Elsternwick Park South: huge crowd expected for decisive public meeting
IT’S D-Day for one of the most contentious issues in Bayside’s recent history — whether to keep part of Elsternwick Park South for dog lovers, or turn it into footy ovals. Here, we give each side the chance to state their case.
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Tonight, September 19, is D-Day for one of the most contentious issues in Bayside’s recent history.
Councillors will vote on whether or not to “reactivate” Elsternwick Park South Ovals 3 and 4.
The topic has been hotly debated in the community ever since councillors voted to seek feedback on the plan back in June.
The plan was floated by the council after it identified a need to “meet the growing demand for sporting ovals in Bayside”.
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Under the plan, both ovals will get a playing surface upgrade, new lighting and fencing and a pavilion built between them.
These plans aren’t set in stone though as councillors can still introduce last minute changes or compromises which may have come about following a lengthy and thorough community consultation process.
Friends of Elsternwick Park South was formed to retain the “status quo” of the park.
The group had a significant first up victory when it garnered almost 4000 signatures on a petition — the largest in Bayside’s history.
That total dwarfed a petition from the VAFA which garnered a usually respectable tally of 188.
However, only 20 of those were from Bayside.
Next Wednesday will be the last opportunity for community members to have their say on how they want their park to look like in the future.
Those who want to attend are advised to show up early as it is likely to be a packed out event.
Don’t expect to go home early either as debate on how best to use one of Melbourne’s prime open spaces is sure to go on well into the night.
The council has already switched venues from the council chambers to the Brighton Town Hall in anticipation of a bumper crowd.
Tim Wood, Friends of Elsternwick Park South
Elsternwick Park South is the centre of the North Brighton community since it was gifted to us by the Crown in 1880.
Hundreds of people from all walks of life use this park every day.
Without warning Bayside Council wants to radically change locals’ free use of this common space with only a hasty consultation.
Friends of Elsternwick Park South are fighting to give residents and ratepayers a voice in the future of our cherished village green.
Our 3890 signature petition, from residents of all political persuasions, is the biggest in Bayside this century.
Council’s consultation process was demonstrably lopsided and undemocratic — a detailed invitation was emailed out to 300 sports interests, skewing the consultation process before residents were even informed.
People feel angry and let down that Council listens to professional lobbyists over residents and ratepayers.
Council’s proposal makes the bulk of the park off-limits to locals precisely when they use it most, evenings and weekends.
Council hasn’t demonstrated nor communicated the need for this drastic change.
Key amenity factors like parking, traffic and loss of open space access are ignored.
Bayside’s future — increasing development and population density, and the ageing population’s needs — demand creative solutions that are win-win for the whole community, instead of making the locals feel like second class citizens.
On September 19, Bayside councillors will make a choice that affects the North Ward for many years to come.
We hope they put ratepayers and residents first and protect this vital community resource.
Felicity Frederico
Open space is a finite resource, and it is important to ensure it is used effectively and efficiently — catering to all user groups for both passive and active recreation.
For most of last century there were 10 sporting fields at Elsternwick Park South — with now only two remaining for partial use.
I support the proposal to formalise the use of these two remaining sports fields at Elsternwick Park South, erect a change changing room facilities, retain 9.2 hectares of parkland exclusively for dogs off leash, and allocate three hectares for shared use.
The 2012 Bayside Open Space Strategy documents that 80 per cent of sporting fields use in daylight hours is for non-structured use — that is for passive use, such as dog walkers, with the remaining 20 per cent is used for structured use including cricket, AFL and soccer.
This clearly shows that open space is a shared resource.
In addition, the report further classifies the prime use of Elsternwick Park as a sports ground.
There are 18,700 registered sports players in Bayside.
This number is increasing at unprecedented rates, spurred by an increase in female registrations.
Bayside must support their registered sports players and the clubs, not ask them to cap registrations and limit the number of entry level junior registrations participants.
Sports grounds in Bayside are operating at 99 per cent capacity so Bayside Councillors need to take the lead.
Elsternwick Park represents a rare opportunity to enable more people, particularly females, to play sport, in a shared space.
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