Stop City of Greater Geelong selling the Esperence Cres Barrabool Hills Highton reserve
Stop City of Greater Geelong selling the Esperence Cres Barrabool Hills Highton reserve
The issue
At the 12 May 2020 City of Greater Geelong Council meeting Councillors voted for an 'intention to sell' the 0.5 ha land currently zoned Reserve in the Barrabool Hills part of Highton. While this decision beggared belief given the lack of accessible open space in the area [see map] and the fact the land is currently zoned Reserve [also see map], it is not too late, but it will take people power to overturn so we need your support, now. This petition will be lodged with Council as evidence the sale should not proceed.
Under section 189 of the Local Government Act 1989 Council must give public notice of the intention to sell land and invite submissions - if you want this to remain a Reserve, we need your help by signing this petition, and also by making a personal submission to Council stating you do not want the land sold, and providing you agree, that it should be developed into a public park with a playground. Also, request to be heard 'in person by the Submissions Review Panel'. Obviously due to Covid-19/Coronavirus this may be difficult but it is important.
Upon contacting the Council enquiry line, we have been told that feedback is to be provided via the 'Have Your Say' part of their website [website link]. The three Councillors for our ward (Kardinia) who will be looking out for our interests are: Bruce Harwood, Pat Murnane and Ron Nelson. Contact details for all Councillors can be found here: https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/councillors/default.aspx.
The official address of the land is 34-40 Esperence Crescent, Highton. It is located south-west of the Barrabool Hills Shopping Centre, bounded by Province Boulevard, Esperance Crescent and Avondale Avenue. The land is a perfect place for a park as evidenced by its location - easy walking access of hundreds of homes, and its current usage by children and adults for physical activities such as flying kites, playing ball games, or exercising with friends 'boot camp' style. A previous petition called for such a park to be developed: https://www.change.org/p/contactus-geelongcity-vic-gov-au-residents-in-the-barrabool-hills-area-would-like-a-decent-park-playground-area
According to Council's Open Space Policy: "The City of Greater Geelong is committed to the provision and maintenance of open space as areas to satisfy the recreational and leisure needs of the community without jeopardising the environmental integrity of vegetation corridors and wildlife habitats."
Given the hilly nature of this part of Highton the excuse that 'there's plenty of open space in Highton' does not pass the sniff test. This is also a matter of social equity; there is a lack of social infrastructure within walking distance of Barrabool Hills, this land represents opportunity to provide this in future, let alone provide open space as it is now. It would be short-sighted to sell off the land now when Council cannot say whether in 10-20-30 years from now there may be a need to develop the land as a full blown 'community centre'. In the interim the land could be either left as it is - for use by the community, or better yet have a playground constructed. A community effort could be made to help raise funds if necessary as has happened in the past.
People moved to this area having taken account of the 5,000m2 of land zoned Reserve; they did not expect if could be sold to raise money for use elsewhere. According to a Council document, "the sites will generate market interest especially the Highton site which is prime development land" - that is the point of course, people who bought, some of them quite recently, others 10-15 years ago, will find themselves with who knows what being built over the road or next door.
It may well be that Councillors or officers were unaware of the importance of this land as a de facto reserve, or the lack of any suitable accessible public open space in this immediate location; in which case the community will be understanding providing the land is not sold. With an election coming up that provides an alternative forum for residents to provide their feedback but we believe simply overturning this decision would be sufficient. Thank you for your support, please share this among your social networks, sign this petition, and most importantly provide formal feedback to the Council as mentioned earlier.
Information sources:
Contact details of Councillors:
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/councillors/default.aspx
Council general contact page (you could make a submission here):
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/contact/default.aspx
Council 'notice': https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/meetings/news/item/8d7f7292bb1386a.aspx
Council meeting agenda 12 May 2020: https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/common/Public/Documents/8d6eb5f226fbb3f-agenda-communityfocuscouncilmeeting-12may.pdf
Council meeting minutes 12 May 2020:
Wandana Development Plan (approved by Council, covers the Barrabool Hills part of Highton):
Council Open Space Policy:
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/governance/documents/item/9394cd73.aspx
The issue
At the 12 May 2020 City of Greater Geelong Council meeting Councillors voted for an 'intention to sell' the 0.5 ha land currently zoned Reserve in the Barrabool Hills part of Highton. While this decision beggared belief given the lack of accessible open space in the area [see map] and the fact the land is currently zoned Reserve [also see map], it is not too late, but it will take people power to overturn so we need your support, now. This petition will be lodged with Council as evidence the sale should not proceed.
