We’ve copied the latest post, plus a comment, from Cr Pilling’s blog and congratulate him on the initiative shown in this alternative motion.
“As reported widely and here in previous postings there has been an ongoing issue throughout the past six months of resolving the weekend allocation usage at our great new indoor court facilities at the soon to be opened Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre(GESAC) in Bentleigh.
This wonderful new $45m community facility,the largest ever built in the municipality, was primarily funded by local ratepayers with significant contributions from both the Federal and State govts. The original expression of interest offer to the Oakleigh Warriors effectively meant that in excess of 1400 local players in the Mckinnon Basketball Assoc would not be playing this season at GESAC- this situation I have consistantly stated is unacceptable.
This Tuesday night under item 12.8 GESAC MULTI-USE COURTS of the Council meeting agenda I will be supporting the following proposed alternative motion.
1.That council notes the report
2.That council sets the seasonal hire rate for basketball at GESAC at $40.00 per court per hour.
3.That council awards the Friday tenancy (6pm to 11pm) and Sunday (9am to 11pm) to The Oakleigh Garden State Warriors Basketball Association.
4.That council awards the Saturday (8am to 11pm) tenancy to the McKinnon Basketball Association.
5.That all court fees are payable regardless of court use. 6.That council requires a bond of $10,000.00 per court payable on signing of the lease agreement. 7.That if either association is unable to fill its allocated times, it must first offer that time to the other before it can be offered to any other association, body or individual. 8.That this resolution be incorporated in the public minutes of this meeting. (if in camera)
Will also support a division (a recording of how Councillors vote) on this item and the tabling of this item in the public (non-confidential) section of the meeting.
This is an equitable,reasonable and balanced proposal that caters for both associations and allows for all local kids, families and clubs to use our great new facilities at GESAC. It sensibly balances financial and community responsibilties. I will be encouraging all Councillors to support this motion”.
Reader’s comment: “Some questions – why should the Warriors get 19 hours of court time and the McKinnon basketballers only 15 hours – and this all on the same day? Why should this be held in camera? If Newton suggests this, then councillors should overturn the decision with a council resolution. Simple if councillors can get together 5 votes.”
Glen Eira Debates 
December 11, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Roll up, roll up, one and all for the greatest moral challenge of our time. Come and see if loyalty stands firm or if political expediency and survival wins out. Yes, it’s decision time for the Lipshutz and Hyams double act. Do they continue to back the incompetence of Newton and Burke, or do they see the writing on the wall that voting against the Pilling motion won’t garner them any votes at the next electiion. Should be fascinating to see them squirm out of previous statements such as policy and strategic resource plans are the be all and end all.
A bleeding shame that it’s taken 6 months and thousands and thousands and thousands of bucks to get to this point. A greater bleeding shame that residents have to start revolting before councillors use their brains and do what they were elected to do in the first place.
December 11, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Councillor Pilling’s motion is certainly welcome if somewhat belated. Newton’s intent is to keep the Officer’s report ‘secret’ since Item 12.8 is listed for in camera discussion. This must not be allowed to occur. Council owes it to all residents that this discussion and the administration’s point of view is out in the open and that full debate occurs in the council chamber. Only then would we have full acountability.There has been far too much secrecy and behind the scenes manoevrings already. It’s time that this stopped and residents are in possession of all the facts.
Since Pilling has stated that this is an alternative motion, it is not too difficult to guess that Newton and Burke’s view will be that the contract goes to the Warriors. It’s thus even more important that the public is in possession of this report so they can judge the merit of both sides of the argument as well as to apportion the necessary blame for the sheer farce that this has become – not to mention the needless waste of public money as many others have already commented upon.
December 11, 2011 at 1:13 PM
From the MBC Executive –
“We (the MBA Executive) believe that this represents a very fair compromise and we applaud Councillor Pilling for taking a pragmatic approach to this issue. We think the proposed commercial terms are fair and reasonable and have no difficulty with what is proposed.
Given that the Council meeting is this Tuesday, we encourage all our members to write to their Councillors as soon as possible expressing support for this motion and the common sense approach it takes. Given that the proposed motion has been made public, we believe the discussion of the motion during the Council meeting should also be in public and would further encourage you to seek your Councillors’ support NOT to debate this motion “in secret”.
MBA Executive
source: http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-4059-0-0-0&sID=214068
December 12, 2011 at 1:14 PM
Nothing ‘wonderful’ about this dreadful waste of rate payers money.
Pilling has been a huge disappointment. Not only in supporting this white elephant at huge cost to the rate payers and at the cost of other more beneficial projects but as an blatant anti green measure.
He’s achieved a few minor things such as reducing waste but has become little more than a follower. He needs to have a good hard look at Colleen Hartland and how she has stuck to green values throughout her council and parliamentary career.
What’s happened to the openness and transparency and taking on the administration as promised?
GESAC is no only a costly blot on the environment it is going to be weight in the rate payers saddle for years. Just so a few councillor and a CEO can lay claim to a legacy. Some legacy!