On September 28, 2004 the Heritage Victoria Council's Registrations Committee strongly recommended that the entire Parkside Gardens site including its unique lake and moat system be included on the Local Heritage Overlay in the Greater Shepparton City Council's planning scheme.

An overlay protects heritage sites from inappropriate develop and requires permits for works undertaken.

While Parkside Gardens has considerable local significance for its historical and social associations with the diverse cultural groups in Shepparton and local technical significance, its integrity has been seriously compromised with the loss and removal of many of its built elements.

Thus its consideration as a place of state significance has been detrimentally affected. However, with it lake and moat system, remaining landscape elements and buildings such as the Philippine House and Bangerang Cultural Centre which remain in community use, it is a site of cultural heritage significance to Shepparton. (September 2004 -Heritage Victoria)

The Bangerang Cultural Centre has been gazetted as a Victorian Heritage listing, and is protected.

In November 2004, Greater Shepparton Council resolved not to include Parkside Gardens in the local heritage overlay scheme, and to prepare an amendment for the Philippine House and Museum heritage overlay only. This is not included in the C50 Amendment either.

Subsequently Council has continued with the residential project in agreement with VicUrban destroying many healthy trees on the interior land space and renaming the project 'The Grove Lakeside". This housing project covering land and filled in waterways, if allowed to continue, will extinguish any heritage overlay plan as already recommended for the precinct.

Friends and supporters of the retention of Parkside Gardens believe that the entire site should, as already recommended by Heritage Victoria, be included in the amendment C50 which proposes heritage overlays for sites identified in Council's 'Heritage Study - Stage Two'.

The precinct holds great historical and cultural significance for Victoria's multicultural population and our national and international visitors. Since 1973, the International Village Project has provided a unique place and large public setting for gathering and sharing of the many Australian and ethnic customs and cultures.

This unique site must be preserved for future generations. Heritage places are precious and irreplaceable.

HOW TO LODGE A SUBMISSION TO THE C50 AMENDMENT BY 4 JULY 2005

Submission forms may be obtained from the City Council's Welsford Street office or you may submit your own letters which may be hand-written or typed and should state:

Heading: Submission - Amendment C50 to the Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme

Subject Land: Parkside Gardens Parkside Drive Shepparton.

Proposal:

I/we request that Parkside Gardens, including the surrounding waterways, be included in the Greater Shepparton Heritage Overlay Planning Scheme as recommended by Heritage Victoria Council's Registration Committee.

Points you could make:

Why it is historically significant, and why it makes Shepparton different to other places in Victoria e.g.Swan Hill.

Why it is unique - pointing out the importance of the social and cultural links to migration and multiculturalism since the early 1970s. The site remains unique to the diverse history of Victorian migration, and in particular, Shepparton's history of migration dating back to the 19th Century.

Describe your own experience of the former International Village to support the local Heritage overlay request.

What you love about the environment, bird-life and water recreation, fishing, picnics or get-togethers, and ambience of the place.

You may alter and attach your submission (if you submitted one to Heritage Victoria during the 2004 public exhibition).You may wish to attach any copies of photos, mementos of festivities or activities, voluntary or work efforts to establish or maintain the former Village site.

Keep a copy of your submission and post or deliver the original to Greater Shepparton City Council offices 90 Welsford Street or to Locked Bag 1000, Shepparton 3632 on or by on or by the due date: 4th July 2005.