The Minister has announced that the new councillor trustee representatives on the Caulfield Racecourse are non other than our infamous gang – Lipshutz, Hyams and Esakoff. What a surprise, eh? And what does this bode for the community voice? Zilch we suggest!
At the very least we can say that what is required is a full Royal Commission into the wheeling and dealing that has been going on for the past century and the unsavoury role of vested interests, politicians, administrators and councillors.
Glen Eira Debates 
February 20, 2013 at 3:04 PM
I’m disgusted. If these people were the last on earth they should never have been appointed. The system stinks, the minister stinks, and the Liberals stink to high heaven over this.
February 20, 2013 at 3:33 PM
Now that all the deals with the mrc have been signed, sealed and delivered, there is no need for a Special Racecourse Committee. I fully expect that this will now go. They have done their dirty work and this is the reward. If the other 6 councillors do happen to protest something then the wonderful excuse that the new trustees can and will employ is that they were out voted by the other trustees. Newton is to be congratulated for his mastery and manipulation of the long running situation. He is probably pleased as punch that his puppets have been assigned.
I fully endorse Peter’s call for an inquiry. Southwick’s duplicity should also be fully investigated.
February 20, 2013 at 4:15 PM
I commend the above responders for putting their names to their comments and hope others do the same. It makes for better quality comments on the facts rather than putting down the person ( which becomes more like the low level of Federal politics!) It will make for a more thoughtful conversation.
Roslyn Gold
February 20, 2013 at 4:59 PM
Names don’t matter one iota. Actions and ideas do. The problem with your comment is that it sounds exactly like something Lobo or Hyams would say. That’s not confronting the issues but sidestepping them.
I believe that you Ms Gold were one of the objectors and quite vocal in the mock consultations that went on about the centre of the racecourse and the c60. If after all this time you haven’t learnt to see through the bullshit that this council produces, I offer my sincere condolences. I don’t give a stuff who says what, as long as their points of view are logical and they’re willing to debate a point. A rose is a rose by any name…….. Get off this anonymous stuff and start looking at the issues and how residents have been screwed repeatedly.
February 21, 2013 at 12:36 PM
Exactly Anon007…. we actually agree …. that
” as long as their points of view are logical and they are willing to debate a point” When people dont put their name to a point of view it most often descends into personality politics and the debate is lost
Roslyn Gold
p.s. thank you for remembering me!
February 20, 2013 at 4:45 PM
Well, well – three of the four who voted for C60 are now the Trustees. This falls way short of even paying lip service to the notion of a being seen to show a sense of proprietary.
Gonna be interesting to see if they will depart the chamber if a racecourse issue concerning the MRC arises or if they will
. decide that appointment as a Trustee is no longer a conflic of interest if a Racecourse issue arises at a Council Meeting or
. decide that whenever a racecourse isssue arises, that issue is best left to the Trustees to decide rather than openly discuss it at a Council Meeting.
However they decide to handle it residents are screwed.
February 20, 2013 at 5:50 PM
Um! It’s called patronage. I’m surprised anyone is shocked. It’s one of the many perks of office.All political parties do it. Yes, it’s shameful but shame isn’t a word in most politicians lexicon.
February 20, 2013 at 7:41 PM
Ah Autonomy, you are so polite. There are innumerable other terms or labels that immediately spring to mind instead of “patronage”. I do agree with your conclusion about “shame” and its absence in certain people’s vocabulary or consciousness. To this void I would also nominate “integrity” and “self-respect”.
February 20, 2013 at 8:29 PM
Pretty amazing that out of the 8 councillors who nominated the minister happens to pick out these 3 libs – no doubt with the urging of their mate Southwick and Newton. Revolting stuff.
February 20, 2013 at 10:04 PM
Actually the whole thing is revolting stuff.
Under the terms of appointment for trustees Council gets to nominate three to represent the communities interests. It is not a requirement for Council to nominate 8 for the State Govt. to select from. Council nominates 3 and unless the State Govt can object due to unsuitability (criminal convictions etc) the State Govt. has to endorse. That Council chose to let the state govt select (god knows the backroom stuff that went on) is a total mockery. As is Hyams, Esakoff and Lipshutz even putting their name forwards.
The sooner this lots get dimissed again the better. Just have to hope this time the dismissal included the CEO.
February 20, 2013 at 10:25 PM
Yep definitely revolting and definitely Council has done it’s darnedest to make it into a mockey.
Remember Council’s constant bleatings that it only gets to nominate three and the MRC and State Govt continually stack the trustees with pro racing nominees and therefore outweigh the Council nominees. Yet here we have Council letting the State Govt continue to stack by allowing them to select the most three pro racing, pro MRC councillors out of the lot.
February 20, 2013 at 9:08 PM
Pilling must be spewin’ there are only 3 Trustees as he would have been a cert for position number 4.
February 21, 2013 at 12:08 AM
Geez! Oscar would be miffed if that occurred as he’d want his newly acquired reactionary views to start being some more fruit wouldn’t he?. 🙄
February 20, 2013 at 9:21 PM
For sacked Councillors with questionable ethics these 3 have done very well. Very well indeed!
