Council is currently holding a ‘consultation’ on establishing a new open space area running between Eskdale Road and Fitzgibbon Crescent in North Caulfield. We have no qualms about increasing the open space areas in the municipality. What we do question is the logic, planning, and whether or not this site is not only appropriate, but even sensible, and whether ratepayers will be getting ‘value for money’ if this goes ahead.
The claim is that this ‘unnamed road’ is in a Gap area identified by the recent Open Space Strategy (OSS). Yes, it is. However, it is less than 500 metres from Caulfield Park (see arrow below). This map, taken from the OSS, clearly shows how bereft North Caulfield is of open space. So why select this particular street when other areas in this ‘gap’ zone are crying out for more open space?
Next, is the issue of size. The entire street is roughly 85 metres long. The plans DO NOT intend that the entire street be blocked off, just half – since there are driveways that can’t be blocked. This means that hundreds of thousands of dollars will be spent on creating a ‘park’ that will still be part street and not fulfill the ‘multiple purposes’ that was the recommendation of the OSS.
In response to a public question Council admits to already having spent just under $7,000 for some pretty drawings. When asked what is the anticipated cost in implementing these plans, council responded with – “That is yet to be determined following the outcome of the public consultation process”. Surely when plans are drawn up, there must be some notion of what the expenditure is likely to be? Given Council’s track record, we suggest that the creation of this ‘park’ will not be less than half a million.
We repeat – yes, create open space, but not this hare-brained addition. Not when it is a stone’s throw from Caulfield Park; not when it will be nothing more than a pocket handkerchief in size, and definitely not, when it will cost around half a million dollars, when other areas of North Caulfield are crying out for open space.
ps: we draw readers’ attention to the following.
The OSS contains 6 ‘gap areas’ in North Caulfield. See map below.
The proposed street closure is in gap area CN6. The ‘conclusion’ and hence the ‘recommendation’ that is contained within the OSS (page 170) for this area states: Improve access to the future Crown Allotment 2031 or other future open space associated with Caulfield Racecourse.
On page 172 of the strategy, there are the ‘’open space links’ recommendations for North Caulfield. In relation to this gap area we find: “Investigate the potential to improve pedestrian accessibility in the street network in gap area CN6 and across Booran Road to future open space associated with Caulfield Racecourse.” The priority grading is MEDIUM. There is not one word in the “Individual open space recommendations for Caulfield North” regarding this area!
Thus, we ask:
- Why has Council chosen this first off, when there are 5 other gap areas identified that are much further away from any open space?
- Why, when an action is designated as ‘medium’ has this been initiated BEFORE ANY OTHER ATTEMPT TO FILL EXISTING GAPS?
Glen Eira Debates 
April 15, 2015 at 8:32 AM
If the area has been identified as a gap area, that’s has to be fair enough, Its all about local open space close by, not 500 metres away, or over 1000 metres return, to far for a small child to walk.
As for the priority of the gap areas, that’s another question.
Let’s not forget that council let the Alma Club site slip through it hands, at what would had been a bargain price. Any retro-fitting of open space council does in North Caulfield will have this debarcle of a lost opportunity starring them in the face.
April 15, 2015 at 9:05 AM
easier to build this park than use public land at the racecourse!
April 15, 2015 at 3:58 PM
Mimosa road plans for open space would appear doomed – at least for the forseeable future with the resident being given assurances that council would not evict him from his property. They will wait until he presumably dies or decides to move. That could literally be years away. In the meantime development goes on and on. Council has not said anything about the other property in Mimosa Road and what their contingency plans are given that this acquisition is now on hold.
I’ve referred to this project because taken together with the Eskdale Road one it smacks of terrible long term planning and lack of vision. I for one would much rather that council bought land outright instead of creating countless pocket parks that cost a fortune to bring up to scratch. That takes money and the more that council spends on car parks in parks and redoing what’s already there is a total waste of funds in my view. It does not create enough additional open space which is desperately needed.