Newsletter Friends of Parkside Gardens Spring edition 2004

Hi Friends of Parkside Gardens

Latest News

City of Greater Shepparton's Parkside Gardens wins Victorian Government Year of the Built Environment Award 2004 North-East Victoria Section

(Patrons Premier Steve Bracks and Minister Mary Delahunty).

My Favourite Place

In June this year Mayor Anne McCamish encouraged community members to enter this State wide competition. She urged people to nominate "a place they hold dear and submit an entry for Greater Shepparton as one of Victoria's favourite places", and this they did!

In August, readers of the 'Sunday Herald Sun' noted that our Gardens took the honours for North East Victoria and that Greater Shepparton will reap the reward.

NO COMMENT- COGS

Despite this great result, our Council offered no comment to the broad community- we await the award presentation day in wonderment.

The Heritage Victoria Council's Registration Committee came to Shepparton on August 20 to conduct a hearing of submissions.The large audience observed the excellent presentation outlining the reasons why the International Village was, and still is, so valued by the many different cultures who had worked on its establishment and maintenance since 1973.

Greater Shepparton Council engaged a barrister and private Heritage adviser to appear at the Hearing, challenging both of the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer Heritage Victoria. Usually the hearings are heard in Melbourne, so we expressed our gratitude for the visit to our locality and the professional conduct of the Heritage officers since our application in March this year. The officers conducted two site inspections in April and August this year.

The Friends of Parkside Gardens' March application prioritised that the Bangerang Cultural Centre be assessed for Victorian Heritage listing, and we are delighted that this has been achieved.

The Centre (Keeping Place) concept in 1975, opened in 1982, was planned, built and is still operated by the Aboriginal community.
It is unique to Australia.This Centre is a credit to the Bangerang community for the social and cultural opportunity it provides to all cultures seeking knowledge of the culture of the traditional owners of the land.

Heritage Victoria Decision

Ten members of the Heritage Victoria Council reviewed all submissions, and archived materials from the historically significant Village Project.

On September 24th 'NEWS' front page headline advised the Shepparton and district community that Parkside Gardens will be PROTECTED:

'Gardens deemed of significant value'. At last, a politically correct decision has been made for our 31year old valued site in its entirety. The ruling is that the site is " historically and socially significant to the local community " and should be protected under the council's local planning scheme.

This supports the community's efforts, petitions, development proposals to GS Council over the eight years since the Village project was closed, to retain and enhance the site as public open space for future generations.

Reasons why State Heritage listing refused :

Anne Cahir, on behalf of the Executive Director noted that

' the integrity of the site has been compromised by the removal of a number of its original elements and that this had detrimentally affected its consideration as a place of State significance by the Executive Director. However, the Executive Director considers that the site is of local cultural heritage significance to Shepparton and recommends it be considered for planning scheme protection.'

What a sad indictment for all the historical value of the International Village Project contributed by designers, funders and workers,volunteers and our community of many cultures.(1973 - 1996).

"Development not ruled out indicating that this Council will probably not act on the umpires' decision, and continue on with the agenda for 150plus residential allotments in collaboration with State authority VicUrban.

How bizarre that the State Minister who rules on Heritage Act matters, also rules on the Planning Act. Residential rezoning on the site was approved by the Minister in July despite 475 objections and without any local assessment of the site's heritage value!

COGS commenced Local Heritage assessment in June 2000 when we first registered the former Village site for its social and cultural significance.

"Details of this registration cannot be found" says our Council! How convenient then that the site could be declared redundant to Council needs in 2001 and offered to State authority VicUrban to develop.

States that the Registrations Committee considers that it is unfortunate that the City of Greater Shepparton did not include consideration of the heritage values of Parkside Gardens as part of the recent planning process for re-zoning the land.

They also stated a concern that a cultural heritage assessment by Ms Deborah Kemp was only commissioned by COGS after the place was nominated by Friends of Parkside Gardens.

However of further concern: "There is no indication that Council will take action in relation to Ms Kemp's findings that the site is of local heritage significance,' reports the Committee.