February 21, 2013 at 6:51 AM
The sh**t will hit the fan over this. Peulich and her Kingston son have copped plenty. It’s time for Southwick Newton and the gang to get theirs in the neck.
February 21, 2013 at 10:26 AM
The three chosen are the most experienced councillors. They are all appropriate choices. They will acheive more for the city by working with the MRC than the likes of Headlines Magee. His goal in life is to get his name in the paper, preferably with a photo.
These trustees will sit along side former Councillor Staikos who was appointed for life by the Brumby Government. That is how it works. By the tone of the comments above it is obvious that most of the participants are not Liberal supporters. They can look forward to Prime Minister Abbott.
February 21, 2013 at 10:42 AM
Written like a true Liberal. Will grant you one thing. The gang is 100% the most experienced in screwing local residents and ignoring all propriety, ethics, and working for the people.
February 22, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Good to see Cr Hyams is back on GE Debates.
February 21, 2013 at 12:50 PM
The result was predictable and very little can be done about the appointments. The disappointing element is that those Councillors are to represent the Council views and direction. Not in Glen Eira. The other Councillors won’t have even a chance to tell the 3 Trustees what they should be doing or negotiating about. Remember that all 3 believe in ‘representative democracy’! You elect or select me and I do whatever I see fit. In this case the non-anointed Councillors are neutered from having a say, unless Crs Lipshutz, Hyams and Esakoff wants to. And yet the major issue is a very simple one. Remove horse training and increase Glen Eira’s Open Space usage.
February 21, 2013 at 2:34 PM
If I am not mistaken didn’t The Premier back in 2005 when he was just a MP vote to sack Esakoff and Hyams?, Now we seem to have the most bizarre circumstance in that the Premier is appointing them as trustees. I think Mr Southwick may have put the minister and Premier into a very difficult position.
February 21, 2013 at 3:28 PM
It is very obvious that these three wisemen (?) Jamie, Margaret and Michael (and their families) who are members of the liberal party will gang up with David Southwick as they all have hidden agenda in addition to enjoying the perks being committee members. (MODERATORS: sentence deleted)
Was Margaret and Jamie not sacked by Liberal government in 2005? Is it not obvious how both of them have been appointed by the same government. Liberals have lost their plot and the results will be in 2014 as people’s memory is strong when they go to the polls.
February 21, 2013 at 4:46 PM
One of the requirements to be a trustee was to be an adult. That knocked a few people out of contention. In 2005 there was a Labor Government.
February 21, 2013 at 4:15 PM
full Royal Commission please Mr Premier. Today
February 21, 2013 at 9:02 PM
Whatever did happen to the racecourse agreement that was signed in blood by these 3 Councillors and Southwick. Certain fencing to be removed by 28th April 2012? Would be great to get an update Councillors Hyams, Lipshutz and Esakoff.
February 21, 2013 at 9:04 PM
I understand there is a petition at Penhalluriacks to have these 3 Councillors removed as Trustees of the Racecourse. Think it should be that they be sacked (once again) from office.
February 21, 2013 at 11:19 PM
MODERATORS: comment deleted
February 22, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Thank you to CR Magee for exposing some of the amazing deals which exist at the racecourse. You tried your best for the masses of people of Glen Eira but the treatment was metered out to you like our other independent council representatrives… Crs. Forge and Penhalluriak. There is a machine in there which always seems to silence new ideas and attempts at obtaining just deals.
Just search out the site of the MRC Chairman (MODERATORS: phrase deleted) Member of the Caulfield Racecourse Trustees and an owner of the Aquinita lodge establishment on the south east corner of the Caulfield racecourse reserve. This area occupies according to plans of yesteryear the location of a cricket pitch for the people of Caulfield and now they cannot even play ball in the whole area according to the notices on the gates.
Hope our new reps. will charge the MRC fair rates for their multi million dollar business on our parkland. (MODERATORS: sentence deleted)
February 22, 2013 at 8:01 PM
Cr Magee tried to expose MRC and that is why he was not appointed as a Trustee this year. Frank was the one who was silenced. Cheryl Forge was just doing her beauty parade not really contributing anything and good at changing her shoes, clothes and handbags!
February 23, 2013 at 2:49 PM
Being the week-end, I had the opportunity of going through the G.E. Debates and read with interest all of the comments. My attention was drawn to comment number 10. This post is surely written by one of the three “See no evil”, “Talk no evil” “Hear no evil” (MODERATORS: phrase deleted) and agree with 2 further annonymous that the responder is one of them. I can bet my bottom dollar that it surely is Cr Hyams an unfit two time Mayor who was seen going out of control in his remarks to one of his colleagues defending that developments are appropriate! What a hypocrite when he said in one of the council meetings that he does not read this blog! I cannot understand on what basis he was made a Mayor for the second term and his friend Margaret for three terms! This Council for some years now is controlled by a group (MODERATORS: phrase deleted) and last year it was much easier for them to get what they wanted when Tang was on their side. Who will be a succour this time, Pilling, Lobo or Sounness?