We’ve received several emails as a result of the Elster Creek posting and photos. It seems that in recent times residents all along the trail have received notices from Council informing them that land within the trail is/was going to be ‘vested’ in Council. In other words it was probably private property, or under the control of the old MMBW and would now be turned over to Council.

Several properties along the trail have over the years moved their fence line out further into the trail given that the land was within their title. Council has known about this for more than a decade – ie that residents are claiming their property rights!  There are new developments backing onto the trail at present. We’ve received a photo where one of these properties had a stake driven into the ground outside the current existing fence line. We therefore surmise that given the history of this strip of land, more land will soon be disappearing behind private fences.

This then leads on to crucial questions:

• How far into the trail will these new fence lines encroach?
• Will the new, brand spanking concrete pathway be impacted?
• If it will, then why didn’t council investigate this possibility before expending hundreds of thousands of dollars on the yellow brick road – especially when this type of activity has occurred several times already in the past?
• Have any ‘secret’ deals been conducted with adjoining property owners? Has any money been handed over in order to safeguard the Trail pathway and to cover up any shortcomings?

We are of course only surmising that this is likely to occur. But what is absolutely clear is that once again this administration hasn’t done its homework. For all we know, residents could have the legal right to move their fences smack into the middle of this glorified and expensive path. The shambles and incompetence seems to continue unabated.

This is a sad tale of waste, lack of engineering know how, and inadequate planning. Several years ago, council decided to apply for a Commonwealth grant to ‘redevelop’ the Elster Creek Trail. A bitumen path was already in existence. We estimate that for the cost of $30 – $40,000 this existing pathway could have been widened in several places and several rough edges smoothed out. Instead, in its wisdom, council put up $180,000 (Correction: – $140,000) of its own money and received the equivalent amount from the Commonwealth.

Since then, we assume that many more funds have been expended on this venture – and this year’s budget includes another $100,000 for the Trail. What we don’t know however is how much the following extravaganzas have cost –

• Security guards stationed at night to protect the concrete.
• Rubber matting replaced with new rubber matting 3 months after being laid
• White stripes down the centre when council doesn’t even know whether this is a heavy bicycle track or not. The guidelines recommend this for ‘heavy’ bicycle usage.
• The ripping up of literally hundreds and hundreds of metres of side grass and replacing this with instant grass.

The really important outcome however of this yellow brick road with zebra stripes is that the old bitumen path was ripped up and 4 to 6 inches depth of reinforced concrete laid. All well and good some might say – except that by raising the height of the existing pathway, water could no longer drain away as it had previously. The Trail is now a lake after any kind of persistent rain. It has become home to mosquitoes and god knows what other health hazards.

In the future, residents will undoubtedly have to cough up further funding to replace rotting fencing that sits in water for days on end . The mulch also continues to settle so that there are numerous patches of 4 inch drops from the edges of the pathway – a really good way for cyclists to topple over, or pedestrians to break an ankle. Since the Trail also meanders alongside trees there is continual debris and discolouring of the pathway – again further risk to life and limb. We have to simply ask:

• Why wasn’t there any real engineering assessment done?
• Why has this ‘redevelopment’ cost, we estimate, well over $500,000 when there was already an existing pathway?
• What is council doing about risk management and health concerns?

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Share deal for courts on offer

From Glen Eira Leader

Frustration pooling in Glen Eira

3 Jan 12 @  11:10am by Natalie White

Mayor Jamie Hyams said the delays were “very disappointing”, but the council was pushing to have the centre finished “as soon as possible”. “It will be worth the wait,” Cr Hyams said.

It was hoped the $41.2 million Bentleigh East centre would open in December, in time for the warm weather. Frustrated residents have posted comments on the centre’s Facebook page, angry they won’t get to use it for much of summer. Michelle Meier said her children’s swimming lessons booked for February had been cancelled.

“I’m also frustrated as I have four foundation memberships and no access to the pool and no known time frame,” Ms Meier said. Trina Eldering Gillies said the council “should have given a more realistic time from the start”.

The dry areas – including indoor courts, gym, creche and cafe – are almost complete, but work on the pool hall has been delayed.

In a statement on the official GESAC website, the pool’s steering committee chair, Cr Michael Lipshutz, said the council had used every means at its disposal to have the builder comply with building time lines. “Council has been levying liquidated damages as a consequence of each milestone missed and they are now approximately $1 million,” Cr Lipshutz said.

More than 3000 people have bought memberships so far.”

AND HERE’S WHAT RESIDENTS SAID ON FACEBOOK –

“I knew it as they have cancelled my kids school swimming which was to be early feb!!! I’m also frustrated as I have 4 foundation memberships and no access to the pool and no known time frame as to when my kids lessons will start!! Now it’s too late to change and go elsewhere, NOT happy at being promised something and not having it delivered!!! I’m sure I’m not the only one”.