A strong case for State Heritage listing for both of these buildings and artifacts was put forward by Bill McCarthy and founder Edith Dizon-Fitzsimmons, and Friends of Parkside Gardens supported this also. Though a State listing was not achieved, the Philippine House and Museum is a very valued part of the recommended local heritage planning scheme overlay.

We all look forward to continuing to work alongside the Bangerang and Filippino communities within the excellent protected environment recommended for heritage overlay by our City Council.
The moat/waterways are included in the Heritage Victoria recommended overlay. Enjoyment of the unique setting with conserved flora and fauna should continue into the future.

Our community could now reasonably expect that GS Council would abandon the residential amendment and apply the recommended local Heritage overlay to the entire site.

Since Council has responded negatively to the Heritage recommendations, Chairman Bill Brown has written to Greater Shepparton Council on the community's behalf to request that any further decision regarding the development of the Parkside Gardens site be held off until November 2005 when a referendum could coincide with local council elections.

Saturday 23rd October - 8am to 1pm. Friends Allison & Ian's home at 144 Ashenden Street Shepparton. Good saleable items may be left from Friday afternoon or collection arranged by phoning 58214846.

Please support these events. Your most appreciated financial support over the past twelve months has contributed more than $20,000 to this worthy fighting fund. We could never estimate the physical voluntary "in kind" support of people power.

It seems we may need more of this support if Greater Shepparton Council continues to employ barristers to defend their plans to residentially develop our valued public open space.

Incidentally this Council's costly defence in the face of community objection hits our hip pockets dearly as well! We will seek to find out "just how much" in the near future.

The Meeting is held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Mechanics Institute Wyndham St Shepparton. Time: 7:30pm and 8pm daylight saving. All interested are welcome to attend.

This will be held at the Mechanics Institute on Wednesday 15th of December 2004 at 8pm. Please consider joining the Committee over the coming weeks. We remain a happy and vital group despite the many challenges!

