Suzi Jenkin
East Bentleigh

WHERE WILL THEY PLAY?
I believe that the struggle to establish Federation Park is symbolic of what is happening right across our suburbs because it is a fight to save a precious commodity that seems to be fast disappearing from our neighbourhoods - green open space. Open space that is free for every body to enjoy and use. Space where you can exercise your dog and kick a footy with your kids or just go for a walk.

The local community has made it clear to our political leaders what we want, even to the extent of tabling a petition in parliament, but to no avail. This lack of foresight on behalf of government is a betrayal of our children.

We keep hearing about the epidemics of obesity, heart disease and diabetes that are threatening our children and how they need to keep active and exercise but where are they supposed to play?

The push towards higher density housing means many children no longer have a back yard big enough to run in. The higher housing density also means more cars on the streets so its not safe to play there either. And the trend seems to be for local schools to fence off their grounds with big high fences like the one now around the Bentleigh Secondary College, so these green spaces have become forbidden territory too.

Will the only outdoor activities that kids from future generations be able to enjoy be formally organised ones that you have to pay for? What about the chance of going down to the park to kick the footy with Dad? The traditional Australian childhood is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

So please help us make a stand and let the politicians know that enough is enough They must stop selling off our green space now because once it is sold it is lost forever.

Peter Malone
Frankston East

Green space is increasingly a precious commodity, particularly for suburbs like South Oakleigh and Clayton.

Short sighted bureacratic rules aimed at selling off so called 'surplus' land should always be challenged. The land was and is still used for the benefit of the local community. Once the land is sold the community will never get it back for community recreation. Will a future State government buy the land back and flatten the town houses built there. I don't think so!!

This same sort of thing happened in Frankston. “Surplus” school land was sold off much to the dismay and annoyance of local residents who wanted to keep it as parkland. Let's see if the State Government listens to the people on this one - they say they listen to local communities. Here is the real test.

Heather Welsh
Greens Candidate - Waverley Province
Murrumbeena

The concept of an audited trial period has merit to establish use and need. It is also very difficult to evict existing users. This could be done through a short term lease at a peppercorn rental from Department of Education with appropriate public liability insurance(insurance may be part of the problem). The matter has been in abeyance for three years, so the Department might be persuaded to halt sale for a further period of time to establish need and use to strengthen your case.

There are a number of different options including:

1. Land could be reserved under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act and managed by either Trustees or a Commitee of Management with ownership vested in the Crown. Maintenace would need to be negotiated.

2.The Council could purchase the land through funding from the Community Support Fund together with a contribution of ratepayers funds and undertaking of maintenace.I suggest that you contact the Fund through the Department of Infrastructure for the guidelines.

I would like to talk about this in greater depth with your group.

Authorised and printed by Heather Welsh
1/377 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Norm Bury
Westall/Clayton South

The issue of utilising undeveloped plots of land that are situated among already existing houses is one which some people see as an opportunity to turn to their own advantage, in that those who can afford it will approach their local authority in order to encroach upon these hitherto unspoiled pieces of parkland for their own use, to the total exclusion of other potential users.

City Fathers in the past have shown their wisdom in having always had far sighted vision which has taken into consideration the needs, not only of the immediate community, but whole regions have been "proclaimed for the people" well into the future.

As a result of this far sighted vision we are able to enjoy today the large tracts of parkland which have been reserved just for this purpose.

Don't for one minute think that the fast money returned will be compensation enough for open space to let off steam, for the many persons who will be looking for somewhere to relax after the daily grind, but whose searching will be in vain.

Many new developments in progress today have nothing by way of nearby "Open Space" of any consequence, much to the shame of those municipal authorities, where only the thought of raising revenue is uppermost in their thinking.

We have been told about curbing the outer suburban sprawl by imposing boundaries beyond which we are not allowed to go.

This is to result in higher density living, by making more concentrated use of the land available.

Even more than ever we are going to need that open space to let off steam, when confronted by four walls on a daily basis.

Keep what open space we already have, show wisdom from our City Father's past, and far sighted vision. Dare to win!