GE Service Performance

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December 20, 2013

Another Snow Job!

Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Consultation/Communication, GE Council Meeting(s), GE Governance, GE Service Performance
[18] Comments 

Below we feature the incredible ‘discussion’ on the Sporting Ground Allocation Policy. We urge readers to carefully note:

  • Delahunty’s turncoat performance
  • Okotel’s remarks
  • Lipshutz’s inanities and little games of semantics
  • Both Hyams and Lipshutz’s attempts to win favour with Ajax – quite frankly we do not believe a word of it!
  • Control vested 100% in the hands of Burke and his cohorts, especially in regards to Expressions of Interest since the policy gives these bureaucrats the authority to ‘invite’ submissions!
  • Not one councillor commented or provided any reasons as to why ‘indoor recreation facilities’ (ie GESAC BASKETBALL ALLOCATIONS) are EXEMPT from this policy! To our mind the reason is obvious – so that the Warriors can continue unimpeded and no one will ever know whether or not they are fulfilling to the cent the obligations of their allocations!

ITEM 9.12 – SPORTING GROUND ALLOCATION POLICY

Delahunty moved motion with some changes – ie. putting policy up on website; to help public understand role of local government in sport; the policy would apply to Expressions of Interest by ‘inviting applications from any party’ and ‘Eoi’s will only be called if there is a permanent vacancy’. Hyams seconded.

DELAHUNTY: said this was a ‘long time coming’ but it doesn’t mean that the ‘operational’ processes ‘haven’t been applied’. Said that she’s always believed that if ‘we are applying something operationally’ then there should be a policy that is clearly ‘understood’ and ‘available’ to the public. This ‘helps the public understand’ council’s ‘role and commitment’ to local sport which is the ‘fabric of our society’ and helps people participate. Council is the ‘guardian of the places’ where this happens but council shouldn’t be ‘managing that in a different way to other people in Victoria’. Said that her objectives with the amendments were to ‘make it clearer what sort of’ principles are involved, but not ‘to differ terribly much from our municipal neighbours’. Went on to say that if Glen Eira did ‘differ’ then it would cause ‘operational chaos’. Also stated that by putting in ‘subjective’ criteria this would help people understand how council sees its ‘role’ BUT there may be times when ‘we may not be able to apply those principles’. This is something that officers have always ‘grappled with’ and the policy won’t cause a major ‘upheaval’ in regards to this since it’s important to have a ‘transparent policy’. She ‘recommends’ the amendments since they don’t basically change the ‘operational’ nature of what has already been happening. The amendments just ‘make it clearer’. The changes to ‘purpose’ explain ‘why we have written the document’. Second amendment was to ‘better explain the scope and not to change it’. Said she found that the McKinnon Basketball Association and some of its members use the terms ‘allocation’ and ‘expression of interest’ as ‘interchangeable’ and this has been ‘widely misunderstood’. The third change was in regards to the table and this sought to ‘clarify how many points were available’. On the expressions of interest she wanted it better understood so ‘that’s why I put in some subjective points’ that extend parts of the community plan, health plan into this policy. Importance of community sport ‘can’t be underestimated’ but ‘operationally’ it’s important that council doesn’t ‘differ that much’ from other councils.

HYAMS: said the policy sets out in a ‘straight forward and transparent way’ how grounds are allocated. The policy isn’t ‘being done for a particular football club’ but that’s ‘not so’. Said that they ‘brought to their attention’ the ‘need for policy’ and that ‘one incident brings shortcomings to our attention’ and this is an example of that. Claimed that council even decided to have a policy before all the public questions started flooding in from Ajax. Said that the policy shows that ‘we don’t throw’ out existing clubs if they are meeting their ‘obligations’. Some people might be suggesting this but he plays for a club that isn’t in Glen Eira and wouldn’t want that to happen so he could play in Glen Eira. Some ‘suggestions’ have been that council should consider the ‘number of residents in each club’ but ‘doing that may be difficult if not impossible’ but ‘we do it for community grants in a slightly different way’. The EOI ‘supposes a community connection’ and that’s ‘important’. ‘Personally’ he would like to have junior and seniors of the same club ‘playing together’ but he ‘understands’ that ‘that was not the will of the group’. Thought that Delahunty’s changes ‘improve’ the policy ‘especially’ on the tables and explaining that these also apply to EOI’s. The real solution is more open space and the policy sets out the plan for the racecourse and will be reviewed then or other times deemed necesary.

OKOTEL: appreciated the ‘work of officers’ and councillors for the policy but ‘I have been highly disappointed with the process that council has undertaken’. Said that she had ‘asked for a process of consultation’ with sporting groups and community ‘before we put this policy to the vote’ because this is a ‘new policy’. Previously council had been merely operating ‘on tradition’ and there was ‘no written documents before us’. Because this is new and ‘none of us are experts’ it ‘would have been appropriate’ for council to ‘engage in some form of’ consultation. Therefore she ‘doesn’t feel comfortable voting on a motion’ that she’s ‘unfamiliar with’ and therefore making a decision on behalf of people was ‘inappropriate without some level of feedback from the community’.  As a result she contacted some sports clubs herself and asked them if they had any comments. Said that the feedback ‘wasn’t that much’. When she raised the need previously she was told that inviting comments would only invite feedback that ‘might polarise the community, cause division’ therefore ‘it is best not to engage in consultation’. ‘I think that was entirely inappropriate and misconceived’ and that ‘we should never shy away from consultation with the community’. Quoted Delahunty saying that council is ‘guardian’ of sport. She thought that ‘partners’ is better so ‘it’s important that we do have feedback from our community’ on ‘such policies’. Said that the feedback from clubs was that there ‘was a lack of clarity in our policy’ as to clubs losing their allocations, and ‘what the deduction of penalty points would mean’ and she also ‘felt that there was uncertainty in that respect’. She’s ‘disappointed that such recommendations haven’t been taken into consideration’. She hoped that councillors vote against the policy but if not that any future review looks at these issues.

