Read these pages for ideas for your submission OR Google the Lease on Councils website for a full copy ( Banyule Council Cheslworth Park Lease )

A walk around the Water Harvesting Project

THIS FRIDAY Sept 12th at 5pm

with Councils engineers. Meet at Cheslworth Park Tennis Courts

EVERYONE WELCOME :)

Ivanhoe’s much loved Chelsworth Park, on the Yarra flood plain near the southern entrance to Banyule, is currently being considered for a 20 +10 year Commercial Lease between Banyule City Council (BCC) Ivanhoe Grammar School (IGS) - A commercial entity.

 A commercial lease threatens the ability of our community to decide how the park will be used; Over a period of high expected population growth in Melbourne, and a growing reduction in private residential space - as the number of multi-unit dwellings increase, due to Government policy.

Many residents of Banyule oppose this move and believe that:

1. Restrictions on the availability of the park, for both passive and active use - if leased to a private entity, are not in the community’s long-term interests. 
2. Banyule City Council needs to step up to the mark and provide first-rate facilities for the ratepayers of Banyule in all its parks and for all its schools to share equally - rather than over-use some parks (nearby Ivanhoe Park) and under use and under support others (Ford Park). Council needs to do more to ensure that passive recreation, and the riverine environment for which Chelsworth Park is famous, are fully protected into the future. 
3. More transparency is needed – Governance and Financial Reporting conditions under the current IGS peppercorn lease, have NOT been met (- despite fees from the Clubs using the Park going to IGS); In addition, Chelsworth Park continues to receive favourable infrastructure funding from Council - while other Parks miss out. Why ?

Current Griffin Ward Councillor Jenny Mulholland has given little support to these major community concerns. 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Write : To All Councillors, the CEO, and relevant officers; (PO Box 51, Ivanhoe 3079/ enquiries@banyule.vic.gov.au )

Phone : Current Ward Councillor, Jenny Mulholland, and current Mayor, Craig Langdon :-

Jenny: 0413 986 912; (PO Box 51, Ivanhoe 3079; jenny.mulholland@banyule.vic.gov.au)

Craig : 0401 097 032; (PO Box 51, Ivanhoe 3079;craig.langdon@banyule.vic.gov.au)

Insist Council rent the land at commercial real estate rates over the short term*, (- say 5 year maximum renewals) where spare time and playing surface capacity exists, and after community needs are met . (*This could involve IGS marking, mowing, and watering the grounds as now, - as payment in kind , but with Council managing all infrastructure and community bookings)

Insist BCC control all signage, bookings, payment and community liaison (as with its other parks )

Insist that NO EXTRA private use be granted; Instead, over time, private use will be reduced while increasing community needs (both passive and active) are met.

Ask to be notified: - of any future BCC Chelsworth Plans, relevant Council Meeting and Plan exhibits :-

Contact: Tom Zappulla : Tom.Zappulla@banyule.vic.gov.au : 9490 4222 

Also see :  other pages on this website AND / OR : Email our CONTACTS page

Chelsworth Park is OUR Park

COMMUNITY ASSET NOT PRIVATE TAKEOVER

Attend the Upcoming Community Meeting

 ‘Protecting Heritage and Public Interest in Banyule’)

 Sunday July 6th - 2.00pm for 2.30pm

Seddon St. Community Centre Ivanhoe

Gold coin donation / More Information 0427 949 951 /0411 154 914 (Robyn / Paul)

Area marked bottom left is Wilsons Reserve; Club buildings access road and car park to east

Chelsworth Park Tour SUNDAY 15th June

16th and 19TH  FEB -  2014

TIME to COMMENT on the CHELSWORTH IGS LEASE !!

