Glen Eira Debates

Today’s Caulfield Leader –

IT CUTS BOTH WAYS

COUNCILLOR Michael Lipshutz described Helen Whiteside’s resignation from Glen Eira Council as done with ‘‘spite and malice’’. ‘‘Spite and malice’’ plus ‘‘disdain and arrogance’’ singled out Cr Lipshutz from any other councillor when he responded to residents exercising their democratic right in opposing construction of the pavilion in Caulfield Park.

Arrogance yet again can describe Cr Lipshutz when he was seen walking his schnauzer off-lead in a clearly deemed ‘‘on lead’’ area in Park Cres, Caulfield Park, on August 22.

Cr Lipshutz was flagrantly disobeying the bylaws in the ward and municipality for which he is a councillor.

DON’T BELIEVE THEM

GLEN Eira Council is blatantly lying about childcare availability in this area (‘‘Time runs out for kids,’’ Leader, July 20). There are not enough places to cover demand – you simply cannot get your child into childcare in any centre in this area right now.

Now with the closure of Elsternwick Children’s Centre, the pressure on families in the area will be extraordinary. Is the council expecting people in the area to stop having babies or families to stop working? What a choice for us to make. Surely it is part of the council’s remit to help families, not make life impossible.

CLEAN THEM OUT

THE management of Glen Eira Council needs a clean-out (‘‘Deputy mayor quits,’’ Leader, August 10). Replace all the senior executives. The cosy arrangement between the Glen Eira planning department and the racecourse developers is enough to have questions asked.

From Moorabbin Leader –

CHILD CARE CLAIM UNTRUE

Glen Eira council is wrong about child care availability in this area. There are not enough places to cover demand – you simply cannot get your child into childcare in any centre in this area right now.

Now with the closure of Elsternwick’s Children Centre, the pressure on families will be extraordinary. Is the Council expecting people to stop having babies or to stop working?

We expect that tomorrow morning at 10.30am, Cheryl Forge will be declared the new Glen Eira Councillor to replace Helen Whiteside. This means that Cr. Forge will be presiding over her first council meeting tomorrow night.

With this new player in the mix, it will be interesting to observe what, if anything, flows as a consequence of her election. We urge residents to attend this meeting and see for themselves.

Item 9.6 listed in the Agenda for next council meeting raises many questions. Here is a seemingly innocuous amendment that seeks to establish a car park for a current supermarket in Murrumbeena Road. According to the officer’s report, one residential dwelling will be demolished and the car park created. The land will be rezoned from Residential 1 to Business 1. There were five submissions – 2 opposing and 3 in favour. Straight forward you say? No, no, no!

The recommendation is: “That Council resolves to request the Minister for Planning to refer Amendment C76 to an Independent Panel to consider submissions.”

What on earth is going on here? What aren’t we being told? Why seek a panel? Ostensibly this is minor stuff, not a huge development. Why waste everyone’s time, including money, for something so apparently ‘trivial’. What is the hidden agenda/motive? If anyone has any ideas on this, then please let us know.

Strong and persistent rumour has it that the Municipal Inspector’s Report will be handed down to relevant parties today – ie. Friday, 27th August.

Given past history, we anticipate a whitewash, with the possible feather like tap on the wrist to certain individuals.

1. Councillor Elect

Looks like Cheryl Forge is a shoe-in to be declared the new councillor following Whiteside’s resignation. We’ve done our sums and on preferences Forge is way ahead of the other candidates. With a long history as advocate for public access to the Caulfield Racecourse, and planning issues in general, the community anticipates some interesting times ahead.

2. Elsternwick 10 storey application

There’s a planning meeting organised for this high rise development in early August. For full details please see: http://elsternwickcommunity.wordpress.com

Debate is the foundation of all democracies. Debate allows proponents not only to articulate and defend their positions, but it ensures accountability and responsible decision making. For the past decade Glen Eira has been bereft of genuine and vigorous debate. Far too often residents have no clear idea of why certain decisions are made, nor the bases for such decisions. Council meetings regularly become mutual admiration societies, rather than the forum for discussion, argument, persuasion, facts, figures, and respect for community views. Residents deserve better than this. If local councils are truly the ‘third tier of government’ as proclaimed by such peak bodies as the MAV and VLGA, then Councillors and Administrators must be prepared to voice individual opinions, and stand ready to back up such opinions with reasoned argument.

Glen Eira Debates intends to become the forum where such debate may take place. We extend an open invitation to all councillors and administrators to engage with their community in an open and transparent fashion. Let us read what you think and why you hold this view. Let us debate the issues that will see local governments become more than ‘service’ agencies and really fulfil their mandates as representatives of the people!

A couple of rules however:

1. Comments will be vetted by several moderators so that defamatory remarks are censored
2. Anonymity will be maintained – simply post your comments under aliases if you like
3. Reasoned argument and ‘fact’ will always be welcomed on any issue affecting residents and ratepayers of Glen Eira

Finally, Glen Eira Debates will seek to redress what many see as the malaise of the past decade. Both criticism and praise will be levelled where appropriate and fudged figures and facts disclosed as nothing more than spin. It’s time that Glen Eira is seen as more than a cosy ‘club’. It must become a vibrant and proactive municipality that is transparent and fully accountable for its decision making.