We've put together some sample letters you may like to use as a basis fot providing your comments to council. Feel free to use, and modify to suit.
Letter 1
Letter 2
Here is a selection of feedback to MVCC that has been sent to us:
I have never written to council or contacted any councillor in the 10 years I have been living in Ascot Vale, however, I am doing so because I feel so strongly about the future use of Fairbairn Park.
Moonee Valley Council is calling for community input concerning the draft “Fairbairn Park Master plan” that will provide guidance and direction on how the park will be utilised, enjoyed, improved and maintained into the future.
The Mayor of Moonee Valley City Council, Cr Paul Giuliano recently stated on the council website that “the proposals within the draft master plan were just ideas at this stage, no decisions have been made and we are keen to hear all comments and suggestions while the draft master plan is on consultation. I urge all ratepayers to provide council with their thoughts on their proposal.”
After attending the public meeting at Riverside Golf & Tennis Centre on November 12th I came away with a feeling of dread that this proposal appeared to be a fait accompli and that it was just a matter of course that our council would agree to the proposal.
The main proposals in the draft master plan include improving:
• Maribyrnong River Edge precinct
• Access, entry to the park, and how people move around the park
• Playground and picnic areas
• Pedestrian and cycle paths
• Pavilions and sporting infrastructure
• Improving sustainable watering techniques
Some of these components of the master plan are wonderful and will enhance the current park amenity, however, the relocation of Essendon Cricket Club to Fairbairn Park will change the use and function of the park forever. When donating the land to the community Mr. Fairbairn’s purpose was to provide the community with an open access community park with open spaces for the enjoyment of all. What a gesture. If he were alive now I believe he would have some interesting feedback for our councillors if this proposal is supported.
This Master Plan proposal has been funded by Essendon Football and Cricket Clubs. I understand Essendon Football Club and the State Government are willing to contribute around $2.5 million to the relocation project. Would this so-called master plan exist today if it were not for the fact that Essendon Football Club does not want the Essendon Cricket Club at Windy Hill any longer? In my opinion the council website page is presented in such a way that suggests improvements are to be made to the current facilities with the blessing of all groups concerned, and fails to mention that any work or major maintenance of the park is contingent upon accepting the Cricket Club’s relocation.
Is it only me or do others believe that Council should fund their own investigations and not be placed in an awkward position where they may be beholden to vested interest groups who are vitally interested in the outcomes? How many other council master plan proposals are completely funded by powerful lobby groups who stand to benefit from the proposed changes? For this council to even remotely consider this proposal is a disgrace. Why should a fantastic public asset be monopolised by one group?
The Essendon cricket club has perhaps 40-50 players and 200-300 members. Should they benefit over the interests of all other groups and local residents? I think not. Don’t get me wrong, I love cricket and would love to walk down to the park to watch district cricket, but not at the expense of the local community and current park users.
The new design will leave only 4 small ovals for public use instead of 8. Already it is difficult for junior teams to get an oval for their games. Has council investigated Essendon Fields or the Canning Street Defence Department site as possible relocation sites?
The proposal to redevelop the north end of the park with two large turf ovals for Essendon cricket club use also includes the building of a 700 sq m licensed premises between Woods Street and the main oval. I believe this proposed building within the parkland area should not be permitted. The larger of the ovals will have a rail fence and there are plans to erect two large protective fences one in front of the “spider web” playground, the other near the existing cricket nets and along part of Wood Street. These nets will be an eyesore. I suppose families using the playground equipment and barbeque area will need protection from cricket balls being smashed down the ground, but this fence will mean the grassy play areas are separated from the BBQ and playground areas, restricting open play and movement for groups using the facilities. How long would it be before the club erects sponsor signs around the fenced main ground and introduces poker machines? Does this sound enticing to anyone?
Over the next few years the Ascot Chase medium density housing development on the old Orica site on Newsom Street will bring more people into the local area who will be using the park, or what is left of the park if this proposal is pushed through by our council.
I would like to quote Cr. Guiliano who recently stated “Through master planning projects, Council gets the opportunity to work with the community and find a balance between encouraging people to be active, ensuring open space is not overused and conserving water. As the population of Melbourne continues to grow, Council will have the increasing challenge of providing and maintaining precious open space for all of Moonee Valley.” I would agree that Council will have a mammoth task to do this if they ruin the last large park in our area.
Cr Guiliano goes on to say that “council has already received some great feedback from residents and sporting groups about the proposals involving upgrading the park including opinions about relocating the Essendon cricket teams to Fairbairn Park.” I would suggest from the investigations and conversations I have had with locals that this comment should mention that the feedback has been overwhelmingly negative. At the public meeting at the golf club not one speaker was for this proposal!