With the release of the proposed Banyule Council Chelsworth Park / IGS 30 year LEASE IMMINENT - Two meetings are being held to comment on the lssues around the Lease

1. SUNDAY FEB 16TH , 2 - 4pm, Seddon St Uniting Church Hall, Ivanhoe

This meeting will focus on explaining the current lease, and receiving feedback on any issues it has created, and what might be issues to consider having input on in a future lease. It is  being run by the Fairy Hills Ivanhoe Residents Group as a preparation for the Council Run Meeting on -

2. WEDNESDAY FEB 19th, MC CUBBIN ROOM,  Ivanhoe Town Hall , 6.30-7.30pm

This meeting is being run by Councils Sport and Recreation Staff, -  in response to the Fairy Hills Ivanhoe Petition for a PUBLIC MEETING to discuss the LEASE with COUNCIL and ensure the land remains in FIRM PUBLIC CONTROL - over the period of the Lease. ALL Local Sports Clubs are being invited to attend to provide input and ALL petitioners have recieved personal invitations to attend

The RSVP for the COUNCIL MEETING is   

RSVP: tom.zappulla@banyule.vic.gov.au by 12 February 2014 

 However we anticipate no-one will be turned away - as it is a Public meeting and in a very large space.

The Fairy Hills Ivanhoe Meeting on the SUNDAY PRIOR, is open to all  - without RSVP

Please come and share your views in a more relaxed space and contribute to community debate

Chelsworth Park PUBLIC LAND Car Stickers ( $3 )

- Are available BOTH at the SUNDAY MEETING at SEDDON ST ( FEB 16TH ) and via emailing our website CONTACT PAGE - for more detail see our pictures on the website car stickers page.

SEE THE CURRENT LEASE for yourself :

The existing IGS Lease IS available NOW at the Ivanhoe Town Hall for public viewing -  Details in the Lease can be transcribed during a viewing but NO photocopies or photos may be taken.  Contact Emily Outlaw ( emily.outlaw@banyule.vic.gov.au ) OR call Emily via Banyule reception 94904222 - to arrange an appointment in business hours.

FHI  Reps had their first viewing last week and took 2 hours in digesting and transcribing 45 pages of imformation - - We would be happy to compare the notes we took with others who may also be interested and we intend having at least one more viewing ourselves - If you would like to attend with a FHI REP or discuss your notes with us please email us via this websites' Contact Page -

See our collected comments on the Fact Sheet produced by Council below :-

Petition signatories were sent copies of the Councils Chelsworth Lease FACT SHEET  along with an invitation to attend a Meeting on FEB 19th on the future Leasing of the Park.; Other residents can access a copy of the FACT SHEET from Banyules Customer Service - as well as via Councils website http://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Council/News-and-Public-otices/Chelsworth-Park-Proposed-Lease and can also attend that meeting by replying to the RSVP tom.zappulla@banyule.vic.gov.au by 12 February 2014

Residents Questions about the Lease and comments arising from the Fact Sheet

Through Allison Beckwith, Director Community Programs, at Banyule,  two fact sheets have been prepared to help the community understand  current issues related to Chelsworth Park.

FACT SHEET ONE  - concerned the Water Harvesting Project at Chelsworth. Some of the grounds were out of action over a period of time but this project also has environmental benefits for water quality in the Yarra River nearby and for cheaper and more reliable water sources for the  playing fields at Chelsworth Park and the greens of the nearby Public Golf Course. This FACT SHEET - included reference to Ivanhoe Grammar School making a contribution to this project.

FACT SHEET TWO - was compiled following questions from Fairy Hills Ivanhoe and covered a wide range of questions relating to the Chelsworth Leases(  past and future) , and to the financial advantages Council expected to realize from the Lease. We thank Allison and her staff for their committment to public engagement on the Chelworth Lease . Despite a large amount of very valuable information in the Fact Sheets, however, many questions remain, and indeed some have become clearer in the minds of residents. We present some of concerns here - hoping for further community discussion and interest:    