MAGEE: said he ‘disagreed with all speakers so far’. There is not ‘need to consult’ on sporting policy since ‘all that matters is longevity’. Said that clubs ‘don’t look at it as a seasonal allocation’. Said he can accept the policy ‘because it’s simple’. Said that they’re trying to do a ‘policy by committee’ and that’s not working. ‘This is a policy looking for a purpose’ and the purpose is that people who have a ground ‘are used to it’. Said that the argument that people who live around a ground have got a ‘greater connectivity’ to that ground and therefore ‘should score higher’ is not right. Didn’t think that any clubs would ever ‘fold up and move out from Glen Eira’ or that there would ever be enough grounds. Even if the racecourse is opened up he would bet that ‘Glen Eira would not be the committee of management’ and therefore allocations ‘would not be up to us’, so ‘this policy won’t matter’. He can’t see anything that would mean that ‘this policy is actually needed’. ‘The policy needs to be kept simply because the clubs don’t care’. All clubs worry about is ‘tenure’ and that’s ‘all this is about’. ‘You don’t need to go ask them that’. Said he was ‘disappointed’ that ‘we’re trying to make something that is relatively simple’ and ‘complicate’ it.

LIPSHUTZ: brought up a point about ‘incorporated’ bodies and ‘incorporated associations’. After some confusion, Delahunty didn’t accept. Lipshutz then said Magee is right in that ‘not much is going to change’. However, pavilions and grounds are important to council and clubs don’t have ‘adverse possession’ claims. So council does have an ‘obligation’ to act in accordance with policy. Said that if there is no policy then it’s ‘open slather and let the officers do as they wish’. A policy ‘gives a framework’ on how ‘things should be done’. Referred to Okotel saying that council should consult but ‘council does not consult on policies. Council consults on strategies’. Said that like Hyams he would like to see seniors and juniors together but that ‘the group’ didn’t agree on ‘this one’. Referred to sport and the ‘corruption’ that went on in Brimbank council where ‘clubs’ took ‘allocations for clubs or money or whatever’ but this ‘can’t happen here’ because there’s a ‘policy that doesn’t allow that’. In Glen Eira ‘council doesn’t get involved, council doesn’t have a say in who gets allocation’ because ‘the officers make that decision’. But ‘we set the framework’. Said that every corporate body has a ‘group’ that sets policy but then ‘officers implement that policy’. At this point LOBO VOTED AGAINST GIVING LIPSHUTZ A TIME EXTENSION. Lipshutz went on with ‘we have to have a franmework that is clear and unambiguous’. Said that the issue ‘didn’t come to council today out of the blue’ and that ‘every councillor’ has discussed it.

LOBO: said that if ‘I don’t know how minutes are taken at an assembly’ then Lipshutz should know the difference between operations and policy. Said that the latter is established on ‘legal matters’. Here ‘smooth functioning of sports club is all that is required’. If people don’t complain then this shouldn’t be ‘a big hassle’. He will ‘stick to the officers’ recommendation’.

DELAHUNTY: started by saying that it’s not like the officers ‘have been operating without guidelines’. They’ve had strategies and ‘conversations’. Said that there’s not this policy because of the ‘commitment to transparency’ so what’s been previously done under ‘operational’ they are now done under policy and this should be ‘open to the public’. Said this should be true for ‘all operational decisions’ but particularly for decisions that ‘affect so many people’. Council is ‘guardian’ of the facilities so they have to make sure to ensure the ‘longevity’ of these facilities. Said there are ‘principles written into the policy’ because Glen Eira doesn’t have a ‘strategy’ on community sport. Said again that her changes do not alter ‘operational’ matters but that ‘they do seek to make those decisions more transparent’.

MOTION PUT AND CARRIED. VOTING FOR – Delahunty, Esakoff, Hyams, Lipshutz, Pilling, Sounness. VOTING AGAINST – Lobo, Magee, Okotel

 

December 19, 2013

Method Acting & Pure Bull!

Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Open Space, GE Planning, GE Service Performance
[17] Comments 

There were 2 Rights of Reply Tuesday night from Pilling and Magee. Both were supposedly in response to the Southwick remarks in parliament regarding the removal of the Caulfield Park trees.  We highlight these as the supreme example of political grandstanding (especially by Magee) and the puppet performance by Pilling reading out his scripted lines. Laugh out loud, dear readers!

PILLING: claimed that Southwick was ‘not correct’ and that his statements were ‘inaccurate and misleading’.  Pilling denied that the cutting down of trees was on ‘party lines’ but that at ‘every’ stage there was ‘unanimous support’ by councillors. The ‘true number of trees removed is 21′ and many of these trees were in the range of ’15 to 20 years old’. Southwick only contacted council via a letter dated 9th December and on the 12th Pilling answered. He then quoted from that response letter. He read that the alternate proposal won’t ‘address or solve’ the ‘purpose of these works’ and that there was misunderstanding about the ‘need for buffer zones’. The proposed ‘works’ are the same that happened to ovals 5, 6, and 7 in 2008 and over 300 new trees planted. The master plan was ‘adopted after extensive community consultation’ and council has ‘reviewed’ it to ascertain whether the proposed action is ‘still relevant’. Said this was ‘the case in this instance’ and ‘even more so because of increasing pressures’ of high density development. The works are about ‘reducing risk and ensuring safety’. Went on to state that the works were advertised over a month ago and that ‘all councillors’ have had ‘continued dialogue’ with residents and as a result ‘endeavoured’ to ‘reduce the number of trees removed’. The ‘benefit’ of the ‘reconfiguration’ is that ‘over 100 children’ can now ‘participate in organised sport’. All of this is highlighted on council’s website. Concluded that the ‘long term benefits to the community’ outweigh the ‘short term loss’.