Essendon Cricket Club competes in district cricket at the elite level. District cricket clubs pay most of their senior players who come from many different suburbs, not just the local area. You cannot play for this club unless you are at the elite level. A large slice of Fairbairn Park will become a cricket facility for elite players and open access, open public spaces will be lost forever.
It may be true that the initial meeting/s to begin the draft Master plan had a reference group including representatives from the Riverside Golf and Tennis Centre, local resident representatives, sporting clubs that use Fairbairn Park, park users, the Essendon Canoe Club, Sea Scouts, Friends of Maribyrnong Valley, as well as the Essendon Cricket Club, however, once the Master Plan was released, representatives from these groups attended the public meeting at the Riverside golf club and all were against the proposal if it meant the relocation of the cricket club to Fairbairn Park at the expense of the open access parklands.
I urge all local residents to contact the council and strongly voice their disapproval of this plan before it is too late.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Kenna
I refer to the proposal to construct two turf cricket grounds for use by Essendon Cricket Club (“ECC”), fencing off the ovals in the northern end of the park and the construction of various new infrastructures.
The proposal by council and ECC would have a significant negative impact on access and use of the park.
The proposal would significantly detract from the already limited access which passive groups and local residents have to the park all day on Saturday, mid morning on a Sunday and during the evenings on a week day.
As it currently stands there is an imbalance in access to the park given in favour of cricket clubs who use the eight existing cricket pitches, followed by soccer and Aussie clubs rules to the detriment of "single voice".
The relocation of ECC would only exacerbate the situation and create;
· Introduction of a restricted area of the park via fenced oval and roped off turf wickets and practice wickets,
· Approximately one fifth of the park or greater would become exclusive for the use and access of the ECC
· Further reduction in access to the overall park by the community due to the greater demands on the ovals by premier grade cricket – playing training and pitch preparation
· Existing cricket clubs – junior and senior in the NWCA and MMVCA will need to find alternative grounds and /or increase Sunday play (leading to even more restrictions for use of the park by the wider community )
· Dog owners would eventual forfeit their entitlement to walk their dog “off-leash” which has already started on a Saturday(all day from 8.00am to 6.00pm), part of Sunday and mid-evenings during the week days particularly around the time of peak usage because of cricket training, soccer and football.
· Potential to affect soccer club due to inevitable pressure on council to allow Australian Rules use on the new ovals
· Affect on the playground and BBQ areas which will be adjacent to the main oval introducing a potential safety issue,
· the transfer of the liquor licence bring extra noise from patrons, broken glass in the park and street s , anti-social and drinking behaviour unless council make the surrounding area alcohol free zone. There is already broken glass and drunken behaviour from the Golf Club and surrounding pubs.
The ECC and new infrastructure will further isolate the local residents, rate payers and in favour of a select group, plus bring extra noise and traffic on weekends (day and night) with a further reduction in overal safety and quality of life to local residents,
Impact on Dog owners and use of the park for walking off-leash
At the moment, the junior cricket club have raised their concerns over the imminent loss of access to two of the existing eight cricket pitch.
Local residents and visitors who walk their dogs off leash are and will be more seriously disadvantaged.
Despite claims by council and ECC to the contrary, a significant area of the park has and is increasingly becoming non accessible to the general public for walking dogs “off-leash”.
There are six signs throughout the park which read that dogs can be walked off –leash and yet Council recently erected a single sign advising that dogs must be on leash within 15 metres of any public activities and within pathways. The overcrowding of the park with sporting activities on Saturday and Sunday means that a responsible dog owner is not permitetd to walk their dogs off leash on Saturdays and part of Sunday , Friday and Thursday evenings,
The sign inside the park was erected without consultation or debate with local residents who campaigned for the park to be “off-leash” for walking of dogs.
I would respectful request that council advise me in writing which statutory body approved the change of status of the park and its legal authority to make the amendment as per the sign I identified above.
New housing estate
There is a new housing estate with 400 homes to be erected in the old ICI site area adjacent to the Golf Course and Fairbairn park. The new homes will be located within the confinements of Newson Street, Doncaster Street and Walter Street.
The new housing with bring approximately 1200 new cars and dramatic rising in local traffic.
Once estate vehicles plus the inflow of traffic under the ECC and master plan are accounted for, the situation is impractical.
The residents of Ascot Vale need more open space for passive users. The increase of residents in the estate and families from the subdivision of large housing blocks to townhouses indicates that council should be preserving not reducing the open space areas of the park for passive activities and not take it away for ECC.
I ask that council abandon the proposal to construct two turf cricket grounds for use by Essendon Cricket Club (“ECC”), fencing off the ovals in the northern end of the park and the construction of various new infrastructures.
Any council member who supports the proposal should anticipate that that they risk not being re-elected in future.
Name supplied