General Manager

Urban Communities, VicUrban, 12th May 2005

Dear Sir

Parkside Gardens – Greater Shepparton

Your letter dated 11 April was received on 18th April and by then, work to destroy many of the trees and some vegetation inside the moat, was well underway having commenced on 13th April in the early hours.

On attending the site, protesters were told that the Council had directed the removal of willows. Following further requests to the planning department, our Committee representative spoke with the Council officer in charge of the residential project.

He advised her that the permits were in hand – why wouldn't they be when Council provides them?

He also advised that they would do the clearance in one hit due to the contract costs of $30,000 that would be borne by VicUrban.

On further inquiry to the flora & fauna officers both locally and in Melbourne, we find that Council has no checks and balances in this instance and can proceed!

I met with Project officers last Friday at the site and suggested that they take a full walk around to see the destruction and displacement of bird life as a result of this wholesale massacre of healthy trees (not just willows).

There were also healthy olive trees uprooted and probably transplanted elsewhere – from the site dedicated to the Greek community in 1985. The area around the Philippine House and Museum has also been decimated.

On behalf of the objecting community, I wish to complain that this contract was carried out with undue process and lack of attention to detail. It has caused stress to the visitors over the past month, which is indicated by phone calls and emails to us and direct to Council
(to our knowledge).

There are stumps lying about everywhere and debris in the waterways. Residents on the western waterway have complained to Council and their real estate officer who says that their properties have lost $30,000 in one foul swoop, and that he would not put them on the market at this time.

They counted 38 baby black swans on the waterway adjacent to them last week.

Due to Council advertising a C50 amendment in relation to heritage overlays identified in the Heritage Study 2000 – 2004 with submissions invited to that process by July 4, 2005, we will be submitting to that amendment due to Council's "oversight" in assessing the former Village site. On Heritage Victoria's advice we have written to the Planning & Heritage Minister to request that he place an Interim Protection Order on the site until the C50 planning amendment process has been worked through and, either considered or abandoned.

Protesters will rally at Parliament House on Tuesday 24th May at 12 noon. Perhaps you or your representative would care to address the people; we will lunch in the Treasury Gardens following the protest.

Hoping that you will consider the contents of this letter with the seriousness our community deserves.

Friends of Parkside Gardens