MAGEE: said that he ‘appreciated’ Pilling’s right of reply for council but that he wanted to do his own right of reply. Started by saying that Southwick ‘made a couple of fatal errors’ in his speech. Magee then spoke about pre-election and how Southwick had promised to ‘open up the racecourse’. ‘Well now the centre of the racecourse is full of fences’ and a ‘failed miserable playground which is only used during racedays’. Quoted Southwick as claiming this is a Greens/Labor council. Magee then said that the works are part of the ‘warm season grasses’ program and that Lipshutz moved that motion and ‘the last time I looked Cr Lipshutz was not a Labor person’ and he doesn’t remember Lipshutz ‘sitting next to me in an ALP meeting singing ‘Solidarity forever’. Thought that it was ‘disappointing’ that Southwick ‘does say these things’. He could have rung council but instead said something in parliament and Magee will now say something back and Southwick will probably do the same and it is all ‘very childish’. ‘What’s important here is that we are all working for the benefit of our community’ and getting more open space. ‘If Mr Southwick had kept his promise and opened the centre of the racecourse’ then council wouldn’t need to ‘pull down’ the trees because there would be enough sporting grounds. Claimed that the ‘last thing’ council wants to do is remove the ‘loving’ trees. If Southwick ‘wants to condemn us for it, then I condemn him’ and ‘this is his fault’, ‘his inaction, his broken promise’. Southwick didn’t ‘open the centre of the racecourse’ and left council ‘with no alternative’. Said that ‘it’s atrocious that we have to do something like this to a beautiful park like Caulfield park – but we have to’ and ‘it’s Mr Southwick’s fault, not council’s’.

 

December 18, 2013

Rewriting History Again & Again!

Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Council Meeting(s), GE Governance, GE Service Performance
[7] Comments 

Readers will remember that we queried the accuracy of the last set of draft minutes in that the Sounness comments on the removal of Caulfield Park Trees were omitted – despite the fact that other councillor statements were included in the draft minutes. Selective editing and the rewriting of history all over again. Sadly, the minutes (as drafted) were accepted without any single comment by any councillor!

When it came to the minutes of assembly meetings, the following occurred. Lipshutz and Magee moved to accept. Lobo then said:

LOBO: quoted the draft minutes from the 29th October where Hyams brought up the issue of ‘councillor conduct’ and said that ‘these minutes are not a true reflection of what happened’. Went on to say that ‘next year’ council needs to ‘review’ how it does things because it’s pointless to put in ‘a line which has no sense’ and ‘we can’t remove things from the assembly of councillors just because we don’t like something’. Concluded by saying that he wants a ‘proper process’.

HYAMS: claimed that Lobo ‘seems’ to want minutes to ‘record specific comments’ but the minutes only ‘record’ the ‘topics covered and nothing more’ and he thought they were ‘fine’.

LIPSHUTZ: stated that the minutes were ‘perfectly correct’ and that Lobo doesn’t ‘understand’ the purpose about listing topics only.

MOTION PUT: Lobo voted against.

COMMENT

The minutes of councillor assemblies are merely another tool in the armoury of this administration and its compliant councillors. Far from only recording broad topics, the minutes have been used to either place pressure on individual councillors who have not toed the party line, or to further the public relations agenda in portraying council as simply ‘wonderful’. Hyams and Lipshutz really need to revisit some of these minutes to see the complete mistruths of their above statements. Here are just some examples of what we mean and ask readers to contemplate whether these ‘minutes’ are in fact indicating far more than mere ‘topics’.

Minutes of 5th July, 2011 – Hyams – Leader newspaper story on the community satisfaction survey. Said that he had telephoned the Editor of the Caulfield Lead who had conceded that the paper had misinterpreted the facts and had corrected the story of their website. Cr Hyams said that the newspaper had indicated that they would print a corrected story in their next edition.

Magee – GESAC basketball courts allocations. Asked officers to provide councillors with a copy of the ‘brief’ that has been given to the legal practitioner following the Resolution adopted by Council at the 28 June 2011 council meeting (Agenda Iem 12.4 refers)

Hyams – that public questions on matters relating to particular long running issues at Caulfield Park may not constitute harassment under Local Law 232 (j) (iii). How to deal with this issue from hereon.

26th July, 2011

Penhalluriack – Nic Varvodic. Council decision to declare his public questions to be harassment. Need to change the Local Law

9th August 2011 – 12.2 ‘confidential’ – Magee access to two other legal opinions and his conversation with the Ombudsman

PLEASE NOTE: In our report on the council meeting of 27th November, Lobo mentioned his ‘interview’ with the Municipal Inspector. Magee jumped up with a ‘point of order’ (upheld by Pilling) and Hyams then had his say – “Went on to say that ‘the last time’ he spoke with an ‘integrity agency’ he was told all discussions were confidential and commended Magee for the point of order in order to prevent Lobo ‘from breaking that law’.

Our knowledge of such investigations is that not only are discussions ‘confidential’ but investigations themselves are ‘confidential’ and participants are not permitted to reveal their participation. Yet here we have an official record of assembly that confirms Magee’s ‘interview’ with the ombudsman! The Records of Assembly are therefore never an innocuous list of topics discussed. They become as we said another weapon in the attempt to ensure that all councillors toe the party line and thus power and control remain vested in those that compose and distribute the minutes!

