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A few points on the following image:
1. If the MRC claims that the recent Union Picnic was a Major Event, then where was their traffic management plan? Where were the street closures? Where were the information sheets distributed to residents?
2. Did Council know? Were they informed? Did they give tacit approval? Or was it a case of only officers knowing and councillors kept in the dark?
December 9, 2014 at 9:16 AM
How on earth can this council keep saying that the zones are protecting people when suburb after suburb is being ravaged.
December 13, 2014 at 9:49 AM
Only Richard Craniums will say that.
December 13, 2014 at 9:56 AM
Magee is Father Christmas throughout the year/years. He is present where the fame is. Has he ever done administration in his life? Appointed unanimously, Councillors are either dumb or he was the only choice. Magee is playing the game – watch out in another 6 months.
December 9, 2014 at 9:51 AM
The comments allegedly made by Mr Norton need to be strongly challenged and refuted. Comparing the caravan and camping show to a valedictory dinner is akin to comparing a rocket launch with a firecracker. No school valedictory dinner would have 10000 attending and nor would it be counted as a major event and nor would the centre be used as a parking lot.
The impotence of the non MRC trustees is another matter. Sword’s comments that everything is on hold because there are no current leases means that this event was likely outside any legal terms of agreement. Discussions on restructuring of the leases are a waste of time as long as the MRC remains on the trustees. Sword needs to insist that the entire group be disbanded immediately. I see no point in continuing discussions when years of discussions have led nowhere and conflicts of interest remain.
December 9, 2014 at 12:22 PM
Toughen up Princess. It’s a one-off Xmas function at a place open for hire. Stop the Grinchiness and get into the spirit of the time of year.
December 9, 2014 at 1:27 PM
I disagree. There’s nothing precious about the comments or the article. It’s not even about a one off or about the time of the year. The mrc has got a lot to answer for and it’s been doing what it likes all year around and for years on end. Council is supposed to have an agreement and they’ve never even tried to enforce this. They have helped in letting the mrc get away with everything they want. All should be sent out to stud today. They are useless trustees and a useless council.
December 9, 2014 at 5:10 PM
The article is less about the MRC than it is a bash-the-union piece. Something the rags in the Murdoch stable have been on all week.
The racecourse pushes their facilities in order the get revenue. The union is as entitled as anyone to use them. In fact, denying them and allowing caravan shows and circuses access would be wrong on so many levels.
Frankly, the local rag is a journalistic disgrace. I’m oh-so-glad they can’t find enough deliverers to get to my property nowadays.
December 9, 2014 at 8:08 PM
The Royal Commission on Unions has shown what a disgrace the CFMEU are as well as their mates at CBUS. Heads will hopefully roll. Similarly the MRC are also a disgrace to the local Caulfield community but all bargaining power was lost when Hyams, Lipshutz, Esakoff and Pilling naively followed Newtons advice and voted in C60. Too late to do anything now.
December 10, 2014 at 6:52 AM
Regardless on your views of the so called “rag” I think you should look to the substance of the issue, In bot instances (the article and the comments on this blog), clearly who hired the venue is regarded as irrelevant and focus is clearly on yet another MRC revenue stream enhancement that has breached the rules and denied the public access to public land (MRC = $’s, Public = 0)
The Caulfield Racecourse Reserve is crown land designated for three separate yet equal purposes of racecourse, public park and public recreation ground. The Trustee’s and overseeing government department have mismanaged the reserve and allowed the MRC to act if the reserve is MRC freehold land. Under this mismanagement the 54ha of the reserve has been reduced to 6 ha for public usage (in the centre) despite the fact that the Auditor General clearly stated that the MRC has no legal right to exclude the public from any land not included in leases. Under an agreement between Council and the MRC (not the trustees) this piddling little 6 ha is only to be excluded from public use on specific days (ie. major events and major racedays). The legislated rules for holding major events place obligations on the MRC to provide to community notifications, traffic management plans, risk management measures etc. The MRC hired out the reserve for a Union Christmas function which included centre car parking. The MRC is justifying that usage by claiming ït was a major event yet failed to undertake any of the obligations holding such an event imposes. Can’t have it both ways and can’t have constant usurping.
That’s the substance of the issue.
December 9, 2014 at 4:49 PM
The MRC know full well their obligations when a “major event” is to be held and it goes beyond notifying the Trustees and retrospectively declaring it a major event once they have been caught with their pants down. If after all this time they still don’t live up to their obligations then authority to run “major events” should be rescinded.
As for the Trustees and the overseeing government department – the statement the Trustees consider all agreements with the MRC on hold is bigger than the pile of crap Magree is standing on. While the government and the Trustees are poncing about achieving nothing, the MRC is going hell for leather as per usual..
December 9, 2014 at 5:41 PM
It’s understandable to be angry, despondent, critical and derogate to MRC for its arrogance, noncooperation and ignoring requests from community and politicians for over 100 years! The reality is that every time the uses and management issues are raised VATC trading as MRC are threatening to ‘take their bat and go home’ and withdraw Caulfield Cup. You’ll probably find that Caulfield Cup is tide up with VATC in such a way that no one else would be allowed to organise it. So VATC has got the politicians over a barrel. They would not dare to do anything that would mean Caulfield Cup is no longer. Interestingly, Victorian Racing Club is not a friend of MRC and given half a chance would gladly organise Caulfield Cup if necessary.
The only thing that governments can do is negotiate a better deal for the lease and improved management of the Caulfield Racing Reserve. That, however, requires a new trustee set up with MRC having a maximum of a third of votes. I think it’s time to do that and instead of complaining one should tackle the new Attorney-General and Minister for Racing Hon Martin Pakula to implement the changes recommended by the Auditor in his report. Martin Pakula hails from Ormond and knows the area quite well as his family still live in Glen Eira.
A petition on this issue is warranted now. A job for GERA, I would definitely sign it.
December 9, 2014 at 8:14 PM
Martin Pakula will not be rushing to change the way things are at present. Why would he make changes that might be divisive. This is to be avoided at all costs. (Politics 101) The previous Labor Government paved the way for C60. Nothing will change. Modern day petitions are simply a way for organisers to ensure they have a good mailing list.
No one takes any notice of petitions these days.
December 9, 2014 at 8:23 PM
The CFMEU and the MRC have some common ground. They are both familiar with the characteristics of Machiavelli.
December 9, 2014 at 10:26 PM
Typical bullshit from Council to claim that the new residential zones were introduced to protect residents from inappropriate development. If that was the purpose then it is a failure. Council has admitted it doesn’t know what inappropriate development is, so little wonder Council has failed to establish policies, standards and controls needed. Belsize Av has been sacrificed on the altar of greed, and it is shameful.
The ongoing problems with the management regime at Caulfield Racecourse Reserve are deliberate and done with bipartisan support. Ringleader Pakula is back too. I don’t know if the article is accurate though. MRC doesn’t even have leases at the moment, and as far as the public knows, it has never had leases over the entire land. Just what would CFMEU be paying MRC for? CRRT needs yet another boot up the arse for its failure to document on its website when Major Events are scheduled. Council as always has failed to ensure the event organiser has complied with Council By-Laws. No surprise there.