Communication and Consultation

1. All Community Stakeholders NOT invited to Lease Meeting - instead  of inviting all potential users of the Park - ie all local sports clubs needing ovals and all  current school users (as the petition requested ) Council has only invited Single Representatives from existing sporting groups to the meeting. In addition the PUBLIC at large have NOT been specifically invited. Why was this action of limiting attendance and limiting consultation chosen ?   
2. Why havent neighbouring user groups at Chelsworth Park been invited ? Neighbouring user groups which could be affected by condiditons in the prospective Chelsworth Lease - have NOT been included in the Consultation Meeting - Why ?
3. Why havent neighbouring homes surrounding the Park NOT been included in invitations to the Meeting ? Residents near the Chelsworth fields and access roads are subject to noise and disturbance from potential after hours activities surely they should have the chance to attend the information Meeting - to ask questions about the proposed Lease ?
4. Why is the advertising on Councils website for the meeting hidden ? The address, time, date, and RSVP for the Meeting are at the bottom of the Chelsworth Lease Fact Sheet ONLY   - Not on the Chelsworth Park main page - In addition the references on the website specifically invite pettioners and sports club reps ONLY
5. Why did Council have " in camera" Meetings on the Lease- when NO monetary value of the Lease is to be decided until after PUBLIC EXHIBITION of the LEASE  ?  What legally binding decisions have already been made about the Lease without the PUBLIC being informed ? Which parts of the prospective Lease will be negotiable and which will NOT ? What is the legal basis for this ?

History of the IGS Lease of Chelsworth Park

1. The IGS current lease is available for public viewing  via the Councils Governance Dept - why is this not clear on Councils website ? This document is quite long and covers many issues which we have had questions about for COUNCIL. Many future potential concerns are dealt with clearly in the previous lease. Having a chance to view this lease has been most instructive in how to potentially handle some of the concerns the community has for a future Lease. Some highlights below :-
2. The Previous Lease provides that IGS manages and maintains BOTH Chelsworth Park AND all buildings erected on the premises.
3. An additional pavillion and alterations to buildings were permitted and in fact required under the previous Lease - and within a scheduled Development Plan - These "improvements" of the premises were to be completed within 3 years of the start of the 20 year Lease ( 1994 ) All the buildings and alterations in all their parts were to be maintained at the lessees expense and kept regularly painted to the City Engineers satisfaction

Hours maintained for Community Use  

1.  Councils NEW FACT SHEET says the current Lease provides for a 5 : 1 ratio of hours of Communiy Use compared to hours of use by IGS. ie IGS use is 20% of community use.  The  Previous ( current ) Lease gives scheduled hours of use for all parties involved form which various calculations can be made -for example :-
2. In Winter - The OIGFC - Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club can use one of the two main Pavilions 11am - 12 midnight ( 13 hours) on a SATURDAY and 12 noon - 8pm ( 8 hours ) on a Sunday. This is some serious FUNDRAISING and SOCIAL CLUB potential  - for JUST ONE CLUB using the Chelsworth facilities to be able to garner in the Lease. The IGS relies on associations such as the OLGFC to provide a pool of potential donors and supporters of philanthropy to the school. There seems to be a rather special ADVANTAGE to this group of users within the Lease - who also happen to be potential benefactors to the school. OIG has a very special relationship to the school and the Strategic Plan for the school indicates that it would like to develop similar relationships with other ex students through other Old Boys and Girls Clubs.  The remaining Pavilion was available originally to Yarra Valley Hockey Club until 8pm Saturdays and part of Sundays but for much fewer hours than OIGFC -Residents  have not seen documents relating to the replacement of YVHC at this point in time, - to see who else benefits in this way from the Lease. 
3. While OIGFC had only a small booking for actual training and games in the current Lease - its  Pavilion Booking was very extensive.
4. Of the 384 hours of Winter Sports Use ( 9-5 per day ( 8 hours ) X 8 sports fields X 6 days ( Sunday Reserved for Public Passive Use ( no Sports ) - IGS use 106 hours or 27% of the time available for sport ( Doesn't include OIGFC Use )
5. If we allow for the remaining 278 hours of the Mon - Sat Sports Use to also contain an alloction for grounds maintenance time - Say a token 10% of total Use Time Available - ( 38.4 hours / week)  - then actually only 345.6 hours are available in Winter for Sports Use - this makes the IGS used proportion of Available Winter Sports Time 31% of total time available (NOT 20% as indicated in the Fact Sheet)
6. Add to that thought  that other users dont actually have access during all those hours because they are at school or work - Then we see that the proportions of IGS School Sports Use versus Community Sports Use is actually very high. In Winter the hours of available after school use in the Lease are 3.30pm to 5pm IE 1 & 1/2 hours per day during the week (- much more on Saturdays )
7. We can calculate the proportion of IGS availablity of USE compared to Community Sports availability of Use ( from the schedule in the previous Lease)  

