Dear Eltham Residents,

I am a member of the local community and, like yourselves. I am a frequent visitor to Eltham Lower Park with my two children.

My children and I both ride horses, and have been users of the park both on and off horseback. 

There are TWO clubs based at Eltham Lower Park, They are:

• Eltham Pony Club
• Eastern Region Adult Riding Club

I do NOT speak for or represent either of these clubs.

I am currently a member of ONE of these clubs.

When i refer to the grounds in this letter, i will refer to it as the ' pony club grounds ' as it is colloquially known, but i do not refer to Eltham Pony Club.

I am a user of the park, my children also use the grounds, as do many in the local area. I also take children on who's parents cannot afford horses, they also ride my ponies. 

There have been horses at Eltham Lower Park for hundreds of years. According to the Eltham Historical Society in the mid-1800's it was used as a racetrack, as well as a place of safety from bushfires for horses.

Eltham Pony Club is one of the oldest in Melbourne, and has played a historic role in the formation of the area as being a ' green wedge zone '. At one point it was one of the biggest clubs in Melbourne and has nurtured young riders who have gone onto International ( FEI ) level eventing - representing Australia on the World Stage.

Every time we attend the park, we are inundated by well wishes and people wanting to stop and chat and admire the horses. Its so lovely to see their smiles and curiosity. I am sure we have lit a few fires in some children's bellies over the years to learn more and maybe take up the sport.

Because it is a SPORT, for both children and adults.

However Nillumbik council do not seem to agree. They propose in their current community consultation to ' add a dog park ' yet fail to mention that that will mean the demolition of the horse riding grounds at Eltham Lower Park in its entirety. Almost 12 acres of grounds.

For a DOG PARK.

I am a dog owner and lover. But there are already a LOT of dog parks and dog friendly areas in Nillumbik. The Eltham North Dog Park was finished only last year. Dog Parks in Nillumbik outnumber Pony Club grounds by quite a bit.

I must question also why the ENTIRE grounds must be taken for this park. At the moment, dog owners use the area anyway, which the clubs are aware of, and do not mind, provided dogs are not using the grounds when horses are about, this is for the safety of horses, riders and the dogs.

At least one of these clubs has asked for the grounds to stay in some capacity, and asked why the two cannot co-exist as this could be easily done. Even a small area to be left for horse use doesn't seem to be something that the council want to consider.

Why?

The $2M Grant, promised by the Labour Government did not stipulate for the pony club grounds to be demolished - and the councils literature hardly mentions it. Its glossed over, in their community consultations, as " open space previously leased to the horse and pony club."

PREVIOUSLY, because DESPITE community consultation having not even started, the clubs above were told months ago that their lease would not be renewed at the end of the year due to the proposed dog park. This clearly shows that the dog park is as foregone conclusion for them, and the community consultation is nothing but a box ticking exercise they intend to ignore anyway.

The council thinks Eltham Residents do not want the pony club and does not welcome or want rural sports in our green wedge area. Its one of the few grounds left in the metropolitan area and i believe it makes us unique.

We all like to have a moan about kids being on devices. I can hand on heart say that my kids dont look at their devices when horses are around. They work hard at their sport, it teaches them about hard work and responsibility.  The therapeutic value of horses and horse riding is already well known. 

It is also a safe place for animals and livestock in case of bushfire. We will lose that safe place if the pony club grounds are demolished. 

Lastly, the equine facilities could be shared with the current commercial ' pony rides ' enterprise which operates out of a tarmac'ed car park on the weekends. This would free up valuable car parking for the miniature railway and also make the pony rides a lot safer, having a much more suitable and softer surface, in case of injury or fall of horse or rider.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

STEP 1: Sign this petition

If you support the pony club grounds staying at Eltham Lower Park, then please sign this petition. My hope is that this petition can be shown to the council, in terms of what the community want. If the residents of Eltham do not want the pony club grounds to stay, then i expect it will be crickets here!

I believe that the clubs themselves cannot be seen to be speaking out, my opinion is that they are at the councils mercy in terms of being rehomed to another area. So they cannot be seen to be publically opposing the council. 

STEP 2: Let the council know your thoughts at

 https://participate.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/elp-dog-park

I simply put this out there as an offering,  from a user of the grounds , to the Residents of Eltham. Please sign the partition you wish the grounds to stay at least in some capacity,  and also have your say at the councils website here:

Its rather telling that the ' community consultation ' does not give residents the option of keeping the pony club grounds, and instead focuses on whatr kind of dog park we want. I recommend something similar to the below fore your answers, which sends a clear message:

 

 

 

https://participate.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/elp-dog-park

Links to the clubs websites:

https://erarc.com.au/​

https://www.facebook.com/ElthamPonyClub/