Greater Shepparton Botanic Garden Ass.Inc
		Newsletter Friends Of Parkside Gardens Spring Edition 2004
	Hi Friends of Parkside Gardens Latest News City of Greater Shepparton's Parkside Gardens wins Victorian Government Year of the Built Environment Award 2004 North-East Victoria Section (Patrons Premier Steve Bracks and Minister Mary Delahunty). My Favourite Place In June this year Mayor Anne McCamish encouraged community members to enter this State wide competition. She urged people to nominate "a place they hold dear and submit an entry for Greater Shepparton as one of Victoria's favourite places", and this they did! In August, readers of the 'Sunday Herald Sun' noted that our Gardens took the honours for North East Victoria and that Greater Shepparton will reap the reward. NO COMMENT- COGS Despite this great result, our Council offered no comment to the broad community- we await the award presentation day in wonderment. The Heritage Victoria Council's Registration Committee came to Shepparton on August 20 to conduct a hearing of submissions.The large audience observed the excellent presentation outlining the reasons why the International Village was, and still is, so valued by the many different cultures who had worked on its establishment and maintenance since 1973. Greater Shepparton Council engaged a barrister and private Heritage adviser to appear at the Hearing, challenging both of the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer Heritage Victoria. Usually the hearings are heard in Melbourne, so we expressed our gratitude for the visit to our locality and the professional conduct of the Heritage officers since our application in March this year. The officers conducted two site inspections in April and August this year. The Friends of Parkside Gardens' March application prioritised that the Bangerang Cultural Centre be assessed for Victorian Heritage listing, and we are delighted that this has been achieved. The Centre (Keeping Place) concept in 1975, opened in 1982, was planned, built and is still operated by the Aboriginal community. It is unique to Australia.This Centre is a credit to the Bangerang community for the social and cultural opportunity it provides to all cultures seeking knowledge of the culture of the traditional owners of the land. Heritage Victoria Decision Ten members of the Heritage Victoria Council reviewed all submissions, and archived materials from the historically significant Village Project. On September 24th 'NEWS' front page headline advised the Shepparton and district community that Parkside Gardens will be PROTECTED: 'Gardens deemed of significant value'. At last, a politically correct decision has been made for our 31year old valued site in its entirety. The ruling is that the site is " historically and socially significant to the local community " and should be protected under the council's local planning scheme. This supports the community's efforts, petitions, development proposals to GS Council over the eight years since the Village project was closed, to retain and enhance the site as public open space for future generations. Reasons why State Heritage listing refused : Anne Cahir, on behalf of the Executive Director noted that ' the integrity of the site has been compromised by the removal of a number of its original elements and that this had detrimentally affected its consideration as a place of State significance by the Executive Director. However, the Executive Director considers that the site is of local cultural heritage significance to Shepparton and recommends it be considered for planning scheme protection.' What a sad indictment for all the historical value of the International Village Project contributed by designers, funders and workers,volunteers and our community of many cultures.(1973 - 1996). COGS RESPONSE On 27th September however we read 'NEWS' report headline: "Development not ruled out indicating that this Council will probably not act on the umpires' decision, and continue on with the agenda for 150plus residential allotments in collaboration with State authority VicUrban. How bizarre that the State Minister who rules on Heritage Act matters, also rules on the Planning Act. Residential rezoning on the site was approved by the Minister in July despite 475 objections and without any local assessment of the site's heritage value! COGS commenced Local Heritage assessment in June 2000 when we first registered the former Village site for its social and cultural significance. "Details of this registration cannot be found" says our Council! How convenient then that the site could be declared redundant to Council needs in 2001 and offered to State authority VicUrban to develop. Heritage Victoria's report September 2004 States that the Registrations Committee considers that it is unfortunate that the City of Greater Shepparton did not include consideration of the heritage values of Parkside Gardens as part of the recent planning process for re-zoning the land. They also stated a concern that a cultural heritage assessment by Ms Deborah Kemp was only commissioned by COGS after the place was nominated by Friends of Parkside Gardens. However of further concern: "There is no indication that Council will take action in relation to Ms Kemp's findings that the site is of local heritage significance,' reports the Committee. Philippine House and Museum A strong case for State Heritage listing for both of these buildings and artifacts was put forward by Bill McCarthy and founder Edith Dizon-Fitzsimmons, and Friends of Parkside Gardens supported this also. Though a State listing was not achieved, the Philippine House and Museum is a very valued part of the recommended local heritage planning scheme overlay. We all look forward to continuing to work alongside the Bangerang and Filippino communities within the excellent protected environment recommended for heritage overlay by our City Council. The moat/waterways are included in the Heritage Victoria recommended overlay. Enjoyment of the unique setting with conserved flora and fauna should continue into the future. Community expectations Our community could now reasonably expect that GS Council would abandon the residential amendment and apply the recommended local Heritage overlay to the entire site. Since Council has responded negatively to the Heritage recommendations, Chairman Bill Brown has written to Greater Shepparton Council on the community's behalf to request that any further decision regarding the development of the Parkside Gardens site be held off until November 2005 when a referendum could coincide with local council elections. WE FORGE ON! COMING EVENTS: Garage Sale: Saturday 23rd October - 8am to 1pm. Friends Allison & Ian's home at 144 Ashenden Street Shepparton. Good saleable items may be left from Friday afternoon or collection arranged by phoning 58214846. OPEN GARDEN DAY: Sunday 21st November - 1pm to 5pm Venues: "Emagination" - 18 Vickers Street Kialla Kevin & Peg Jordan's : 8 Rosina Court Shepparton (off Ford Road). $2 coin donation at the gate. Watch for further publicity! Please support these events. Your most appreciated financial support over the past twelve months has contributed more than $20,000 to this worthy fighting fund. We could never estimate the physical voluntary "in kind" support of people power. It seems we may need more of this support if Greater Shepparton Council continues to employ barristers to defend their plans to residentially develop our valued public open space. Incidentally this Council's costly defence in the face of community objection hits our hip pockets dearly as well! We will seek to find out "just how much" in the near future. MEETINGS: The Meeting is held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Mechanics Institute Wyndham St Shepparton. Time: 7:30pm and 8pm daylight saving. All interested are welcome to attend. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: This will be held at the Mechanics Institute on Wednesday 15th of December 2004 at 8pm. Please consider joining the Committee over the coming weeks. We remain a happy and vital group despite the many challenges! ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP: $10 per annum payable at the AGM or at our open garden day.

Greater Shepparton Botanic Garden Ass.Inc