SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2006
A Happy New Year to all members.
We begin with a welcome to our new Council, congratulate each councilor on their election, on their adoption individually and jointly of the revised Code of Conduct and to an auspicious beginning . It may also be of interest to residents who do not attend Council meetings that after the prayer at the opening of each Council meeting, Councillors recite together the following declaration:
I declare that I will undertake the duties of the office of Councillor in the best interests of the people of the municipal district of Glen Eira and faithfully and impartially carry out the functions, powers, authorities and discretions vested in me under the Local Government Act 1989 or any other Act to the best of my skill and judgement.
We look forward to co-operation and effectiveness in consultation between GERA, the community and this new Council, comprising:
Tucker Ward |
Rosstown Ward |
Camden Ward |
His Worship the Mayor being Cr. David Feldman.
We understand all councillors have participated in an extensive induction programme and attended a weekend study together.
Good Co-operation between councillors and officers
At the Council meeting on the 6th February a large crowd of young basketball players learned of some excellent co-operation between Councillors and officers to overcome problems presented when an application was made by Bentleigh Secondary College for community use of their basketball stadium outside normal school hours. What seemed like insuperable traffic and car parking problems were overcome by some close attention from Crs. Ashmor and Spaulding with help from Mr. Jeff Akehurst to amend conditions for timing and access.
Questions to Council
Among other business at the same meeting we were not so favourably impressed when Council in a majority vote decided to amend procedure for public Questions to Council, by ruling that questions must be lodged by 12.30pm on the day of the Council meeting instead of the time honoured practice of these questions being taken near the close of the meeting so that questions arising out of procedures and decisions in the actual meeting could be raised at the meeting.
So, if you have questions you wish to raise, get them in before midday on the day of the Council meeting or get them to us before that time so we can raise them.
All Councillors have an Email address which is their <initialsurname@gleneira.vic.gov.au> and the Mayor is mayor@gleneira.vic.gov.au
Zagame Corporation proposal for 23-storey tower at 25 Derby St.
You may recall that this application for a Planning Permit was mentioned in our Spring Newsletter. Council on the 21 November decided to refuse the application on the grounds of unsatisfactory design but did not advertise the application . We were disturbed by this failure to inform neighbours and public and it has still not been advertised.
Zagame’s consultants have made an Appeal to VCAT and we understand are preparing amendments but to date there has been no publication of this application which we know is of concern to people who have not heard about the possibility. We now know that VCAT at a “Directions’ hearing on 3 March indicated that public advertising would occur but probably not before June next, as time is required by Zagame’s consultant to complete amendments to the design.
Aged Persons Housing Policy
Council has prepared a draft policy for the above purpose, Planning Scheme Amendment C50 which will be regarded as a “seriously entertained" policy of Council until it goes through public exhibition and possibly a report from an independent panel. It does not yet appear to have been posted to the Council website but copies are probably available. Please contact us if you wish to contribute.
‘The End of the Suburban Dream ?’
This programme is to be hosted on Counterpoint (National Radio 621 kHz ) on Monday 6th March. In the past 10 years, governments have restricted land releases, forcing people into flats and townhouses. Old suburbs are being disfigured. But is this what we want ? Australian urban specialists, Peter Newman and Patrick Troby, debate the end of the suburban dream.
Two Great Parks
You may recall that at a GERA public meeting including some councillors in 2003, it was unanimously resolved that our Council should plant main roads with trees to form a canopy ‘Park’ and better utilize the ‘Caulfield Racecourse Recreation Reserve and Public Park’ by increasing its visibility and its accessibility for the public on non-race days. The current Council budget includes provision for planting the first trial trees in a section of one road and our Mayor has indicated his support.
Caulfield Racecourse Trust
Council in early February nominated three Councillors, Crs. .Esakoff, Tang and Whiteside as Trustees of the Caulfield Racecourse Trust. We quote excerpts from the Council agenda by CEO Andrew Newton:
‘Most of the Racecourse sits on Crown Land. The Crown Grant, 1949, reserved the land for a “ Race Course, Recreation and Public Park at Caulfield…”
The Crown Grant established a Trust to govern the use of the land.
Members of the Trust are appointed by the Governor–in-Council. In effect. this is the State Government of the day.’
Hence, the nominated Councillors will become Trust members when accepted by the Victorian State Government.
The CEO continues,
‘The Racecourse Trust has the usual responsibilities of a Trust for the governance of the land. The Caulfield Racecourse discharges most of its activities through a lease to the Melbourne Racing Club.
The first purpose of the Crown Grant is well provided for. At present there are approximately 20 race meetings a year. There is also training of horses in the early mornings. Outside these times there appears to be the opportunity for greater use of the Crown Land for the other two purposes for which it was established: a public recreation ground and public park.’
It will be recalled that we have for some years made applications to the Caulfield Racecourse Trust for improved public access and community recreation space within the Racecourse Reserve without anything more than “agreement in principle”.
We are now, however, pleased to report that the newly nominated Trustees have undertaken to support these efforts, by ourselves and others, for which we are very thankful.
Our GERA Inc. AGM
Our re-elected committee has the following membership:
| President | Jack Campbell | Members : | Anne Abbott |
| Vice President | Kevin Robins | David Bloom | |
| Hon. Treasurer | Max Pleydell | Donald Dunstan | |
| Secretary | Geoffrey Paterson | Sue Nolle | |
| Val Johnstone
(by co-option) |
|||
Committee meetings are held 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of each month and
members are welcome as observers. For details or attendance phone 9523 9228.
Please note that because of the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend, the next committee meeting is to be held on Tuesday 7th June.
Jack Campbell.
4th March 2006