          Mon - IGS - 1.5 hrs X 6 fields = 9 hrs AH Use :  1.5 hrs X 8 fields Total = 12 hrs = 75%

          Tues - IGS -  as above = 75%

          Wed - IGS - 1hr X 3 fields = 3 hrs ;1.5 hrs X 3 fields = 4.5 hrs; = 7.5 hrs/12 hrs = 62.5 %

          Thu - IGS - as for Mon and Tues =75 %

          Fri - IGS - as for Mon Tues Thu = 75%

          Sat - all AH USE - 3.5 X 4 fields = 14hrs ; 1.5 X 1 field = 1.5hrs ; Total 15.5hrs in total 

          hrs of ( 8 X 8 ) = 64 hrs = 25%   ) again all over 20% purported in the FACT SHEET

Asphalt Courts for Tennis and Netball in Proposed Lease ?

1. Residents could find no mention in our viewing of the lease so far of IGS previously leasing the Tennis Courts area at   Chelworth Park in the current Lease - including the asphalt courts
2. Current speculation is that IGS will have control of the two asphalt courts at Chelsworth and seek to build further courts for Netball - There has been NO MENTION so far of these courts aslo being available for community use

Other Benefits to IGS in current Lease

1. The School under the previous Lease reserves the right to bar any booked event by other users AT NO NOTICE
2. The school under the current ( previous ) Lease collects RENT from other USERS ( which it keeps we presume... ) under a regime of fees which are comparable to other rents Council recieves for its parks and facilities across the municipality

Advisory Committee sets fees under current Lease

1. A quorum of 4 is required for the Advisory Committe - who receive all applictions from new users or for new use ; but research has NOT established the NATURE of the ADVISORY COMMITTEE so far

Finish of the current Lease

1. The deadline of the current Lease is unclear in the new Fact Sheet - It appears to be stated as NOV 2014 ; however the 20 year Lease began in May 1994 ?
2. The Fact Sheet states that the current Lease cannot be extended ; Residents can imagine NO reason in Law that a carryover Lease could not be proposed by Council to extend the period for PUBLIC CONSULTATION on the Lease  - if required by the public. Council MUST have the ultimate flexibility to establish a favourable new Lease on behalf of residents OR NO LEASE AT ALL -  if it prefer:  In the meantime surely IGS would like to USE Chelsworth for SPORT ?  As the Lease will cover a considerable period of time it is in everyones interest to get it right
3. Councils Resolution to enter negotiations with IGS was made at an in camera meeting - The terms of Councils Resolution are unclear to the PUBLIC -  IE Is the Council committed by CONTRACT to IGS  to RENEW the Chelsworth LEASE ? Or is the negotiation of the Lease one of total flexibility for Council ? The community needs to know where it stands on this point. Council should release any contracts it has with IGS  and be honest with the PUBLIC
4. Announcements have publicly been made by Council that IGS will contribute $1million towards the water Harvesting Project. How can Council be sure of this ? The amount of $1million is tied  into the 20 year  Proposed Lease for Chelsworth Park  as seen in the NEW Fact Sheet - Yet the amount is actually a rental for the Park over that time and that rental continues into a further 10 year extension of the Lease.  Has Council Guaranteed the school this Lease already ? Is The Public consultation on the Lease a sham ?