PS: AUDIT COMMITTEE MINUTES

Lipshutz moved to accept with amendments to certain words. Sounness seconded.

LIPSHUTZ: repeated the officers’ report that the committee met 4 times during the year and looked at many issues. Emphasised tenders and how ‘this council has got an outstanding record’ when it comes to tenders. Risk management is another area that the council is ‘outstanding on’ and Newton even gives presentations in NSW on risk management. He felt that ‘overall we are kicking goals’ and ‘rated number one’ by various bodies.

Sounness reported on community grants. Okotel then asked a question.

OKOTEL: asked about item 4 of the audit committee meeting minutes where it referred to risk A’; ‘B’ and ‘C’ what ‘these things actually refer to’.

NEWTON: said that the ‘internal auditors’ raised these issues so that they are ranked according to ‘importance’ and ‘A’ is ‘most serious’ and down the scale. These things are ‘reviewed at every meeting, so every meeting knows’ what actions have been taken.

COMMENT

Okotel’s question raises a number of important issues regarding governance, communication, and work done by councillors. There are several ways of interpreting this question:

1. Most importantly – the Audit Committee does not communicate its deliberations and problems back to full council. It remains a closed shop with Lipshutz, Magee, McLean, Gibbs, and Newton running the show and controlling the flow of information?
2. Okotel after being a councillor for one year does not really know what is going on in Audit Committee meetings?
3. Okotel may be asking for the ‘benefit’ of the community. However, that begs the question of why such reports are couched in double-dutch so that the community would not have the foggiest of what the A, B, and C refers to.
4. Has Okotel been performing her duty by asking such questions ‘in-house’ and privately, or has she only picked up on this after one year on council? Or, has she asked and not been provided with an adequate response, so she is now forced to ask in a public forum where a response is required. We note that Newton’s response was certainly bereft of much detail!
5. The Audit Committee has been pronounced by councillors as the most important committee on council. If other councillors do not know what the hell goes on, if they aren’t provided with regular updates, then we can only speculate as to how on top of things the entire group of councillors really is.

We finally note that in the countless records of assembly published for 2013 there is NOT ONE SINGLE MENTION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND ITS DELIBERATIONS.  So, either there are no reports back to all councillors or, as Lobo tells us, the minutes of assemblies are nothing more than fiction!

 

December 17, 2013

Council Meeting Marathon!

Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Council Meeting(s), GE Governance, GE Planning, GE Service Performance
1 Comment 

Detailed reports on tonight’s council meeting will follow in the days ahead. However, readers should note the following outcomes:

  • The Kornhauser application accepted unanimously and not one single word stated about student accommodation/shared housing. Lobo even declared at one point that ‘rabbis would love’ him now!
  • The so called greens see nothing wrong with the Gordon St 8 storey 55 unit development because it’s close to transport and will ‘enliven’ the area. Lobo/Magee motion to refuse got up by 5 votes to 4. Voting against refusal – Lipshutz; Delahunty, Sounness and Pilling
  • The most important items (ie. proposed amendments for large lot sizes and the revisiting the C87) took about 10 minutes in total! Passed unanimously. Our view is another ‘victory’ for developers and deceiving the public.
  • A sporting allocation policy that changes nothing and still cedes all control to unelected officers
  • Audit committee report nothing more than self-congratulations and how wonderful Gibbs and McLean are.
  • CCTV funding from government refused. Voting to accept – Hyams, Esakoff, Okotel.
  • Many public questions demanded that councillors provide INDIVIDUAL answers to specific queries – in other words, tell residents of their views and why they voted or felt the way they did. No councillor had the guts to address the questions and state what their actual views were. Instead it was all about ‘councils’ views.
 

December 17, 2013

Back To Square One!

Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Service Performance
[4] Comments 

cctv

 

December 15, 2013

Double Standards?

Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Council Meeting(s), GE Governance, GE Planning, GE Service Performance
[15] Comments 

This council has had no qualms in spending tens of thousands of dollars in pursuing Frank Penhalluriack over an alleged boarding house violation that in effect was only in existence for several weeks. It would appear that the same diligence, persistence and consistency of law and principle does not apply to all residents and properties. We are referring to the new application for 8 -10 Springfield Avenue, North Caulfield. What councillors are now being asked to do is grant a ‘retrospective permit’ for an ‘education centre’ and we believe a ‘shared accommodation’ site.

The question of  double standards centres on the following:

  • If there is a component of this ‘education centre’ that provides a 10 month course and offers ‘accommodation’ for these students (some of whom are from overseas) does this constitute a ‘boarding house’?
  • Why has council turned a blind eye to this and not pursued the owner in a manner that is commensurate with the approach taken to Penhalluriack? We refer readers to the boarding house registry where they will find that NO PERMIT exists for this property (https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing-and-accommodation/renting/types-of-rental-agreements/public-register-of-rooming-houses?rs=Glen+Eira+City&sz=20&pg=1&ct=4
  • Why does the Ron Torres report not mention the fact that the 10 month course also offers ‘accommodation’. All that we are told is: The intensity of the current version of the proposal has been reduced compared with the previous version that was refused. For example, the 2 week intensive MerkosWomen course will not be offered and a maximum of 10 women will be enrolled in the 10 month course rather than 15. Whilst the maximum number of boys is not proposed to be reduced, the hours of operation will no longer include any Sunday classes. Similarly, there will be no evening classes for the MerkosWomen that were part of the original application.
  • Yet, the current website of Merkos Women, makes it absolutely clear that the site provides for live-in accommodation, and according to the VCAT member the 10 month course charges US $12,000!

