April 29, 2013
The Conservatory: 12 Years Of Neglect!
Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Service Performance[14] Comments
[14] Comments
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Glen Eira Debates
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April 29, 2013 at 1:07 PM
Reckon if this was a car park it wudda been done in 5 seconds flat.
April 29, 2013 at 5:51 PM
or a pavilion
April 29, 2013 at 1:37 PM
The agenda papers say that councillors were meant to consider funding in last year’s budget. I can’t find any reference to this in the budget itself. Continual patch work is useless unless gutters are intact and cleaned on a regular basis. On our family’s last visit there the rising damp was pretty obvious all around the building and the windows themselves looked as if they had not been cleaned for many years. Nothing has changed according to these photos apart from the continued rotting of the window frames and supports. I would agree that by not doing anything the argument for demolition and reconstruction into a cafe carries greater weight. That is negligent though and totally against the community’s aspirations for this heritage building. It requires funding and regular maintenance and the end of this repeated attempt to turn this into a commercial venture. Newton should simply be doing his job and making sure that council resolutions which talk about “full restoration” become a reality. This hasn’t happened.
April 29, 2013 at 5:48 PM
The whole idea of a cafe is ridiculous. If there has to be one then the only suitable place is the pavilion. They spent on fortune on this white elephant so turn that into a restaurant/cafe if need be. At least there’s parking there and the area would accommodate loading bays. That’s not the case with the conservatory.
April 29, 2013 at 7:00 PM
Yes anon above. That sounds like a good idea rather than a new purpose for the conservatory which would require a road for deliveries, rubbish ect and of course the parking…. so being the end to a perefectly peaceful passive area which people ejooy without the need for their purse.
April 29, 2013 at 8:49 PM
This blog performs a very worthwhile function.
I do, however, wince a bit when I see (more) selective negative photos published here. That isn’t to excuse the lack of care at the Conservatory. Just think the blog would have more credibility if there was some balance.
There is plenty to criticise the council over, but not everything it does is second rate. What about, at least occasionally, giving credit where it’s due.
For example, the downsizing of rubbish bins and of council cars as an environment and cost saving measure. Some of the parks that have been upgraded. Like the facilities and improvements to buildings, recreation and kids playing areas at Packer Reserve, which are splendid. Pictures!!!!! The Library service is as good as any as is the attention you get through the Service Centre. ………….
The entirely negative focus of the blog did little to change the face of council at the last municipal election. Esakoff, Lipshutz and Hyams, the focus of negative attention so often here (with good reason often) got back with increased numbers. However the blogs poster boy, Penhalluriack, got belted at the poll
.
A bit of balance is all I ask for.
April 29, 2013 at 9:03 PM
Thanks for your point of view Autonomy. We do not resile from anything we’ve put up, especially in regards to the long standing farce which is the Caulfield Park Conservatory. The agenda items note that its history goes back to at least 1998 and the Open Space Strategy of that time. Expressions of interest have been tried and undoubtedly failed. The minutes of 2006, 2009 and 2011 state that maintenance work is required. The amount expended on such rehabilitative work is a mere $9,000 according to these minutes. Hardly sufficient as the photos reveal.
April 29, 2013 at 9:41 PM
Newton’s the one who should be wincing about the photos – not the blog. FYI, Lipshutz didn’t get back with an increased vote. He dropped by about 500.
April 30, 2013 at 7:46 PM
GE and Anonymous,
My post was more general in nature as I think you both well know. Every time images are posted here they are selective and negative. Every time! As are the topics.
I’m a fan of the blog which serves a useful function. Its impact on change is far less clear. Never is a positive story posted. Never! That is why some I’ve spoken to don’t participate anymore and the reason the same handful of posters predominate.
Not everything council does is worthy of criticism. Who knows, acknowledging some of the worthwhile things council does might attract more that the usual suspects, broaden the appeal, and be more influential. Just saying…….
April 29, 2013 at 8:54 PM
Let us wait for 24 hours until the Council meeting tomorrow 30 April 2013 to see how the Councillors are going to debate this item. I am sure it will be an interesting one, particularly because there are two members of the Green party. It will be clear who has vested interest in the cafe and what for third survey to the public.
April 30, 2013 at 7:56 AM
Here we go again – Caulfield Conservatory and the cafe – a known re-curring issue that Council just continues to ignore and raise as costs mount.
There are a couple of things to note:
1. The argument to use the Pavillion rather than the conservatory has definite merit. As someone above pointed out, parking and toilet facilities already exist, so do catering facilities. At the ground level, overlooking the playing fields behind the rollup screens, are yet to be used catering facilities and an concreted area available for tables and seating. The sports fields are packed during the weekends/evenings (captive market) and during the weekdays provide a tranquil setting. Why are these facilities not being used and why isn’t Council looking at using them?
2. Once again Council’s approach to community consultation is ass backwards. Even though residents have opposed the cafe idea 4 times in as many years it keeps coming back. Council proposes to spend many $’s exploring one only option (the cafe – there has to be other options) and then ask the community. Why doesn’t this Council survey the community for input first (not very expensive), explore and do a cost benefit analysis of the options and report back to the community via the Council meeting?
April 30, 2013 at 10:00 PM
The only reason that Council consults is to cover the very rare case where someone may have a good idea that they haven’t thought of. Known in general terms as covering ones arse. They usually get it right for the majority if not we all get used to whatever they do after a while.
May 1, 2013 at 12:29 AM
Sometimes we are asked as was the case of the said running track at the racecourse which was gravel when consulted at first but then it became just another yellow brick road… very unsuitable for athletes if they wish to walk again and then to make it worse the so called rep for this area told his little story in our parliament about someone holding the process up in favour of a soft surface. Where do we go to find our representation???????/
May 1, 2013 at 10:40 AM
CAULFIELD state MP David Southwick has been appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services. Premier Denis Napthine made the appointment last Wednesday. ‘‘This is an exciting new challenge in an area of policy that is very important to me, our Caulfield community and all Victorians. I have a strong interest in the issues around police and the emergency services and keeping streets safe,’’ Mr Southwick said.