Candidate Responses regarding Relocation of the Depot
Harry Graeve
The simplest response to your email is yes.
1: As a resident I would like to see the depot moved and the space currently occupied freed up to provide more spaces for our residents to enjoy. This should be achievable within a 4 year period with the following proviso. Many of the services provided by council such as waste removal and parks and garden maintenance are contracted out, often for periods longer than a single council term. I do not think this is the best way to manage such contracts, but that is another very lengthy discussion to have. But having said that, I do not know if the depot is currently leased to the provider, or whether the council is providing the space.
2: Where possible I am looking to reduce the financial burdens on the council so that savings may be passed back to the ratepayers, my first priority would be to seek a zero cost solution to the council.
3: If State government funds are available to facilitate such a relocation then it would be prudent to avail the council of these funds, again, it is all about saving wherever we can so that we do not experience the 10% + rate hikes the current council has deemed fit this year. I am sure you would like your rates bill to go down just as I do and I will be working toward that goal during the next council period if elected.
4: I think Caulfield park is lacking in facilities for residents to enjoy gatherings of friends and family, being located near one of the play ground areas, I would like to see more BBQ facilities put in, I also think some type of community garden would be a wonderful idea so that local children could learn about cultivating their own vegetables and it could become an educational resource for the local schools. I am sure there are many other wonderful ideas out there, but it will all be dependent on relocating the depot and gaining an understanding of how much new space will be made available.
Alan Grossbard
Thank you for your detailed email. If only all questions I receive would be so simple to respond as yours, life would be simpler. My responses to all 4 questions is a definite Yes answer. You already know that our city has the lowest amount of open space within any Victorian municipality. That's the reason we need to provide more open space for high quality facilities that would provide opportunities for our residents/community to use.
It has been a while since I was on Council and during this time, open space was a major issue for me and I supported more pocket parks as you will see around our City. When I formulated, with 3 other distinguished members, a Vision for Glen Eira, we called it "Glen Eira 202: Green, Gracious and Gregarious". So Green is a big part of my vision. I am not a Green candidate but a past botanist. I stand as an Independent candidate.
I was approached by a number of people to stand again because of the over development in our city, lack of open space, overseeing financial matters of Council, more consultation and making our City a safe place to live.
Rachel Iampolski
1. Yes! We must create more usable open green space for residents. We have so little space available to work with (in Camden and across Glen Eira) so we must make the most of what we have, rather than use it for depots.
2. Yes, but pending the state of our 'post-Covid' budget. Generally speaking I am firmly in support of allocating funding towards creating more usability and space in the park, however I am aware that the 2021 budget may be more austere than normal due to the economic fall out of the pandemic, and as such we may have to reign certain spending in. If elected, upon reviewing the state of council funds (after taking into account deferring of rate payments, and cost of post-covid support packages etc) I can offer a more informed position, however if 2021 is not a suitable time for such spending, I am in support of actively seeking funding allocation for this endeavour in the following years. At this stage it is hard to predict where we will stand as a city, economically speaking, however this is a use of funds I am generally in full support of!
3. Yes. I think it is important we lobby the state government for support in create more open green spaces in growing areas of Glen Eira, Caulfield park being a prime example, particularly as this area has been identified as a problem area in terms of urban forest in the Metropolitan South East within the broader Resilient Melbourne Metropolitan Urban Forest Strategy (which is supported by the State Government).
4. If elected, I will work directly with FCP to help develop a plan for the redevelopment and expansion of Caulfield Park, as well as pushing for broader community consultation. I will prioritise our urgent need for greater access to green and recreational open space in any decision making pertaining to Caulfield Park, or other land management issues that come to council.
Ethan Mileikowski
Covid-19 has demonstrated just how important green, open space is to our community. Our parks are busier than ever, and the depot clearly represents an absolute waste of community space and an eyesore in what is otherwise a beautiful park. In order to act where previous Councils have failed and actually have the depot moved, I would absolutely advocate it towards the State Government and Council administration, taking it on as a major issue. Further I support an audit of the use of all existing Council owned or managed property to work with Council officers to determine how well we are using the space we currently have, and the best way to improve. The relocation of Caulfield Park Depot will allow Council to fully use Caulfield Park for what it was designed for, public recreation and fostering our community.
Sam Parasol
Trust you are well. Happy to speak / call you At a time
Ricci Steckoll
I would like Council to take a stepped approach in order to achieve this. Firstly, I think it's about ensuring any unsured space in the depot is quickly returned to the public. Then the Council needs to find an alternative solution to where the depot should be located, whether that be other unused Crowned Land or purchase of additional land.
Jon Terolli
I appreciate you getting in touch with me. I love the work you guys are doing at FCP. Caulfield Park is a great site for all residents of Glen Eira and Melbourne to visit. Especially with the great looking plan you guys have put forward. If elected, I will do my best to ensure that your project comes to council attention.
