California 'dreamin' comes to McKinnon Road.

I've just learnt why it will take THREE MONTHS to install a roundabout at the corner of Thomas St. and McKinnon Road. The answer is that 4 PALM TREES are going to adorn the roundabout!! This of course means plumbing, water systems, etc., not to mention the cost. But more importantly - why the hell plant palm trees on, or in, a roundabout, that will potentially block off views? Isn't the purpose of a roundabout to ensure safety, and traffic control that provides a full 360 degree line of sight? Will this be another disaster as evidenced by the planting of trees along Centre Rd. which now block off drivers' vision as they attempt to park, or enter the various main and side streets. I simply want to know which genuis designed these fiascos, at what cost, and how it can be argued to be either an aesthetic or a safety improvement?

Some councillors do have balls!!!!!

The following Leader article stems from another council - one that is obviously represented by people with some sense of community responsibility. By way of contrast with our clowncil they have refused to be 'gagged'; they insist on speaking directly to and for the people they represent - unlike glen eira and its gag which only allows the mayor to speak for others - that is of course after her words have been carefully crafted by the spin doctors. All other councillors in glen eira have allowed their mouths (brains?) to be stitched up!


18 Mar 09 @ 09:00am by Dimity Barber
Casey Mayor Geoff Ablett
A MOVE to silence Casey councillors from speaking to the media has been defeated. As reported by the Berwick Leader today, Casey top media executive Ros Weadman wrote a report urging all communication between councillors and the media be handled by the high paid public relations crew.
But at last night’s council meeting, the community’s elected representatives made it clear they would not accept the policy changes, including:
*A ban on the media questioning councillors directly;
*All media enquiries to be filtered through the communications department for “co-ordination of a response’’; and
*Councillors to ask permission from the communications department before talking to the media directly.
In a unanimous vote, councillors made it clear they would not be gagged and told Ms Weadman to go back to the drawing board.
Casey Mayor Geoff Ablett said big business adopted a “co-ordinated approach” to PR, and so should the city. “Otherwise we are doing things willy nilly,” he said.
But Cr Wayne Smith said he was disturbed by some of the policy changes.
“I don’t believe an organisation can tell a councillor they can’t approach the media. It’s crazy. It wouldn’t happen at any other council and it shouldn’t happen here,” Cr Smith said.
Cr Lorraine Wreford said the changes were “highly inappropriate”.
“It feels like an attempt to gag us,” Cr Wreford said.
“What about the free-flow of information to our community? This is a free country.”
Cr Sam Aziz said the city should take a consultative approach and work with councillors to come up with a “less restrictive” policy.
Cr Kevin Bradford also urged caution.
“The communications policy is one of the most important we have at council. It’s about what information our community has access to,” he said.
“We need to find a fair balance between allowing elected representatives to have democratic free speech while protecting the name of the City of Casey.”
Councillors will debate the matter behind closed doors before the end of April.

When is one's word a word?

It appears that 'real politik', or cowtowing to certain powerbrokers and administrators at clowncil, means that one's word given prior to an election comes to nought! Tuesday's clowncil meeting is proof of this in spades. Instead of an Animal Management Committee that looked like it might actually be capable of making some considered recommendations regarding policy and strategic directions, certain individuals have decided that the committee will really be a committee in name only. The carried amendment in effect emasculates the entire committee - it has limited its terms of reference to only the state legislation, as well as conceded that its purview will extend to only 'existing' facilities. In other words, nothing will be reviewed, investigated, changed, etc. The positions are now clear - pet owners within this municiipality remain personae non gratis. Their only value is the near one million dollar revenue they provide to this money-grubbing lot each year. But as far as 'service', listening to what the community wants and needs, well that goes by the board. Yes councillors - promise all you like before an election, but when it comes to keeping your word, then forget it!

The other interesting item concerns caulfield park and the further destruction of trees, the creation of more concrete (fenced this time) and the blatant mistruths that all this 'rearrangement' was forecast in a 1999 Master Plan. Again, the hypocrisy is staggering. If clowncil is so convinced of its argument, then let the world see this master plan - put it up on the website for all to glean where the truth really lies. But of course, this will never be done!!

Now for the fiasco of the pools public forum on the 25th. Can't wait to see the dissembling, double takes, and undoubted hyperbole as to what a wonderful clowncil this is. This will be nothing more than another orchestrated event with the puppet masters pulling all the strings. Should be an interesting evening. Come one and all to witness this staged performance.