Capital Works

1. The Fact sheet explains that Capital Works will be funded by IGS  at Chelsworth in the new proposed Lease . Shouldn't the Community know what these proposals ARE - before the Lease is signed ? They are NOT EXPLAINED IN THE FACT SHEET . In addition to which facilities could in the future be altered or extended, or if any NEW buildings are proposed, the community would perhaps wish to know who will use these new facilities in the main ?  - What are the hours of use ? - and what other restrictions might be imposed on their use ? It is particulary important to know which groups may have the most access to potential  FUNDRAISING facilities locked into the Lease - especially in the evenings and on weekends
2. Will the capital works include a club house for IGS near the NEW proposed Netball Courts ?
3. Will the hours of use of any new or altered facilities be contained to day time use ?
4. Will lights be used for night time Games ? Could lights  affect wildlife inthis sensitive location ?
5. Could lights, noise, and fundraising activities, using alcohol or music affect neighbours close to this part of Chelsworth Park OR affect of the safety of young children using the Scouts Pavilion nearby ?

Proposing a an improved financial position for Council

1. Fact Sheet -" Council is proposing to renew the existing Lease and negotiate  an improved financial position for Council" - Fine,  but where is the evidence please ? Is the proposed Lease " exceptional value " .... ? for the Banyule community ? ALL of the Banyule COMMUNITY ?
2. $1million over 20 years is  -( less than - due to inflation.. and cost of living rises..  ) $50,000 per year ; this amount is for a very large tract of land, well serviced, with several locations of shady car parking, and with cheap water ( recycled ) laid on in droughts - to enable soft green surfaces year round; The Land includes 8 well spaced playing fields and surrounding landscaping. This type of land is rare now in Melbourne, and very expensive when it becomes available.
3. The land includes the change facilities and toilets already built and serviced with electricity and gas for BBQs ; plumbing storage and facilities for cooking ; and a secluded outlook away from neighbours so that the outdoor ambience can be enjoyed all year round without disruption - all  assets the school does NOT need to to aquire and coming free of charge with the Lease
4. $50,000 - per year; - is equal to about a median level house for rent for a year  in Ivanhoe,  The school owns several properties in Ivanhoe itself and from some it receives rent, commercial leases of similar sized property bring in more.
5. $50,000 also equates to about 2 Yr 10-12 students at IGS  ( Total popn 1400 but expected to be higher) ( Fees 2013 are $23,000  per head) and yet sport provides a large part ofthe culture at IGS and a reasonable amount of curriculum time
6. The International Students at IGS - pay $30,000 -
7.  The Chelsworth grounds allow the school to expand its population on its Ridgeway campus and cannabilise its grounds with more buildings - The overflow of sporting demand will just be moved to Chelsworth - this allows the school to take in perhaps another 250 students -many of them International Students and so the small cost of the Chelsworth Lease is easily recovered
8. Another way for the school to recover its costs is via the water savings achieved from the recycled water project - As Melbournes water supplies have dwindled and the state took on an expensive  Desal project - water prices have skyrocketed and Yarra River Water has been quaratined for the Environment - A previously cheap form of water - This is no lomger as readily available
9. It seems like IGS is really paying "Peanuts" for the Use of Chelsworth Park and even with maintenance costs added it is getting a much better deal than if it had to buy prepare, and develop the land iself. Investing in anew land purchase would tie up considerable school funds over a very long period.
10. If the School is getting a bargain with the Proposed Lease - what about the community ?   If Council maintained and controlled the land it would have many extra costs in managing booking arrangements and also in turf management and buildings maintenance ; HOWEVER it could recover these costs by charging differential Fees to private schools.  As the user groups of Council land are a mix of private and goverment schools and community groups - one comes to the question - Should ratepayers subsidise a private money making institution ? Shouldnt commercial rents be charged for this type of user ? Private schools such as IGS DONT offer low cost education for everyone -  like Govt schools do. They dont take in disabled and disadvantaged students  iE they dont pull their weight in the community education effort . There are many reasons for charging IGS more for the space it uses AND as of now the COUNCIL HAS NOT DEMONSTRATED IN DOLLAR TERMS - how the community is better off financially with the proped arrangement . 