Simone Zmood
Thank you for your email. I have been a resident of Camden Ward for 25 years and lived in Glen Eira for most of my life. I am a regular visitor to Caulfield Park and feel that it is a gem of Camden Ward. Our whole family loves the park and it has been our saviour during COVID and lockdown. My husband and I walk around Caulfield Park several times a week. Our children have grown up in the park, watching the ducks on the lake, playing in the various playgrounds, and playing sports on the ovals.
Given the lack of open space in Glen Eira generally, and especially in Camden Ward, I am absolutely committed to extending our open space and providing the opportunity for more trees and greenery in Camden Ward. If elected, I would work actively to relocate the depot on Inkerman Road, ideally before the next Council election in 2024. I would also actively seek Council and State funding to facilitate both the relocation of the depot and rehabilitation of the depot site. I think it is very important that residents have outdoor places to relax and connect with nature.
In terms of what to do with the freed-up area, I would take that back to the community to seek input. Of course, the input of Friends of Caulfield Park would be a very important part of this. Personally, I love the Depot Plan that FCP has created with the depot offices being repurposed as a meeting space and environmental learning hub, and the new open space being used for things like a children's adventure playground, an art and sculpture garden, and a 'biblical' garden with wonderful food forest plants such olives, pomegranates, and date palms.
If you have the time, I would be happy to meet and stroll around that part of Caulfield Park with you so that we can talk about your vision for the depot space in more detail.
David Zyngier
"Many thanks for the opportunity to respond to your important questions. As the endorsed Greens Candidate for Camden I fully support not just the maintenance of our existing parks and open green spaces but look forward to increasing them across the City of Glen Eira. I acknowledge that Caulfield and Glen Huntly have the lowest amount of open green space per residents than any other municipality as recently reported in The Age. As a former teacher and now grandparent, I love the idea of creating an Environmental Learning Hub and a children's adventure playground in Caulfield Park. The Greens above all others understand the need for increased tree canopy coverage so any plan to move the current council depot should not be at the expense of either another park or open green space that requires the removal of mature trees. I realise this has been an issue for 20 years now and the situation isn't at all satisfactory. There may be an opportunity to work with Bayside Council for example, as they develop a new depot in the reclaimed Elsternwick Golf Course.
If it is possible to raise the issue of relocating the Depot I would certainly encourage community participation in any decision making. Certainly if the funds were available and an appropriate site became available I would most certainly support such an initiative.
The simplest response to your email is yes.
1: As a resident I would like to see the depot moved and the space currently occupied freed up to provide more spaces for our residents to enjoy. This should be achievable within a 4 year period with the following proviso. Many of the services provided by council such as waste removal and parks and garden maintenance are contracted out, often for periods longer than a single council term. I do not think this is the best way to manage such contracts, but that is another very lengthy discussion to have. But having said that, I do not know if the depot is currently leased to the provider, or whether the council is providing the space.
2: Where possible I am looking to reduce the financial burdens on the council so that savings may be passed back to the ratepayers, my first priority would be to seek a zero cost solution to the council.
3: If State government funds are available to facilitate such a relocation then it would be prudent to avail the council of these funds, again, it is all about saving wherever we can so that we do not experience the 10% + rate hikes the current council has deemed fit this year. I am sure you would like your rates bill to go down just as I do and I will be working toward that goal during the next council period if elected.
4: I think Caulfield park is lacking in facilities for residents to enjoy gatherings of friends and family, being located near one of the play ground areas, I would like to see more BBQ facilities put in, I also think some type of community garden would be a wonderful idea so that local children could learn about cultivating their own vegetables and it could become an educational resource for the local schools. I am sure there are many other wonderful ideas out there, but it will all be dependent on relocating the depot and gaining an understanding of how much new space will be made available.
Alan Grossbard
Thank you for your detailed email. If only all questions I receive would be so simple to respond as yours, life would be simpler. My responses to all 4 questions is a definite Yes answer. You already know that our city has the lowest amount of open space within any Victorian municipality. That's the reason we need to provide more open space for high quality facilities that would provide opportunities for our residents/community to use.
It has been a while since I was on Council and during this time, open space was a major issue for me and I supported more pocket parks as you will see around our City. When I formulated, with 3 other distinguished members, a Vision for Glen Eira, we called it "Glen Eira 202: Green, Gracious and Gregarious". So Green is a big part of my vision. I am not a Green candidate but a past botanist. I stand as an Independent candidate.
I was approached by a number of people to stand again because of the over development in our city, lack of open space, overseeing financial matters of Council, more consultation and making our City a safe place to live.
Rachel Iampolski
1. Yes! We must create more usable open green space for residents. We have so little space available to work with (in Camden and across Glen Eira) so we must make the most of what we have, rather than use it for depots.
