FRIENDS OF PARKSIDE GARDENS

We are appalled by the impact the implementation of the Bracks Government's Melbourne 2030 Strategy will have on the amenity of our municipality and on the independent planning processes of the City of Greater Shepparton.

In particular , we refer to the Deed of Agreement between Greater Shepparton City Council and the state authority Vic Urban to rezone public parkland for 150 plus residential allotments filling in two-thirds of the waterways. Re-named Parkside Gardens in 1996 by the Commissioners who closed down the International Village Project, this 21 hectare site including surrounding waterways was established in 1973 as an International Village Tourism Project.

A Ministerial Planning Panel received 478 objections to rezoning of the site in November 2003, and 40 objectors were heard in February 2004. Though submitters were told that Melbourne 2030 could be addressed, the Planning Report dismissed the policy as irrelevant!

Objectors referred to:-

Melbourne 2030 Planning for sustainable growth Policies and initiatives > Direction 5>Policy 5.6.

We therefore demand that the Bracks Government abandon this Deed of Agreement to sell or in any way make available the land now known as Parkside Gardens for residential development. The entire site received Heritage Victoria recommendation for City Council Local Heritage overlay and the Bangerang Cultural Centre which is situated on the site is subject to Victorian Heritage listing recommendation (Public Notice 17 May 2004). The entire site is recommended as follows:

"visionary project ..conceived at a time when multiculturalism as an idea was in its infancy acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of many cultural groups in Shepparton. The International Village Project, in its inclusiveness and vision, represents a unique civic and community response in Victoria, if not Australia, to the post-war mass migration program which had profound effects on Australian society."

This unique public open space should be retained for the enjoyment of the local community, national and international visitors and for future generations