Here’s a resident’s summary of last week’s meeting for the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve.

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There were many empty chairs at the meeting, on account of the meeting not being well advertised
Proceedings were opened by Interim Administrator David Bird, speaking from the lectern.

He announced the Trustees present, who were sitting in a row at the front of the room –

Sam Almaliki > Chair of the new Trust – not a local – lives South Melbourne – sports administrator – former head of community engagement Cricket Australia

July Busch > lives Elsternwick – background in shopping centre development, is on a cemeteries trust, and has interest in sports facilities

David Mandel > business in international manufacturing – a company director – president of a squash club – and on the Cth Games committee

Joanne Butterworth-Gray > from Gippsland – has 6 kids – background in regional development – interest in commercial opportunities

Danni Addison > not a local – president of the Urban Development Institute

Peter Watkinson > Haines Racing – planning

Greg Sword > (not present at the meeting) – ex member of the old untrusted trust

Sam Malakikiannounced the new trust is free of bias, will operate in the best interests of the community, will be transparent, collaborative and act consistently with the 3 purposes, as well as be dedicated to ‘community health and well being.’

The main problem with all this is that a new lease will be signed with the MRC behind closed doors and with no public input, before there is a management plan in place or any allocation to respective uses. The reason offered was was that the incoming trust has inherited arrangements and ongoing negotiations with previous trust.

Questions from the floor following the briefing raised issues of access to the reserve (who will hold the key), to which the response was that the reserve was open 9.45 am to sunset. The primary use of the reserve is racing.
Some asked when the tin fence will go, questioned the signing of a lease with MRC of unknown proportions before there was public input.  One questioner presented a copy of a previous masterplan to the new trustees.
How will the trust and MRC communicate? Response was communication will be direct engagement at board level, but such negotiations will not be minuted. Will passive open space include the lakes and native vegetation and environmental sensitivity to wildlife.
The new Trust came into effect on August 1 and will set up comprehensive online information in due course, when some funding and resources become available.
COMMENT
We find it incredibly disappointing that there is not one single ‘community rep’ on the new Trustees. Even the ‘locals’ are linked to the development industry.
Nor is there any guarantee that agendas and minutes will be published.
Yes the legislation has made changes. Whether or not the community will be the ultimate beneficiary of these changes remains to be seen. On the whole it is not an auspicious start!
AND FROM THE Caulfield Leader (9th October) –
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