Glen Huntly and Clowncil's Neglect

From this week's Leader newspaper -


A GROUP of Glen Huntly mums has joined pleas to spruce up the shabby Glen Huntly Rd shopping strip after “decades of non-action”.
Mischa Brus contacted the Leader after our February 24 report that traders were fed up with the state of the area, which they said was neglected by Glen Eira Council.
In a letter to the council Mrs Brus said the area was a “dirty disgrace” and urged the council to act. “The Glen Huntly shopping zone is a dirty disgrace and its residents insist the Glen Eira Council fully upgrade the precinct,” Mrs Brus said.
“It appears funds are allocated to other suburbs but not Glen Huntly.”
Mrs Brus said several areas were unsafe, including a veranda above one shop that was close to collapsing. A huge flashing sign above the Posh Opportunity Shop was distracting and dangerous to motorists, she said.
Simone Waterman takes her three young children to parks outside the area because she said nearby play equipment was outdated and unsafe. The issue is a long-standing one.
The Glen Huntly Progress Group has been lobbying the council for changes since 2002. The group submitted a petition signed by 86 traders calling for improvements in 2006 and a year later unveiled a plan for the precinct.
But “nothing’s happened,” spokesman Orek Tenan said.
Council spokesman Paul Burke said trees worth $20,000 would be planted along the shopping strip in autumn. But Mr Tenan said more funding was needed to beautify the area.

Duped once more!!

You just gotta love this - a 'consultation' advisory committee, that has just had its terms of reference published without 'consultation'!!!! That's right - the powers that be, have handed down their dictum - thou shalt not 'consult' with people; thou shalt do nothing except repeat the ongoing mantra consisting of motherhood statements with no substance; thou shalt think with your own minds only when we allow you to; though shalt meekly follow us into oblivion and the public speak of a 'low cost' clowncil!!! Thou must expunge all thought of 'democracy' and the principles of good governance; thou must vote in these terms of reference, since we know best!!! Thou must not consider essential questions such as 'community participation', 'evaluation', accountability and how this could have been enshrined in such terms of reference. Nor must you allow yourselves to ever contemplate the possibility that stakeholders from all sectors of the community will ever sit on such a committee - god forbid, this would signal the fall and fall of newton and his henchmen!

The commandments remain set in stone. They consist of:

1. we run the roost and you do our bidding
2. the public are nothing but an ignorant , troublemaking mob and must be silenced
3. never ask questions about strategic planning, policy directions, budgets - they remain our domain
4. we know best in everything
5. avoid so and so - they are 'troublemakers'
6. never put anything into writing, just smile, nod your head, and repeat the fact that you are working for the good of all the community
7. accept your lowly positions on arts and crafts committees - that's all we are willing to entrust you with
8. sign anything we put in front of you and pretend that it is your view
9. never speak ill us - it's like taking the lord's name in vain
10. don't concern yourself with how other councils manage things better - this will only confuse you!

Plans 'just too big'

From today's front page Moorabbin/Glen Eira Leader. Please note this follows on from my last post re the Station St. 3 storey 'sell out' (pun intended!)

"McKinnon residents are furious at Glen Eira City Council's decision to approve a three storey devellpment in their street. Nine objections were lodged against the proposed units at 3 Station Ave, which include 28 independent living units for people aged over 55. McKinnon resident Robert Bell said neighbours were angry the council last week approved the proposal despite Mayor Margaret Esakoff (sic) and Cr. Steven Tang opposing it.
'There are a number os issues we have with these building but scale is the main one", Mr Bell said. 'It's just too big for the area; the visual bulk, density and mass of the devellpment is not sympathetic to the streetscape'.
Mr Bell, who lives opposite the site, believed overshadowing would be a problem during winter. 'We will enver see another sunset', he dais. 'The building will be right opposite my bedroom window."
Parking issues were also a problem with the proposal, he said, with only nine spaces allocated to the site. Fellow resident Dominim Calabrese said he was also angry at the decision. 'The council have not listened to our concerns and for that we have lost all faith in them' Mr Calabrese said.
As part of the project, six single-storey units a 5 Station Ave wil also be built for dependent residents with multiple sclerosis. Last September the council sold the block to the Port Phillip Housing Association, Department of Human services and the Multiple Sclerosis Society for $3.1 million. Cr. Esakoff said although she supported providing independent living to low-income earners, she did not agree with the size, lack of parking and the increased traffic congestion the project would cause. Cr. Tang believed the height of the building would set a precedent for future devllpments. However, Cr Michael Lipshutz said he was confident all conerns over the proposal could be satisfied.


COMMENT: no surprises here of course! How could this mob knock back 3.1 million if they opposed the development? This was fait accompli. What should have happened is that the original sale never went through. So is this merely an example of 'crocodile tears' from Esakoff and Tang? The pretense of really caring about the local residents. And then we have Liphutz's supreme and arrogant 'confidence' that people would be satisfied. I realise that Lipshutz believes that he is god's gift to Glen Eira, but is he really so powerful as to ensure the sunlight remains for Mr. Bell - that he directs the heavens as well as his weak-kneed colleagues? Once more - shame on the whole lot of you!!!