Participants are provided with beautiful accommodation in the heart of Melbourne’s Jewish community. The accommodation includes comfortable shared bedrooms, modern formal and informal lounging areas and a large kitchen in which the girls are guided in preparing communal based meals and are given the opportunity to explore the cultural aspect of food preparation. For the hotter summer months, there is a swimming pool and outdoor area.

Source: http://merkoswomen.com.au/general-info-for-overseas-participants

This ‘new application’ is ‘retrospective’. In other words the site has been operating for years without the appropriate permits. And what has council done? Very little it would seem! The earlier VCAT decision even included this admission by Council’s representative (Mr Leary) – Council’s Enforcement Officer having apparently had problems in the past with being granted access on to the subject land. (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VCAT/2013/1157.html)

As to the merits of the ‘new’ application we only reiterate that for years neighbours have complained to council about the operation of this site as a school and they have basically been ignored. Now council proposes to grant a permit despite traffic concerns, and entirely overlooks the question of whether or not the site is in part operating as ‘shared accommodation’. Thus our question of double standards and why the law is not applied equally to all?

Finally, we draw readers’ attention to the following Age/SMH article and especially to the alleged council position as stated in the penultimate sentence – The council has agreed not to fight the move in exchange for a promise from the Kornhausers that they would not seek to force the council to pay any legal costs if the family wins the case.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/family-seeks-to-run-school-20130917-2tx2r.html#ixzz2nUskMgpk

 

December 13, 2013

Agenda: Stuff Ups & Spin

Posted by gleneira under Caulfield Racecourse/C60, Councillor Performance, GE Consultation/Communication, GE Council Meeting(s), GE Planning, GE Service Performance
[10] Comments 

Apologies for what is an exceedingly long post but which focuses on 2 vitally important Amendment proposals that basically admit council’s previous stuff ups, plus the public relations exercise on the C60 and Caulfield Village. Please refer to the actual agenda items on council’s website for other items including – walking strategy, sporting ground allocations policy, and some very interesting in camera items concerning the Audit Committee.

Caulfield Village Development

Rocky Camera’s report is in response to the following Request for a Report passed at last council meeting – “That a report be prepared to determine the best methods to engage with the community surrounding the Caulfield  Racecourse in light of impending developments which will impact their amenity. That the report recommend ways to involve the community in helping to shape the future of their area be that through structure planning or another method used by other councils.”

We note at the outset that the request for ‘methods’ is not really addressed by Mr Camera’s response and ‘structure’ planning is mentioned only twice in passing, in the entire 6 pages of script! Instead, the report is a follow up to the Akehurst comments from this council meeting and the admission that residents’ opportunities to ‘object’ to the Caulfield Village are dead and buried!

Once again there is plenty of misleading information. Even though Probuild has formally announced its intention to build 1500+ units, this report still maintains – “Caulfield Village will contain 1200 dwellings’ and ‘improvements to three main road intersections’. The report then continues with assurances that “details” are known and this followed (of course) ‘extensive community consultation’. Probuild could not have employed a better public relations firm that Glen Eira City Council in spruiking the development as evidenced by the following highly dubious claims.

This document gives certainty to the local community by precisely stipulating building envelopes; their heights, setbacks, and siting. It can be said that the Caulfield Village development is one of the most planned development sites in the municipality. The future development of this land has been “locked in” following a rigorous community consultation and amendment process, the community now has a high level of certainty in what to expect at Caulfield Village. This certainty even extends to the location of new roads, infrastructure upgrades, and the use of laneways. If any person is unaware or unsure of the future development of the Caulfield Village, they simply just need to turn to the Incorporated Plan. In this respect, the community’s involvement in “helping shape the future of the area” has occurred.

The degree of detail and certainty far exceeds what a structure plan could offer. At best, structure plans are policy documents, providing general guidance on future development. The framework for Caulfield Village, with precise controls, and a rigorous ‘recipe’, means there is already absolute certainty about what the extent of future development will be.

Thus, after a page and a half of unfounded assurances, the real truth emerges. All residents will be able to do regarding the Development Plan is submit ‘comments’. They will not have any objection rights to VCAT. The best residents can hope for is that someone with common sense realises that 1500+ units as opposed to 1200+ units, does in fact constitute a marked departure from the Incorporated Plan. The domino effect should then be applied to traffic, etc. But all we’re told is:

if the developer deviates from the Incorporated Plan (‘recipe’) and proposes, say, taller buildings than what is specified in the building envelope. In this case, a full town planning process, together with typical third-party rights must be undertaken. That is, if a proposal contains taller buildings than the agreed envelopes, or departs from the Incorporated Plan, the community needs to be further consulted.

What will be interesting is how ‘deviates’ is defined and by whom and what constitutes a ‘deviation’ from the sorely lacking detail of the Incorporated Plan!

There are several other admissions most notably that the open space levy extracted from the developers only amounts to $4m for the residential components. Given that the law at the time permitted up to 5% Council has again let the big boys off very cheap at 4%! Mention is made of the possibility of ‘back dating’ rates, but we assume that this will be calculated on the miniscule rates that have been part of the Planning Scheme since 2006/7 and not the uppermost limit currently available. Another present to developers!

We urge residents to read this report very, very carefully and to note the following:

  • The first development plan is already in the hands of council and will be made public early 2014
  • After so many assurances that ‘precise details’ are known about the future of this area, the recommendations confess that the C60 in effect only supplies ‘broad parameters’!

NEIGHBOURHOOD CHARACTER AND HERITAGE CONTROLS

If ever there was an admission of a total stuff up then Item 9.9 is the living proof. This harks back to Amendment c87 where the Neighborhood Character Overlays were introduced into the planning scheme. Readers will remember that councillors in their wisdom promised those residents who asked that their areas be included, or not excluded, that they could present their case to the Planning Panel, only to find that the ‘terms of reference’ could not be altered. Hence, all those individuals who believed council found out to their horror that their claims were not relevant to the deliberations of the Planning Panel. We also remind readers that both residents and councillors were not given the opportunity to put in any recommendations – it was all done ‘inhouse’ by officers and through the Planisphere report.

