It is now four weeks in a row that the Caulfield Glen Eira Leader has run stories on the infamous ‘mulch heap’ – 3 on the front page. No other story in recent times, including the sacking of Council and Newton’s threatened legal actions have achieved such prominence. One has to seriously wonder why? One also has to seriously consider Penhalluriack’s view, stated at Council meeting, that there is an orchestrated campaign going on here. If so, then who is behind it? What undue influence is being brought to bear? Why has the Leader largely ignored the Occupational Health and Safety issues that this whole saga centres on? Why is Penhalluriack being singled out when 6 other councillors voted to close the facility? Why hasn’t the Leader questioned anything about the role of the Audit Committee and its failure to act in a timely manner? Why hasn’t the Leader basically asked the fundamental question, which is:
If safety precautions such as clear, unambiguous warning signs, sprinklers, masks, gloves, etc. are now seen to be essential in mitigating any risk to workers and the public, then why weren’t these precautions taken years ago? Does this mean that for years and years Newton and council have been negligent in their Occupational Health and Safety obligations? And why, oh why, was this facility ever placed near a playground and school? Who is responsible for such an appalling decision?
We’ve also learnt that instead of publishing a letter by Cr. Penhalluriack in response to the Leader’s coverage, all they did was pinch his headline for their own (negative) story!
Surely good journalism involves checking one’s facts, investigation of sources, rather than simply relying on Newton’s reports and the spin of media releases by Council. We have no doubt that residents were baffled and even upset by the decision to close the facility. It is therefore even more incumbent on any newspaper to ensure that the facts are available and that the story is written without bias and without the hint of undue influence. This has not happened.
Today’s ‘story’ by Jenny Ling is below.
Mulch service rethink: Cultivating support has paid off for gardeners
GLEN Eira Council has bowed to public pressure and is looking at relocating their much loved mulch service.
Nearly two months after councillors voted to remove the free service from Glen Huntly Reserve, officers have been told to prepare a report detailing the costs and feasibility of reinstating it.
In a statement, Mayor Margaret Esakoff said that ‘‘in response to community sentiment on the closure of the mulch facility, council wants to determine if there is a different location for it within Glen Eira’’ . ‘ ‘ All necessary measures would be taken if a suitable location is found to ensure associated risks are fully addressed,’’ Cr Esakoff said.
Gardening enthusiasts were outraged when the council closed the facility after two decades due to health fears — fears that were rebuffed by health authorities and gardening experts.
At the May 17 meeting, councillors voted six to one to investigate other sites. Cr Frank Penhalluriack — who raised concerns of legionnaires’ disease after reading reports on the internet — voted against it.
Deputy Mayor Jamie Hyams said he expected the report to be finished within two months.
If reinstated, the mulch service would be away from a school or children’s playground, he said.
There would be a ‘‘greater emphasis on safe handling’’ and an automatic sprinkler system to keep dust down, because dust could harbour airborne bacteria, he said.
‘‘It was obviously a service that some members of the community valued, but we have to weigh that up against any health risks,’’ Cr Hyams said.
Glen Eira Debates 