Today's Moorabbin/Glen Eira Leader features a story on the McKinnon Road residential sell off conducted by clowncil earlier this year. At the clowncil meetings residents were told that this sell off was necessary and would provide new, modern accommodation for its elderly and people with disabilities. The leader article now quantifies this - there will ONLY be 6 multiple sclerosis units available. But 6 out of how many?
When the community was led to believe that a major motivation in selling this land (apart from the 3.1 million dollar windfall and clowncil's ability to therefore wash its hands of all social obligations) was this this was going to be a major boon to the multiple sclerosis society, then a paltry 6 units, is far from a boon.
Further, the article specifies that the intended purpose is for the 'elderly'. Current residents will be rehoused, but what of the future? Will this still be earmarked for the 'elderly' or will it go to other sectors of society who are deemed to be in need? Several submissions to this sell off voiced concerns that in the future, this development would house reforming drug addicts, etc. I'm not disparaging or arguing against accommodation for 'drug addicts'. What I am concerned about is whether the community was given ALL THE FACTS. Were any conditions imposed in the contract of sale? Did clowncil really insist on 100% occupancy for the elderly and people with disabilities? Why did esakoff in her spruking for this sell off give the gallery the distinct impression that the major benefactors would be people with disabilities?
And which names will actually be on the title for the land? Will it include the Multiple Sclerosis Society, as intimated by the article? or will it be only the Port Phillip Housing Association whose activities in this area are not exclusively catering to the elderly and those with disabilities. These are legitimate and important questions - because the answers will reveal to what extent the community has been hoodwinked!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I was thinking about this problem again - that people buy into a street or an area assuming there will be little change in their environment. yet overnight, what was a peaceful, quiet street can become a congested nightmare.
I feel sorry for the residents living in Rosanna Ave, which used to look over onto a senior's bowling green. All that has gone, and in its place a two storey aged care facility, with the parking problems associated with a narrow suburban street. Of course, if residents make too much fuss, the car parking problem will be addressed by taking plain lawned open space and building concrete car parking spaces.
Without the necessary vision Town Planners saw fit to cram tiny units onto an apron of land, thereby using what could have been off street parking for a few more cars than is currently available for the nursing home (between Murrumbeena Rd and Koornang Roads)
What this Council consistently fails to do is make provision for future uses.
Copmbined, the Administration and the Councillors - see the god almighty golden dollars and their eyes are blinded to any lateral thinking about anticipated future needs.
Once the land is subdivided and given away, the residents no longer have any options left, but to "make do"...
Post a Comment