Savings to COUNCIL in the Chelsworth Leas

1. Council claims it saves two grounds-staff by leasing Chelsworth  - But is there really sufficient work there for two staff full time ? Obviously two satff would be an extreme luxury - but are they really required > What are the tasks that take place over the year ? or during every week .The watering system is automated, the grounds are used lighlty and dont have to be relaid ( apart from Cricket turf ) Perhaps users who generate more maintenance should pay higher fees to covr costs ?    
2. Is the true cost of the Schools Maintemance at Chelsworth being clearly demonstrated ? - While IGS claims it needs two staff to service this ground - it is rare to see staff working here 8 hours a day X 5 days per week . The staff that are nominated for Chelsworth Park Duties also have other tasks at the school.    
3. Do users of other Council Parks pay enough to cover costs ? If so - why not here ? Council should be much clearer in its analysis of the relevant costs - so the community can value in the proposed arrangement
4. According to the current Lease all clubs at Chelsworth are paying comparable rents to users at other parks  - If this  is the case then  Council should be able to cover all the costs invlved with Chelsworth Maintenance  Council is yet to explain why Chelworth NEEDS to be a special case

If you have more questions about the Chelsworth Park current or future Lease ;

•  you can email them to this website via our contact page
• OR attend the two Public Meetings on the Lease and share your thoughts

 Sunday16th FEB Seddon St Uniting Church Hall 2-4pm

and

Wed 19th FEB Mc Cubbin Room The Centre Ivanhoe 6.30-7.30pm

(As we mull over our thoughts prior to the COUNCILs Wednesday meeting, we may well be able to make better use of the SHORT time available during the COUNCILS' PUBLIC MEETING on the WEDNESDAY EVENING. We hope BOTH meetings will create greater awaremess of the PUBLICATION of the LEASE and equip people with ideas on how to respond with their submissions to COUNCIL when the NEW LEASE is released for PUBLIC comment - The comment period will be short - so we are attempting to be well prepared.)

A new fact sheet prepared by Councils Recreation Dept Staff has been mailed to all residents who signed the Chelsworth Park Petition earlier this year

The Petition called for a well advertised PUBLIC Meeting to be held to hear communty views on the proposed 30 year lease ( 20 years  plus option of 10 years ) of Chelsworth Park to Ivanhoe Grammar School. This meeting is NOW SCHEDULED  for Feb 19th 2014 and all petitioners have been duly invited.

Council staff have also prepared a new Fact Sheet answering many of the Communities' questions about the lease. If you have not received a  copy of the FACT SHEET please contact the Customer Service Dept of Council at the Town Hall - 94904222 - and arrange to pick up a copy.

Any further questions from the public about the lease are most welcome on our Contacts Page and if we are unable to help you with an answer - we will seek  further answers from Councils staff and post these on our website

Recently several local public tennis courts have been put up for sale and redevelopment

The Uniting Church In Ivanhoe is to sell three properties - two have tennis courts, one a hall and another a public allotment garden - all recreational and learning facilities that will be lost to the public. It is hard to see where replacement land can be found for such activities as land prices spiral and the population and thus demand grows heavily.

Below - A past furore over the loss of public tennis courts - the courts at Ivanhoe Park - beside Ivanhoe Croquet Club - both organisations in use for many decades - and now arguments about which can have space ( 2011) - Surely a sign of things to come as Melbournes population continues to grow ..........

Volley over Ivanhoe East courts

from The Heidleberg Leader

5 Jul 11 @ 06:01am by Blair Corless

On Monday Oct 7th the Councils proposed Sport and Recreation Policy (see item below) goes to council on the same night as it considers the Residents Petition regarding Ivanhoe Grammar and Chelsworth Park ( also see items below )

There is concern for a percieved lack of opportunity for community  input to the consultation for both the Policy and the Booking System for Chelsworth Park and this is echoed in concern about the short timeline of two weeks for commenting on the Final Draft of the Policy and ( originally ) the IGS Development Plan. The IGS control of Bookings for Chelsworth Park decision was made at an in Camera meeting of Council in 2012 - with NO ADVERTISING OF AN AGENDA and no advertising of the decision - as in camera meetings are basically discussions held in SECRET

