Item 9.7 centres on the suspect Lipshutz Request for a Report on the removal of the Caulfield Park Depot. We remind readers of the Pilling email which clearly revealed how in breach of council’s own resolution this request was. Now we have the Officers’ report which of course says nothing, so that the status quo remains. We also note that there is no name attached to this report so there is no accountability or responsibility. Another frequent and handy ploy of this administration!

The report states that  “The Caulfield Park master plan adopted by Council some years ago was premised at that time on the depot remaining where it is”. So what? Not stated is that the Master Plan dates back to the dark ages and when it suits has been changed and altered and massaged according to new circumstances – ie. concrete pathways; ‘realigning’ of ovals’; fences and now the latest craze, concrete plinthing.

The argument for non-removal then continues with an exposition of the multi-function purpose of the current depot and concludes with the simple sentences “There are few areas within Glen Eira which lend themselves to these uses. It would be undesirable to relocate the depot from one park to another park or to any other site which was capable of being used as public open space”. Note the admission that there is at least a ‘few areas’ that might be suitable. Of course, none of this is elaborated upon!

The real intended killer blow is: “Officers have previously advised Councillors of an estimated cost of not less than $3m. It is not possible to be more specific until a new site is identified and the nature of redevelopment of the existing site is known”. Surely it would not have been too difficult if there are a ‘few areas’ suitable, for some ‘specifics’ to be included for these sites at least?

Thus, in the space of one and a half pages an issue that has been of major concern for nigh on forever is thus sidelined again – indefinitely!

We urge readers to note:

  • The total lack of any financial/geographic details
  • No documentation as to which sites have been investigated
  • No detail as to why any of these alternate sites are unsuitable
  • No detail as to the arrived figure of $3 million

We can only conclude that not only is the report totally substandard, but its usefulness for any responsible decision making by councillors is non existent. We believe that this is the ultimate objective anyway – ie to do nothing but create the illusion that there has at least been the attempt to solve a festering problem and councillors, especially Lipshutz, can then proclaim to his electorate – “look, I’ve tried’.  In the end, it all depends on the gullibility and/or integrity of councillors as to whether they will accept this continual manipulation.

PS:  Following several comments re the MRC’s failure to put up the fence as per the ‘agreement’, we’ve received a photo of the site taken exactly one year since the signing of the ‘agreement’ (27th April). As many residents suspected, such agreements obviously aren’t worth the paper they’re written on! The weeds certainly do add a nice touch as well!