinks he is there because he won his place. This bloke should at least say something, he says nothing.
August 4, 2011 at 1:54 AM
Be sure to send your objections off really soon and obtain receipt of same.
The Planning conference is set down to occur on Monday 15 August at 6.30pm “Entry is via the main entrance from the car park in Glen Eira Road” Hopefully it’s not like last time when the meeting was moved from the Theatrette and the door locked to an almost secret location upstairs without any signage to inform everyone of the move.
August 5, 2011 at 5:35 AM
No wonder Councillor Lobbo says nothing! I am amazed at the huge effort our Camden councillor Frank Penhuilarack contributes at council with the mayor and many other councillors always butting in, displaying their refusal to acknowledge the right of others to express contrary views and the fact that he has an obligation on our behalf to present our views not the ideas which they think he should present.
And as for the Mayor who sits at the meetings allowing such unruly behaviour towards our representative, speaks to motions when in the chair and in the end has the extra casting vote as well! It is a shattering experience to actually experience how the council meetings are being allowed to degenerate these days.
By the way ther is a meeting on Tueday 8 come and see for yourselves.
August 5, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Please Please Please come back Frank and never take a leave of absence again – Glen Eira Council desparately needs more people of your high standing.