It is interesting that the agenda papers for the Monday 7th Counil Meeting discuss the Human Rights which neeed to be afforded to citizens in regarding to access to sport and opportunitites to comment on policies that affect that access - This is quite inetresting as residents are currently complaining about exaclty this in the Chelworth Petition ( below),  and ASKING for a Public Meeting where all matters pertaining to Chelsowrth Park, its  use and its Bookings arrangements, can be discussed in an open public forum - where everybody has the opportunity to comment on all aspects of the plan AND to hear the ideas and views of others AND to hear Council explanations of its actions 

This is open government and democracy that the residents of Ivanhoe, East Ivanhoe and Eaglemont are asking for - and possibly also we are asking for our basic human rights to be considered - Up until now residents may have had that general feeling that these were their unalienable rights - but perhaps MONDAYS AGENDA demonstrates this is actually the case in current state law ? -  and as such this adds surely MORE WEIGHT to the residents arguments  ..

People are encouraged to come to the Council Meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 7th October to register to speak and have their voices heard as much as possible in the brief time allowed at the meeting - about the Chelsworth Booking Sytem and the Recreation Policy - Call Councils customer service staff for more information PHONE 94902222 on how to participate either by speaking to an Agenda Item or asking a question at the start of the meeting in QUESTION TIME - both speaking lists require a name to be given prior to the meeting

In late August 2013 Banyule's staff advertised a new Sport and Recreation Policy on the Council Website -  While ONLY ADVERTISED for 2 WEEKS for public comment and as far as we ascetain, - with NO PUBLIC meetings held about this Policy, - several residnets did take the opportunity to respond briefly to the policy - The fairyhillsivanhoe group had only noticed the policy by accident on the last two days of advertising - so there was not much time to alert residents very widely about this in time to comment / Several Residents also had trouble accessing the online comment section of the website - so a pretty low response rate was probalby registered

The Policy was a hefty one with a large swathe of action  statements and applicable timelines -- Residents  were concerned however about the lack of detail regarding Chelsworth Park and the emphasis lacking on PASSIVE use - One exmaple of a submission is shown below ( Sent to Alison Beckwith who heads the Department concerned with Sport and recreation and ultimately responsible for preparing the policy ) :

Dear Allison,

I would like to comment on the Recreation Policy.

I think there is much to like in the document especially the recognition of “walking” – I especially commend you on statements such as “Therefore it is important for Council to recognise this community preference, and ensure appropriate community infrastructure is developed along Banyule’s shared trails”.

Whilst I like the policy overall, I am very disappointed to see that Chelsworth Pk and Wilson Reserve fail to score a mention! As a resident of The Boulevard, Ivanhoe, for more than 25 yrs, I access Chelsworth Pk and the bike/walking trails via Wilson Reserve. The other important point about the area between Chelsworth Pk, Wilson Reserve and the Yarra River are the series of lagoons (former “aboriginal” hunting & fishing areas), which are the closest ones to the Melbourne CBD and need to be preserved.

I was walking, jogging and running down by the Yarra River and on Chelsworth Pk on Sunday 1^st September and counted no fewer than 25 people of all age groups, some families, and “dog walkers” at close to sunset. This is an important community resource, needs to be listed in any formal document, and should be preserved.

You may not be aware that there are an enormous number of community “social” tennis players that use the Chelsworth Pk courts every weekend, and that every Sunday morning there are two “social” soccer games on Chelsworth Pk ovals. These non-competitive activities of Banyule residents need to be mentioned in this document and these individuals should not be forgotten in attempts to promote “formal competitive” sports in the Banyule area.     

I strongly believe that Chelsworth Pk and Wilson Reserve should be specifically mentioned in the policy document.

Yours sincerely, 

Philip Beart

 87-89 The Boulevard Ivanhoe

VIC 3079   

http://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Council/Environment-and-Sustainabilty/Water/Stormwater-Management-and-Harvesting/Chelsworth-Park

The Project is a unique partnership between Banyule City Council, Government and Ivanhoe Grammar School. The Australian Government is supporting this project through the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan, a key component of the Water for the Future initiative. The Victorian Government has provided funding and Melbourne Water has provided  fundingthrough the Living Rivers Stormwater Program.

Please see our PETITIONS PAGE for the text of these and where they can be signed