Well now (a year later) there is a massive public relations exercise about to happen, where a handful of residents from that time will get a look in. The proposals are minimalist in the extreme – a couple of more houses added to the heritage listing and basically one more street included. Of course, none of this will happen in the short term, given the length of time it takes for Amendments to get through. We simply ask why this couldn’t have happened right from the start? Why does it take this council attempt after attempt to get something close to ‘correct’?

LARGE SITES – NEIGHBOURHOOD RESIDENTIAL ZONE

This is nothing but a confession that the zone reforms are another major stuff up and this is purely a limited attempt at ‘damage control’ given the outcry from developers. It does not excuse, nor solve the problem as we see it because:

  • The proposed amendment only addresses lots that are larger than 2000 sq. m. What if block of land is 1000sq.m for example?
  • With no minimum size prescribed in the planning scheme we can have subdivisions upon subdivisions so the myth of two dwellings per lot may stand – but the overall effect would mean 2 dwellings on each subdivision. There is nothing in the planning scheme to prevent this and we believe it is already happening.

There is much, more more of significance in these agenda papers. As per the norm, major issues are all presented at the one time so that real discussion, debate, and the prospect of intelligent and careful decision making is jeopardised. We even wonder whether councillors have taken the time to actually read all 377 pages!

PS: We’ve neglected to mention the Elsternwick Plaza item. At last council meeting the following resolution was passed – “That Council not accept VicTrack’s revised offer and continue to advocate for finalisation of the lease as per the original plan.”. This was after the Lipshutz/Hyams motion was defeated. However, being persistent little councillors, we now find that Newton has undertaken further negotiations and that there has been some ‘movement at the station’. This new recommendations DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE EXISTING RESOLUTION. We presume that the motto of the gang is that if you don’t succeed first time around, try, try, try again! It will be fascinating to see if councillors have got the gumption to stick to their original motion or whether they will cave in as per usual. This item just happens to be 9.20 – last cab off the rank when ‘determination’ and ‘stamina’ have been well and truly exhausted by everyone! Ah, the games that we play!

 

December 12, 2013

Hansard: Southwick, FoCP & The Trees

Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Governance, GE Open Space, GE Service Performance
[22] Comments 

PETITIONS

Following petitions presented to the house:

Caulfield Park tree removal

To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria:

The petition of the residents of Caulfield and surrounding areas draws to the attention of the house:

the decision by the councillors of the City of Glen Eira to remove or relocate 37 trees of varying maturity and significance within the Crown land of Caulfield Park in order to enlarge two sporting ovals. This decision deviates significantly from the approved master plan for Caulfield Park and was undertaken without any community consultation.

The petitioners request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria expresses its strong disapproval of this action which was undertaken without due process and urges the City of Glen Eira to reverse this decision and explore options that will minimise the impact on the trees while still allowing for the upgrade of sporting facilities.

By Mr SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (533 signatures).

Caulfield Park trees

Mr SOUTHWICK (Caulfield)—When I first spoke in this house three years ago I said that ‘Caulfield Park has for more than a century been a suburban oasis for the people of Caulfield, providing an escape to nature’. This is still true; a quick walk through Caulfield Park brings people a sense of sanctuary and quiet, with only the jingle of tram route 3 to remind them that they are in the centre of Melbourne in the great and beautiful suburb of Caulfield. For decades passive enjoyment of the park has coexisted with Caulfield’s great community sporting activities of footy, soccer, cricket, lawn bowls and many other great sports that are a key part of the park.

That sense of quiet was blown away yesterday by the sounds of chainsaws and trucks as the City of Glen Eira, led by the Labor-Greens council, set about destroying or relocating 37 mature and significant trees without any consultation with park users or the community. The council claims that the trees need to be removed in order to create a buffer around the sporting ovals and to increase the size of the ovals. Friends of Caulfield Park submitted to council a well-thought-out alternative proposal that would have had minimum impact on the trees, but it was ignored. This morning I tabled a petition of 533 signatures which shows the strength of community opinion the council is so willing to ignore.

There is significant community anger in Caulfield about the decision by council to ride roughshod over the feelings of residents and carelessly destroy trees of significant environmental and historical value. I join my community in utterly condemning this decision by Glen Eira City Council to sneakily destroy these trees.

 

December 10, 2013

News Flash: In The Stealth Of The Night!

Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Consultation/Communication, GE Governance, GE Service Performance
[20] Comments 

Below is the latest Friends of Caulfield Park email –

Council “thumbs it nose” at the Community

Like storm troopers, the secret executioners gathered in the early hours of this morning and, instructed by the administration and its officers, swooped on the 39 trees and cut them down.

The mayor said all the Councillors were behind this move.

He said there was nothing wrong with this action.

We disagree.

We know not all the Councillors were behind him and were kept in the dark about this destruction.

We believe that the Mayor and the administration realised that the FoCP petition of over 500 names (gathered in less than a week) would be presented to Parliament tomorrow and that their plan to cut down the trees would be in jeopardy.   They thought once cut down they were gone and they could proceed with their ill-conceived plan in peace.  With the Festive Season upon us we would all forget their contemptuous action and let them get on with it.  This is bureaucracy at its arrogant worst in overriding community wishes.