Under section 189 of the Local Government Act 1989 Council must give public notice of the intention to sell land and invite submissions - if you want this to remain a Reserve, we need your help by signing this petition, and also by making a personal submission to Council stating you do not want the land sold, and providing you agree, that it should be developed into a public park with a playground. Also, request to be heard 'in person by the Submissions Review Panel'. Obviously due to Covid-19/Coronavirus this may be difficult but it is important.
Upon contacting the Council enquiry line, we have been told that feedback is to be provided via the 'Have Your Say' part of their website [website link]. The three Councillors for our ward (Kardinia) who will be looking out for our interests are: Bruce Harwood, Pat Murnane and Ron Nelson. Contact details for all Councillors can be found here: https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/councillors/default.aspx.
The official address of the land is 34-40 Esperence Crescent, Highton. It is located south-west of the Barrabool Hills Shopping Centre, bounded by Province Boulevard, Esperance Crescent and Avondale Avenue. The land is a perfect place for a park as evidenced by its location - easy walking access of hundreds of homes, and its current usage by children and adults for physical activities such as flying kites, playing ball games, or exercising with friends 'boot camp' style. A previous petition called for such a park to be developed: https://www.change.org/p/contactus-geelongcity-vic-gov-au-residents-in-the-barrabool-hills-area-would-like-a-decent-park-playground-area
According to Council's Open Space Policy: "The City of Greater Geelong is committed to the provision and maintenance of open space as areas to satisfy the recreational and leisure needs of the community without jeopardising the environmental integrity of vegetation corridors and wildlife habitats."
Given the hilly nature of this part of Highton the excuse that 'there's plenty of open space in Highton' does not pass the sniff test. This is also a matter of social equity; there is a lack of social infrastructure within walking distance of Barrabool Hills, this land represents opportunity to provide this in future, let alone provide open space as it is now. It would be short-sighted to sell off the land now when Council cannot say whether in 10-20-30 years from now there may be a need to develop the land as a full blown 'community centre'. In the interim the land could be either left as it is - for use by the community, or better yet have a playground constructed. A community effort could be made to help raise funds if necessary as has happened in the past.
People moved to this area having taken account of the 5,000m2 of land zoned Reserve; they did not expect if could be sold to raise money for use elsewhere. According to a Council document, "the sites will generate market interest especially the Highton site which is prime development land" - that is the point of course, people who bought, some of them quite recently, others 10-15 years ago, will find themselves with who knows what being built over the road or next door.
It may well be that Councillors or officers were unaware of the importance of this land as a de facto reserve, or the lack of any suitable accessible public open space in this immediate location; in which case the community will be understanding providing the land is not sold. With an election coming up that provides an alternative forum for residents to provide their feedback but we believe simply overturning this decision would be sufficient. Thank you for your support, please share this among your social networks, sign this petition, and most importantly provide formal feedback to the Council as mentioned earlier.
Information sources:
Contact details of Councillors:
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/councillors/default.aspx
Council general contact page (you could make a submission here):
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/contact/default.aspx
Council 'notice': https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/meetings/news/item/8d7f7292bb1386a.aspx
Council meeting agenda 12 May 2020: https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/common/Public/Documents/8d6eb5f226fbb3f-agenda-communityfocuscouncilmeeting-12may.pdf
Council meeting minutes 12 May 2020:
Wandana Development Plan (approved by Council, covers the Barrabool Hills part of Highton):
Council Open Space Policy:
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/governance/documents/item/9394cd73.aspx
Victory
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Petition created on 20 May 2020