“same with gym membership”

“Yup casual rates are sooo expensive!!!!!”

“Will foundation members be compensated as we were told it would be open now… Look at the weather..!!!”

“Not good enough!! PS. Go have a look at Oakleigh Aquatic Centre 4 Outdoor Pool areas… Such a winner!!”

“Classic Glen Eira”.

“Thanks Stephen, I will! But NOT happy that I was promised access to pools for the entire summer and will now have to pay to go elsewhere, more out of pocket costs!!! Let’s see if there’s any compensation”

“On no 😦 you should have given a more realistic time from the start”.

“Under promise and over deliver!!!! Tell us November then def opening in december now could be end of summer……march!!!!! instead if you’d said march and opened jan people would not be soooo annoyed/frustrated!!!!”

“So all those millions you are charging the builder will be shared among the foundation members as a token of you apologies right????”

“Are swimming lessons going ahead as planned for February? If not or if your in doubt – let the public know. We need to make other arragements for the kids. With 6 weeks to go it will be difficult to do”.

“Seriously….. Now im without a gym for a second month, well your at it why not make it three?”

Glen Eira Sports & Aquatic Centre Hi Marissa, at this stage it is too early to say, we will be in touch with all of our Swim School members to arrange introductory classes as soon as we have more information from the builders.

“Tried to get in to 3 other swim schools, FULL!!!!! Surprise surprise!!!!!!”

“SHAME ON YOU!”

“To all those who are commenting and taking a cheap shot at GESAC, take a step back and try show some understanding. It is a $40+ million project. It is an enormous complex and understandably the builders didn’t finish it in the time HOPED. The builders are on their industry break now. What do you want GESAC to do about it? You think they are delaying it on purpose? Just try and be patient because once it opens in February or March, I know everyone will be amazed by what it has to offer”.

“I agree John”

“I totally understand that thus us not the fault of GESAC as a company but surely they could extend a little goodwill for those of us who gave been without a gym now for ongoing months”.

“At least show us some more photos!!”

The fact that it is going to be 40C tomorrow and you are still not open, with your waterslides there to tease us, is really starting to piss me off! – OPEN ALREADY!”

“How’s construction looking?”

Glen Eira Sports & Aquatic Centre Hi Tim, We will post some new pictures as soon as possible as we have to work around the builders.

PS – Some more comments have gone up –

“In “winter” season all building industry taking holiday. Like all of us. Unfortunately GESAC forgotten is Christmas time and people taking break. Planning dep –. Were they on “Holiday” at promising time?”

“And maybe you could offer some complimentry passes to all signed up members at Caulfield Swim Centre? Also possibly offer some swim school lessons at Caulfield Swim Centre if it doesnt get started in the new centre?”

From Manningham Leader – Anna Prytz

No gag on councillors: Free speech a winner as councillor’s bid to quieten colleagues is defeated

“PLANS to investigate a gag on Manningham councillors and ban public access to meetings has been quashed. At last Tuesday’s council meeting, Cr Graeme Macmillan’s motion to bar the public’s access to the recordings of meetings on the council’s website — and to pass bylaws prohibiting councillors publicly criticising each other — was defeated after a recision motion by Cr Stephen Mayne. The motion was carried. Executive manager of corporate services Steve Goldsworthy said it was illegal for a council to impose the proposed bylaws and penalties.

‘‘Local councils pass laws in accordance with the Local Government Act,’’ he said.

‘‘If your new laws diminish what is already available in law or in society, that is not legally acceptable.’’

Cr David Ellis said he was astonished the matter had gone so far.

‘‘This is a seriously deficient motion,’’ he said. ‘‘Now is the time for us to reaffirm our commitment to transparency.’’

In the absence of the three Koonung ward councillors who voted to investigate the proposed ban at last month’s meeting, only Cr Macmillan and Cr Meg Downie supported the motion.

Both denied the move was about restricting free speech, but rather about ending ‘‘bullying’’ by Cr Mayne.

‘‘Cr Mayne thinks it is fair game to criticise,’’ Cr Downie said. ‘‘This is harassment and bullying.’’ Cr Macmillan said Cr Mayne’s ‘‘cowardly’’ blog posts were unfair and unbalanced. Addressing Crs Macmillan and Downie, Cr Mayne vowed to continue to be an advocate of free speech.

‘‘I’ll defend your right to make the very aggressive, highly critical and attacking comments you’ve just made,’’ he said, adding he was ‘‘relieved the illegal and embarrassing motion is finally off the table.’’

The full audio recording of this motion is available at: http://www.manningham.vic.gov.au/maccwr/_assets/main/lib90295/13%20december%202011%20audio%20notices%20of%20motion%2014.1.mp3. Please note this is a large file and may take several minutes to download. It is however worth listening to!