We have shown how their justifications for cutting down the trees are fabrications.  So what is the real reason for their determination to proceed, no matter what the community thinks?  If anyone knows the background to their hidden agenda, please drop a note to PO Box 2511 Caulfield Junction 3161.  It appears that they are somehow beholden to sports clubs above all other interests.  Something is rotten in the City of Glen Eira

David Wilde is handing in the Petition on the Parliament steps tomorrow at 9 am and would like others to join him.  If you are able to do so, then ring him on 0417 032 437 tonight up to 9 pm. We realise this is short notice, but please do your best.

What next?  The Council thinks it can thumb its nose at us.  They need to learn that the community is not impressed with their anti-social, anti-community behaviour.  There are two issues here. The one is the loss of the trees, and the other is the Council’s total disregard for the expressed concern of the community about this matter.

Let the Council know what you think of them.  Here are their contact details.  Email, message and phone them and tell them their behaviour is no longer acceptable.  Tell them we want those trees replaced with mature trees where those that were cut down previously stood, and that they cannot spurn the community in this way.

David Wilde

President

We’ve deleted the list of contact details for councillors and Newton!

PS: NOT ONLY DO THEY COME IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT, BUT THEY MAKE SURE THAT ANY ‘EVIDENCE’ IS REMOVED QUICK SMART – so unlike what happens to other trees that are removed and the trunks can lie around for days, if not weeks, untouched. This section of Caulfield Park is now a total wasteland! Residents should remember that the original ‘timetable’ announced that the trees would be removed IN JANUARY!

P1000215 P1000211 P1000212 P1000213

PPS: And from today’s online Leader (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/central/glen-eira-council-culls-21-trees-at-caulfield-park/story-fngnvlpt-1226779662643)

Glen Eira Council culls 21 trees at Caulfield Park

  • Andrea Kellett
  • December 10, 2013 4:17PM
Cranes were used to help remove the mature trees at Caulfield Park. Picture: RICHARD CORNISH

Cranes were used to help remove the mature trees at Caulfield Park. Picture: RICHARD CORNISH Source: Supplied

GLEN Eira Council stands accused of organising a dawn raid tree chop in Caulfield Park without telling residents who were campaigning to save the trees.

Contractors removed and mulched 21 mature trees at the north-eastern end of the park this morning and Friends of Caulfield Park president David Wilde found out while walking his dog in the park at 8.30am.

“This is a deceptive and manipulative move by the administration,” Mr Wilde said.

“When I rang the mayor he said they had done everything by the book … If the book involves deception and manipulation then the book needs to be rewritten.”

Glen Eira Mayor Neil Pilling – a member of the Greens Party – said councillors were told preliminary works were about to start ahead of oval redevelopment but were not told an exact date.

Council signs erected in the park a month ago said redevelopment works for ovals three and four would start in January.

The council is now saying that does not include today’s “preliminary” works.

 

Trees being chopped up for removal from Caulfield Park. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

Trees being chopped up for removal from Caulfield Park. Picture: Derrick den Hollander Source: News Limited

Cr Pilling said the council had listened to the community and reworked its plans to reduce the number of trees that needed to be removed for oval refurbishment.

He refuted allegations of deception and denied councillors had been told not to tell residents.

“No, certainly not,” he said.

“We didn’t know exactly what day it was going to happen. We were advised a week ago that preliminary works would start in the second week of December and that included the trees.”

Caulfield MP David Southwick is also understood to be livid.

He had planned to table a petition to save the trees, containing about 600 signatures, in Parliament tomorrow.

His office confirmed this morning that he was not told about today’s tree chop.

“We had no idea it was going to happen today,” spokesman Adam McKee said.

Caulfield resident Richard Cornish, who photographed the tree chop at 8.20am, described today’s events as a “disturbing, devious dawn raid”.

Residents had vocally opposed plans to chop the trees down, organising protests and lobbying the council and government.

Cr Pilling was swept up in a storm of community outrage last month after news of the council plan to rip out the trees around two sports ovals to “improve” open space at the park’s eastern end.

 

December 8, 2013

Heading In The Right Direction?

Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Consultation/Communication, GE Service Performance
[21] Comments 

Listed below are expenditure figures taken directly from the past 8 budgets which focus on sporting facilities and equipment. As a comparison we also list the amounts assigned to drains and Local Area Traffic Management over this time. Please note that the definition of ‘drains’ according to council is: “Drains include drains in road reserves and sports grounds drainage and irrigation”. Hence when the budget, for example, cites $3m on ‘drains’, residents need to subtract the amount that is set aside for sporting grounds and ‘irrigation’ in order to ascertain the real figures being spent on ameliorating the potential for flooding in residential areas.

At first glance some of the figures presented below appear to be repeated (ie coach boxes). However, no location is provided for many of these apparent ‘duplicates’, and since the sums differ, we can only assume that more than one location is intended.

Some of the costings simply beggar belief as does the numbers of ‘cricket net’ and ‘cricket cover’ replacements. With an ageing population, and a fall in the numbers of residents partaking in ‘organised sport’, we have to seriously question whether the priorities of this council are in line with the majority of residents’ priorities.

Last, but not least, we have omitted many of the “set up” expenditures on GESAC which according to council accounted for more than $7 million.

