It was a sunny autumn day in Shepparton - April 1st - yes April Fools Day! Not wishing to be fooled by the very private launching of "The Grove Lakeside" arranged by VicUrban, 100 protesters of all ages and abilities marched into our Parkside Gardens to object to yet another Council approved secretive event.

Note the name change - plan is the same - to build 150 houses on our beautiful site, filling in two-thirds of the waterways and building on them! You may well ask "Where is the Lake?"

Unfortunately, before the launch, VicUrban had a car blocking half-way up the entry road and had to be asked quite civilly to remove it on a number of occasions to allow for people, unable to march, to enter our park.

Yet Councillors and VicUrban officers all still say loudly that there will be 50percent of public space left! We look at the concept plan and all we see are house blocks with the State Heritage listed Bangerang Cultural Centre sitting in front of a housing estate and the Philippine House and Museum with little public space around the buildings, and no water feature at the back - only housing.

Jeanette Powell MLA, and Wendy Lovell Member for North East, attended to voice again their support of the community alongside the protesters, as they wished to be, for this protest.

They, alongside the rest of the Greater Shepparton, Bangerang and Philippine communities were uninvited to this "elite" affair.

ABC's Stateline spent time filming at The Gardens on Tuesday as well as today, and are to be thanked for the excellent portrayal of a community endeavouring against huge odds to protect beautiful public space enjoyed by all for over three decades. WIN too, were there again, with the story about the real people challenging both Local and State Governments to stop this senseless vandalism.

Planning Minister Rob Hulls said on ABC's Stateline four weeks back that any Minister who does not consider community concerns and participation in planning matters is in
"la-la land", so we aim to make him consider our country community!

The good news is that C42, land on the eastern side including a large section of the moat side and back, is not yet approved by the Minister for Planning because of serious flood impact issues - so we will keep asking for the whole matter to be reviewed.

Thanks to all those who came to represent the larger majority who could not be there, or did not know about it - there would have been many - as we only heard by chance earlier in the week.

There were many excellent banners but a large banner said it all: