The Monash vision to redevelop the Caulfield Campus is now firmly set with the confirmation of its Master Plan. What is less well known is Monash’s vision for its sporting facilities – and in particular its plans that include the Caulfield East Reserve.
We believe that in recent times Monash people have had discussions with Council which included issues surrounding the redevelopment and use of the Caulfield East Reserve – owned by Council and leased to Monash.
Given the fact that Glen Eira is now facing a “cash crisis”, has been classified as “high risk” and GESAC is probably losing money hand over fist due to its failure to open in the summer season, residents have every right to be apprehensive about this valuable piece of real estate. Our fear is that under these circumstances, the Newton vision will be further sell offs and more public land lost to residents. What makes us even more suspicious is this sentence from the draft Monash sport plans – “Develop relationship with Glen Eira City Council and enhance facilities and management control at East Caulfield Reserve”. (Uploaded)
Watch this space we say!
PS: In order to illustrate the basis of our above comments we’ve uploaded the draft ‘Sports Vision’. Readers should pay careful attention to the highlighted sections and as always with such documents, possibly read between the lines!
Glen Eira Debates 
February 23, 2012 at 10:56 AM
ok I am crying now if this happens. I would imagine if this happens it would be done under the guise of maintaining the grounds but then they would close it off too the public at certain times for Monash fairs etc. Like our friends at MRC do! They would redevelop the pavilion for there own purposes. Maybe put in a gym etc. Im sure they will say the grounds are in bad condition etc but they are absolutely perfect. The cricket nets are just new and are second to none. Would the kids playground be in there plans? The nearest public park would be Caulfield Park and lord Reserve (2 ish KM away. Interesting reading the history of the park it was all one big park from caulfield Park to East Caulfield and including Caulfield Racecourse. Guess what the Racing club in the 1860’s did a land grab even though residents protested over the years.
February 23, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Great residents to be left with walking the fringes while Monash takes over.
And all this in an area where Council is hell bent on stuffing more and more people in without any consideration to traffic congestion or available open space (already the lowest in Melbourne and if this goes through probably the least in Australia).
Well done Council and just when are you planning making your open and transparent deal known to the impacted residents.
February 23, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Residents are really left out in the cold when we get the unholy union of the MRC, Monash, and council working together to carve up in totally piecemeal fashion what is euphemistically called the Phoenix Precinct. This whole area has never had proper planning done. Its all been left to the big boys to carve it out for themselves without one shred of consideration for locals.
Caulfield campus is already open til 12 o’clock each night. With sporting complexes that will compete with our wonderful gesac and Newton selling them the land then the losers are again residents.
February 23, 2012 at 12:21 PM
I must admit rereading this document it is not as bad as it first seems. You can see my comments in the first post. But if you look at the point management control they are actually referring to point 8 which is the club rooms at the grounds. What could be bad about this? 2 of the tennants are Monash gryphons cricket and football teams. I think they are representing the community and the university well. Upgraded facilities will be great for the club.
February 23, 2012 at 3:00 PM
A great part of the land where the UNIVERSITY IS … ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FORMER STATION STREET (Now callede Sir John Monash Drive…also changed secretly) were our open space.
Some of the land on the north side was the home of tennis and bowling clubs and of course had several tennis courts and bowling facilities… they have now been swallowed up by the university and on the other side Sir Henry Bolte grabbed the land for the Caulfield Junior Technical School. More land grabbed also near the station to build a cafe in the last year. There is some belief round here that fresh air and green grass are enemies of the people.
February 23, 2012 at 3:12 PM
I think you are trying to beat up something that is not there. The sports grounds are just that, open playing fields. What Monash wants are dozens of table tennis tables and some badminton courts. This would match their marketing plan. Not too many of their students play Aussie rules or cricket.
I do not beleive that the Glen Eira Council will forgo open space for any money. In fact if you are worried then why not ask each current councillor for a committment that they will not support such a sell off or donations that will comprimise Council control over the use of any part of the park. The university are flushed with cash since the compulsary union fees were re-introduced. It has to be spent of student facilities.
February 24, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Actually compulsory union fees have not been reintroduced. The Government has instead introduced a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). The difference is in the purposes for which the money can be used, and who gets to decide how the money is used. In the case of Monash, SSAF is controlled by University Council, and their decisions so far are controversial. We might even find out later today (24 Feb) the next level of detail in their decisions. Monash Student Association will get less than 1.9% of SSAF.
Subsection 19-38(4) of Higher Education Support Act 2003 prohibits expenditure of SSAF for a purpose other than listed (there are 19 of them). Acceptable expenditure (subject to “Guidelines” from the Minister) include (b) supporting a sporting or other recreational activity by students; (c) supporting the administration of a club most of whose members are students. In practice, money that used to go to Student services can now be redirected, with the void being filled by SSAF.
As a curious sidenote, the 11-storey Menzies Building on the Clayton campus is subject to a Heritage Overlay. It is the original and largest building on campus and “upon completion was considered to be an excellent example of ‘cutting edge’ architecture and construction”.