2. Yes, but pending the state of our 'post-Covid' budget. Generally speaking I am firmly in support of allocating funding towards creating more usability and space in the park, however I am aware that the 2021 budget may be more austere than normal due to the economic fall out of the pandemic, and as such we may have to reign certain spending in. If elected, upon reviewing the state of council funds (after taking into account deferring of rate payments, and cost of post-covid support packages etc) I can offer a more informed position, however if 2021 is not a suitable time for such spending, I am in support of actively seeking funding allocation for this endeavour in the following years. At this stage it is hard to predict where we will stand as a city, economically speaking, however this is a use of funds I am generally in full support of!
3. Yes. I think it is important we lobby the state government for support in create more open green spaces in growing areas of Glen Eira, Caulfield park being a prime example, particularly as this area has been identified as a problem area in terms of urban forest in the Metropolitan South East within the broader Resilient Melbourne Metropolitan Urban Forest Strategy (which is supported by the State Government).
4. If elected, I will work directly with FCP to help develop a plan for the redevelopment and expansion of Caulfield Park, as well as pushing for broader community consultation. I will prioritise our urgent need for greater access to green and recreational open space in any decision making pertaining to Caulfield Park, or other land management issues that come to council.
Ethan Mileikowski
Covid-19 has demonstrated just how important green, open space is to our community. Our parks are busier than ever, and the depot clearly represents an absolute waste of community space and an eyesore in what is otherwise a beautiful park. In order to act where previous Councils have failed and actually have the depot moved, I would absolutely advocate it towards the State Government and Council administration, taking it on as a major issue. Further I support an audit of the use of all existing Council owned or managed property to work with Council officers to determine how well we are using the space we currently have, and the best way to improve. The relocation of Caulfield Park Depot will allow Council to fully use Caulfield Park for what it was designed for, public recreation and fostering our community.
Sam Parasol
Trust you are well. Happy to speak / call you At a time
Ricci Steckoll
I would like Council to take a stepped approach in order to achieve this. Firstly, I think it's about ensuring any unsured space in the depot is quickly returned to the public. Then the Council needs to find an alternative solution to where the depot should be located, whether that be other unused Crowned Land or purchase of additional land.
Jon Terolli
I appreciate you getting in touch with me. I love the work you guys are doing at FCP. Caulfield Park is a great site for all residents of Glen Eira and Melbourne to visit. Especially with the great looking plan you guys have put forward. If elected, I will do my best to ensure that your project comes to council attention.
- I will actively suggest your plan.
- I believe the state and federal government can provide GE with support to facilitate this relocation.
- Yes
- It is obvious the interest council would have to use this space. I believe though that if appropriate actions are taken in contacting state or federal bodies to provide funding or a site to relocate the depot. Obviously this will be something not easy to achieve, but I love the concept and idea you guys have put forward, and will explore it further in the near future
Simone Zmood
Thank you for your email. I have been a resident of Camden Ward for 25 years and lived in Glen Eira for most of my life. I am a regular visitor to Caulfield Park and feel that it is a gem of Camden Ward. Our whole family loves the park and it has been our saviour during COVID and lockdown. My husband and I walk around Caulfield Park several times a week. Our children have grown up in the park, watching the ducks on the lake, playing in the various playgrounds, and playing sports on the ovals.
Given the lack of open space in Glen Eira generally, and especially in Camden Ward, I am absolutely committed to extending our open space and providing the opportunity for more trees and greenery in Camden Ward. If elected, I would work actively to relocate the depot on Inkerman Road, ideally before the next Council election in 2024. I would also actively seek Council and State funding to facilitate both the relocation of the depot and rehabilitation of the depot site. I think it is very important that residents have outdoor places to relax and connect with nature.
In terms of what to do with the freed-up area, I would take that back to the community to seek input. Of course, the input of Friends of Caulfield Park would be a very important part of this. Personally, I love the Depot Plan that FCP has created with the depot offices being repurposed as a meeting space and environmental learning hub, and the new open space being used for things like a children's adventure playground, an art and sculpture garden, and a 'biblical' garden with wonderful food forest plants such olives, pomegranates, and date palms.
If you have the time, I would be happy to meet and stroll around that part of Caulfield Park with you so that we can talk about your vision for the depot space in more detail.
David Zyngier
"Many thanks for the opportunity to respond to your important questions. As the endorsed Greens Candidate for Camden I fully support not just the maintenance of our existing parks and open green spaces but look forward to increasing them across the City of Glen Eira. I acknowledge that Caulfield and Glen Huntly have the lowest amount of open green space per residents than any other municipality as recently reported in The Age. As a former teacher and now grandparent, I love the idea of creating an Environmental Learning Hub and a children's adventure playground in Caulfield Park. The Greens above all others understand the need for increased tree canopy coverage so any plan to move the current council depot should not be at the expense of either another park or open green space that requires the removal of mature trees. I realise this has been an issue for 20 years now and the situation isn't at all satisfactory. There may be an opportunity to work with Bayside Council for example, as they develop a new depot in the reclaimed Elsternwick Golf Course.
If it is possible to raise the issue of relocating the Depot I would certainly encourage community participation in any decision making. Certainly if the funds were available and an appropriate site became available I would most certainly support such an initiative.
