From Officer’s Report for tonight’s Special Council Meeting –
Public open space
We increased public open space by purchasing two properties for $1.92 million to enlarge Packer Park, Carnegie. We also decided to return the former Packer Park bowls green to public open space and consulted the community on the landscaping to be provided. We reached agreement with the Melbourne Racing Club for greater public use of the centre of Caulfield Racecourse, including a playground and picnic area, dog off-leash area and junior soccer pitch.
Responsiveness
We achieved an approval rate of 86 per cent in the independent survey of community satisfaction, including first in the state for interaction and responsiveness in dealing with the public. We conducted a public review of the Planning Scheme and are implementing improvements including the transition between housing diversity areas and minimal change areas.
Our staff members
We continued to invest in development, leadership and wellbeing programs for our staff members. Fifty staff members were recognised for their performance against our values — Teamwork, Initiative, Leadership, Customer Service and Respect. Staff turnover remained low at 8.87 per cent.
Glen Eira Debates 
October 25, 2011 at 12:25 PM
interesting comment on getting better public access to Caulfield Racecourse. Isnt it all really around providing more car parking for MRC because they are losing car parking to there own development. Was there really a huge demand from the community for a place for people to fly their model aeroplanes? Or is there only 1 or 2 people who need this space while the rest of us listen to the noise?
October 25, 2011 at 3:03 PM
“reached agreement with the MRC for greater public use of the centre of the racecourse” should read “we approved building a fence across the centre of the racecourse because the MRC may want to further restrict public use in the future”.
October 25, 2011 at 1:06 PM
I certainly wouldn’t call losing nearly 9% of your staff in one year as “low” turnover. They seem to be leaving in droves and the question is why? The inflated claims of “responsiveness” are taken from what the report actually labels as “customer contact”. That basically means answering the phones very quickly. The other distortions relate to Packer Park. Newton and co were ready and willing to sell off this land for units. Only the huge outcry by residents and councillors finally realising that they’d better listen for once stopped the sale. I won’t say anything about the racecourse. Everyone knows what a sell out this really was. Can’t wait to see all the other little white lies and distortions that will be in the annual report. They should get another award for this. It should be called the Spin Award for Hoodwinking the Public!
October 25, 2011 at 3:56 PM
Responsiveness what a joke. On consultation, planning, the figures were one of the lowest in the state. How about some honesty for a change and less of the bullshit.
October 25, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Please, please, please don’t let this annual report be like last years where people with 20/20 vision still had to get out a magnifying glass to read it. Nor should it weigh a ton, nor cost the earth to produce.
October 25, 2011 at 4:21 PM
Congratulations to David Southwick in announcing in The Caulfield Leader that a fun run will be organized at the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve early next year. Im looking forward to many more community events which brings the Reserve to the attention of the community who are mostly unaware that the Racecourse Reserve exists. This is due to fencing which hides the Reserve to the passing public. The Reserve could be used much as Albert Park Lake is currently used i.e. Million Paws dog walks,Charity walks and runs etc…. Well done MP Southwick and please help us open up this wonderful asset for many uses.
Send all your ideas to contacts below:
nadine.baines@parliament.vic.gov.au david.southwick@parliament.vic.gov.au
Roslyn Gold
Glen Eira Resident
October 25, 2011 at 6:09 PM
Your praise of Southwick is somewhat off beam I suggest, especially when you consider his pre-election promises and the 180 degree backflip on the announcement of the C60 and now the centre of the racecourse. Yes, by all means, let’s have more non commercial activities in the centre that the community can enjoy. But let’s also remember that with this new “agreement” that public open space is in fact reduced. Perhaps you might consider asking him what he intends to do about removing training, fences, the lack of monetary contribution to the municipality by the MRC and trustees? It would be good to hear his responses on such questions. We just need to remember that as a politician it should be the case of “watch this space” because what was said yesterday will be entirely different today. A bit like Glen Eira council I think.
October 25, 2011 at 9:35 PM
“Authorised by David Southwick.”
Isn’t that what you are supposed to put on political advertising Roslyn?
October 27, 2011 at 12:27 PM
As a resident of Glen Eira I felt that publicizing the announcement of a FUN RUN inside the Racecourse Reserve was a good start in bringing the Racecourse to the public’s attention and making sure that David Southwick MP is accountable for his promise of organizing this Fun Run. I reinterate that The Reserve should be used much as Albert Park Lake is currently used i.e. Million Paws dog walks,Charity walks etc.. and my aim is to bring this good start to all your attention and not “bag” a good idea
Send all your ideas to contacts below:
nadine.baines@parliament.vic.gov.au david.southwick@parliament.vic.gov.au
October 25, 2011 at 11:20 PM
8 months since c60 approval and nothing appears to have happened regarding fencing and the centre of the racecourse. Looks like once again the MRC have lied and Council does nothing on an undertaking that said that the works would be finished in 12 months…will the works be finished before the next Council election? Pilling, Lipshutz, Hyams and Esakoff would want to hope so.
October 27, 2011 at 12:29 PM
The C60 is not about the centre of the racecourse the c60 is the commercial development outside the raceourse
October 26, 2011 at 12:17 AM
How on earth did the playing area at the race course become a junior soccer field?
This area was show to the public as a all purpose playing area or something worded similar to that.
Are we seeing a sneaky perversion happening here.
The next question is, who is going to manage this ground and be responsible for who gets the use of this area?
I can sense a take-over of this space in the air as we speak.
October 26, 2011 at 12:27 AM
There is probably worse to come with the Booran Rd site. Readers should note that $60,000 is put aside for ‘consultation’ and Master Plan. A soccer pitch has also been mooted for this area even though when the possibility of gaining this site first came up residents were vehemently opposed to such a use. We will just have to wait and see how extensive this consultation will be, or whether it follows typical Glen Eira practise in providing predetermined options and then rubber stamping the predetermined decision? It’s worthy of mention that Council does not own the land – the government in their wisdom only granted council managerial control, not ownership!