When is ‘land management’ nothing but a euphemism for making money – especially when racing and the Melbourne Racing Club is involved? Both ably supported by government and the racecourse trust.
We have already witnessed the removal of scores of trees, the destruction of heritage sites, and now the latest application for the re-location of the Glasshouse to be immediately opposite residential properties. We’re also facing the probable relocation of the Melbourne footy club to set up their training at the reserve. All this can only mean the further exclusion of the public on many more days plus the potential for more buildings and decreasing access and open space for residents.
It’s literally a crying shame that instead of trees and lawn areas upon entrance to the reserve we now have a tall, ugly, concrete wall. See the following photos –
Council should be screaming from the top of their lungs. All we get is a grovelling media release –
Statement on Melbourne FC’s Caulfield Racecourse Reserve feasibility study
Glen Eira has the least amount of open space per person in metropolitan Melbourne.
We always look to support creative opportunities to enhance sport and recreation in our community, with our recreation facilities hosting many local clubs including football, netball and soccer.
We recognise a move by Melbourne Football Club to Caulfield Racecourse Reserve has the potential to increase and accelerate investment in sporting infrastructure in the area.
However, we also know that investment from elite sporting clubs has been known to reduce community access in other locations.
The Caulfield Racecourse Reserve is Crown land in the heart of the Caulfield Activity Centre. It has long been identified as a missed opportunity for broad community use.
Any investment by Melbourne FC would need to be balanced with continued access to the Reserve by the broader community, including local sporting clubs, other levels of football, and protected areas for local plants and biodiversity.
We look forward to working with Sport and Recreation Victoria and the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust to ensure that community use and environmental outcomes feature prominently in the future of the Reserve and are given due consideration in Melbourne Football Club’s feasibility study.
Cr Anne-Marie Cade
Mayor
Worth remembering is that council decided to pay around $300,000 to the trust so that they might have a ‘seat at the table’!!!!! Money certainly NOT WELL SPENT judging on outcomes thus far. Perhaps council should demand a refund?!!!!!!!!!
Glen Eira Debates 
December 18, 2023 at 12:49 PM
The Caulfield racecourse reserve is, in law, 2/3 set aside for recreational use and public park. An avaricious racing club has always denied the public free access.
A VFL training ground will be locked away, as are similar training grounds, and of no use to the public.
The Glen Eira Mayor spent a week camping outside the reserve in a fruitless attempt to halt the Melbourne Racing Club’s incessant greed to acquire more space from the public.
Wasted your time Jim.
December 18, 2023 at 12:54 PM
Couldn’t have said it better. When it comes to the mrc council is gutless. All talk and then bugger all. For 15 years at least, they have given the mrc every single thing they have wanted to the detriment of the local community.
December 19, 2023 at 9:05 AM
Good grief it is ugly, whose idea was that, unbelievable.