When it comes to the MRC, Council turns a blind eye again and again.
Two days ago the CMFEU had their annual picnic day at the racecourse. Contrary to the so called ‘agreement’ –
- Cars were parked in the centre of the racecourse – a definite ‘no-no’
- No traffic wardens to manage the mayhem – although radio reports kept warning motorists to stay clear of the area
- No warning to residents
- No clarity as to whether this constitutes a ‘major’ event or not?
- In short, council simply lets the MRC do whatever it wants, whenever it wants.
The Caulfield Village is now really taking shape along Station St and residents should not be surprised to find that what was supposed to be a 5 storey building (according to the Incorporated Plan of 2011) became a 6 storey building with the Development Plan. Please also note how balconies are now allowed to intrude as far as they like into the setbacks – courtesy of another Amendment that was gleefully promoted by council. We can hardly wait for all the other cave-ins to occur when the next set of Development plans come in for the remaining two precincts. Well done council for selling out residents completely!
Glen Eira Debates 
December 9, 2015 at 11:57 AM
I thought the racecourse was leased to the MRC , not Glen Eira Council as you seem to indicate. .I think it’s great that a Union and the Jewish Community have been able to use this State owned and controlled facility for the benefit of members of our society and local constituents.
December 9, 2015 at 2:17 PM
The Caulfield Racecourse and Recreation Reserve is State Crown Land that comprises 54 ha that has 3 specific yet equal purposes of racecourse, public park and public recreation ground. It is managed by a group of 15 Trustees that is dominated by the MRC. In Sept, 2014 the Auditor General issued a scathing report on the mismanagement of the Trustees and the MRC’s dominance. This mismanagement has been so bad that over the past 18 years, the MRC has managed take hold of almost the entire reserve through leasing arrangements (12 ha – rental is a pittance) and blatant land grabbing (37ha – which the MRC neither pays for or has any legal entitlement to). The remaining 6 ha’s that is left for park usage is difficult to access, has time restrictions and crap facilities.
So Conspirocy1949, rather than thinking it’s great that both a Union and the Jewish Community has to pay the MRC to use public parkland you should think again.
How about thinking of how great it would be if the reserve was not managed for MRC’s exclusive benefit but was instead managed for the benefit of the whole community (ie. those who actually own it)
December 9, 2015 at 1:28 PM
It was chaos, the traffic was banked up, all the way to Central Park on Burke Road, I’ve never seen that before
December 9, 2015 at 2:32 PM
It was worse than chaos, there was absolutely no traffic management and no consideration of pedestrian safety. That no one was hurt was due to luck, not management.
In accordance with the MRC’s agreement with Council the centre can only be used for parking on a Raceday or a Major Event (major events being limited to 10 p.a.). If it’s a Major Event (as the MRC claimed it was last year when the same thing happened but attendance was less) then the MRC is required to provide pedestrian safety, traffic management and 10 days prior notification to residents.
Two years in a row, the MRC has parked cars on public parkland while
. ignoring the approval and notification process and
. ignored the public (vehicle and pedestrian) risk management procedures it is required to provide.
December 9, 2015 at 9:50 PM
Write to the Council and the Governor in Council and the Minister don’t just complain on the blog
December 9, 2015 at 10:42 PM
Do both complain and write, not sure if the council has a governor
December 10, 2015 at 6:06 AM
Perhaps you should google “Governor in Council”
December 9, 2015 at 9:54 PM
I was in the Burke Road bankup around high St and the delays are from the level crossing removal
December 9, 2015 at 2:58 PM
Well, you would have to say the MRC wants a sweetheart deal with their new found CMFEU mates. Whilst the head honcho’s of the MRC are building their retirement plans of wealth through real estate and rental income, they will be bending over backwards for the next decade at least for the CMFEU, no traffic snarls no rules on parking will interrupt their dreams of wealth and greed
December 10, 2015 at 3:44 PM
The A-G severely critized both CRRT and Department. CRRT and Department have agreed secretly on a minimal set of changes to be made sometime in the future so that the status quo can be preserved. The end result is no discernable change to governance. Ministers should lose their portfolios over their inaction, starting with Lisa Neville.