2006/7 BUDGET

Bricker pavilion – $1.15 million

Implementation of the Joyce Park master-plan – $758,000

Cricket wicket replacement – $54,000

Caulfield Park pavillon/Cricket net Replacement/Car Park access $1,000,000

Sport Ground Lighting program – $327,000

Sport Ground drainage, irrigation & surface reshaping – $277,000

Cricket Net replacement program – $159,000

Sport Ground Drainage – Centenary Park – $124,000

Sport Ground Spoon Drain -King George VI – $57,000

Sport Ground Spoon drain – Koornang Park – $45,000

Replacement of deteriorated coaches boxes at sportgrounds – $36,000

Replacement of deteriorated coaches boxes at sportgrounds – $25,000

High Jump Mats (Junior & Senior) & Enclosure – $45,000

Tennis hit up wall replacement – $37,000

Replacement of Cricket wicket covers at Sportsgrounds – $30,000

Drains – $1.6m

LATM – $100,000

BUDGET 2007/8

Caulfield Park Pavilion – $4.63M

Tennis hit up wall – concrete floor replacement – $18,000

Redesign of new pavilion – $200,000

Synthetic wicket cover replacements – $5,000

Sportsground rolling lighting program – $365,000

Steel goalpost replacement – $25,000

Cricket net replacement program – $246,000

Caulfield Park cricket wicket relocation – $225,000

Players shelter – $25,000

Softball roof and reshaping of diamond – $40,000

Drainage – $3.3M

LATM – $50,000

BUDGET 2008/9

Caulfield Park pavilion – $605,000

Sportsground drainage – $500,000

Sportsground lighting – $305,000

Design works at Duncan McKinnon – $200,000

Duncan McKinnon drought tolerant system – $150,000

Cricket net replacement – $95,000

High jump enclosure modification – $25,000

Minor pavilion renewal works – $40,000

Cricket net replacement – $95,000

Sports Ground lighting rolling program – $305,000

Wicket soil replacement – Moorleigh – $25,000

Improve accessibility to sports fields – $6,000

Sports ground fencing – $14,500

Sports ground drainage – $500,000

Expansion of wicket tables – $20,000

Cricket wicket area remedial works – $28,000

Duncan McKinnon Master Plan – $70,000

Sports ground shelters – $70,000

Duncan McKinnon athletics track speaker system replacement – $5,000

Sports ground spoon drain – Moorleigh Reserve – $50,000

 Drains – $3m

LATM – $50,000

 

BUDGET 2009/10

Sports Grounds Lighting $175,000.

Sports Ground Drought Tolerant Grass – Spring – Centenary – Reserve No.1, Koornang Park, EE Gunn-Oval No.1 $1,234,000

Reconstruction• Sports Ground Drainage, Irrigation, Reshaping and Redesign $650,000;

Reconfiguration of Marlborough Reserve $75,000

Installation of Excluding Zone Fencing $80,000

Sports Ground Drought Tolerant Grass – Autumn – Victory Park  No.1, King George Reserve No.1  $542,000

Cricket Net Upgrades/Replacements Program – $132,000

Pavilion Renewal Upgrade Program – $700,000

Sports Ground Lighting Timing Switches – $15,000

Cricket Wicket Reconstruction, Replacement, Remedial Works – $112,000

Replacement of Soccer & Football Posts – $40,000

Sports Ground Drainage, Irrigation & Redesign – $60,000

Synthetic Covers for Cricket Wickets – $40,000

Athletics Track Line Marking & Maintenance – $50,000

Fitness Equipment Undersurfacing Works – $30,000

Half Costing Fencing Assistance Program – $50,000

Drains – $3m

LATM _ $100,000

 

BUDGET 2010/11 

Sport ground drought tolerant grasses rolling program – $1,305,000

Sports ground lighting rolling program – $150,000

Duncan McKinnon Pavilion Upgrade – $750,000

Crcket Net synthetic surface replacement program at Koornang Park – $15,000

Detail design and documention of master plan – Marlborough Reserve and Caulfield Park sports grounds 3 and 4 – $55,000

Sports ground shelter (EE Gunn Reserve) – $30,000

Reshaping and resurface of Diamond 3 at Bailey Reserve – $50,000

Synthetic covers for cricket wickets – $40,000

Drip irrigation – sports fields – $130,000 

Drains – $3m

LATM – $325,000

 

BUDGET 2011/12 

Sports Ground Drought Tolerant Grass  $1,435,000

Sports Grounds Upgrade $70,000

Pavilion Renewal Upgrade $5,500,000

Replace Coaches Boxes (EE Gunn Reserve) – $35,000

Replacement of Synthetic Cricket Wicket Surface – $50,000

Driveway for Tractor Access to Sports Field – $30,000

Upgrade of Athletic Track Throwers Cages, Shot Put Zone & Surrounding Surfaces – $70,000

Drains – $3,

LATM – $360,000

 

BUDGET 2012/13

Sports Ground Drought Tolerant Grass – $650,000

Sports Ground Lighting -$125,000

Pavilion Upgrade- Duncan Mackinnon – $1,085,000

Pavilion Upgrade (Design) – Centenary Park – $200,000

Installation of Synthetic Cricket Wicket Surface – $30,000

Packer Park Velodrome Upgrade – $160,000

Heating Systems Renewal within Pavilions – $48,000

 

Drains – $3.94m (Including $450,000 govt grant that has to be returned since the full project for Boyd Park was abandoned)

LATM – $200,000

 

BUDGET 13/14 

Sports ground drought tolerant grasses – Caulfield park (ovals 3 and 4) – $650,000

Sports ground lighting, Duncan Mackinnon Oval; Duncan Mackinnon Track – $160,000

Pavilion upgrade – Duncan Mackinnon – $2,150,000

Construction of new Pavilion – Centenary Park – $1,300,000

Replacement and installation of synthetic cricket wicket surfaces within practice nets – $15,000

Softball diamond fencing upgrade – $85,000

Public tennis court resurfacing – $50,000

Packer park velodrome track resurfacing – $85,000

Centre wicket protecting fencing – $14,000

Drainage of tennis courts – EE Gunn Reserve – $60,000

Sport ground safety fencing Oval 1 King George Reserve – $25,000

Drains – $3.5m

LATM – $200,000

 

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