Council of Greater Shepparton lack of heritage values

In September 2002, Greater Shepparton City Council signed a Deed of Agreement with State authority VicUrban to finally bulldoze and fill in two-thirds of the waterways at the International Village site 1973-1996.

The decision to rezone most of the precinct to build 150 plus private houses was made without any public consultation with community stakeholders.

From May 2000, Friends of Parkside Gardens Committee's primary task was to lobby Council in relation to its neglect and demolition of properties on the site known as Parkside Gardens since the Village Project closure in 1996.

A letter (14/6/00) was sent to individual Councillors to inform them of our intentions and that:

'Our Committee noted with interest that a Heritage Study is being undertaken by COGS, and we have contacted the Manager Planning Eric Braslis, to register our input. We believe that the former International Village has significant heritage as a place of cultural importance to our City and its residents. '

Though Council's response was invited, this registration was never acknowledged.

Current Planning Manager Colin Kalms stated in the Shepparton Adviser (1/9/04) that 'no submission was made by the group at the time (of the 2000 review) regarding heritage value of the site.'

Colin however, recently advised us that first stage Heritage consultants were dismissed early leaving no records, and that Eric Braslis departed two years ago!
How convenient for Council!

Stage 2 of the local Heritage Report(Feb 2004), reveals that no appraisal of the former Village site has ever occurred. "It was an oversight" wrote the barrister defending Council's submission to Heritage Victoria in July.

Following Heritage Victoria's May recommendation that a local heritage overlay be applied to the entire site, Council engaged heritage adviser Deborah Kemp to assess the site's 31 year history.

Obviously, Council has no confidence in the State appointed body's assessment. The Shepparton community now awaits Heritage Victoria's decision.

Greater Shepparton Botanic Garden Ass.Inc

		Council of Greater Shepparton lack of heritage values
	In September 2002, Greater Shepparton City Council signed a Deed of Agreement with State authority VicUrban to finally bulldoze and fill in two-thirds of the waterways at the International Village site 1973-1996. The decision to rezone most of the precinct to build 150 plus private houses was made without any public consultation with community stakeholders. From May 2000, Friends of Parkside Gardens Committee's primary task was to lobby Council in relation to its neglect and demolition of properties on the site known as Parkside Gardens since the Village Project closure in 1996. A letter (14/6/00) was sent to individual Councillors to inform them of our intentions and that: 'Our Committee noted with interest that a Heritage Study is being undertaken by COGS, and we have contacted the Manager Planning Eric Braslis, to register our input. We believe that the former International Village has significant heritage as a place of cultural importance to our City and its residents. ' Though Council's response was invited, this registration was never acknowledged. Current Planning Manager Colin Kalms stated in the Shepparton Adviser (1/9/04) that 'no submission was made by the group at the time (of the 2000 review) regarding heritage value of the site.' Colin however, recently advised us that first stage Heritage consultants were dismissed early leaving no records, and that Eric Braslis departed two years ago! How convenient for Council! Stage 2 of the local Heritage Report(Feb 2004), reveals that no appraisal of the former Village site has ever occurred. "It was an oversight" wrote the barrister defending Council's submission to Heritage Victoria in July. What a flawed community review process this has been. Following Heritage Victoria's May recommendation that a local heritage overlay be applied to the entire site, Council engaged heritage adviser Deborah Kemp to assess the site's 31 year history. Obviously, Council has no confidence in the State appointed body's assessment. The Shepparton community now awaits Heritage Victoria's decision.

Greater Shepparton Botanic Garden Ass.Inc