MAJOR CHANGES FOR CAULFIELD PARK
MORE MATURE TREES TO GO AND A NEW 1.2 METRE HIGH FENCED PATH TO MAKE WAY FOR ENLARGEMENT OF SPORTS OVALS
Park users will be concerned to know of further major plans for Caulfield Park which were passed at last week’s Council Meeting (March 17) for the purpose of enlarging the three sports fields along Balaclava Rd. We believe these changes will significantly impact the ambience of the park and alienate yet more open space.
The detailed changes are set out in Item 8.16 of the meeting minutes which can be accessed from the Council website: http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/Files/Mar17-minutes.pdf (see page 99).
Briefly, the changes are:
• Sports field enlargement - the three sports fields on Balaclava Rd are to be enlarged to allow for three 50 m radius cricket fields.
• This requires at least 15 mature trees to be removed. It includes the trees along the brick path that extends northerly from Bambra Rd to the small red brick pavilion. A number of them are very large and striking and, in our opinion, provide valuable shelter for birds and the screening of the new pavilion from the south east corner of the park, as well as significantly enhancing the view of the park from Bambra Rd. Their removal will create no tree breaks between the three new fields and create an expansive open space devoid of shade and seating.
• A new wide concrete fenced path to cut across the park. The existing north south brick path from Bambra Rd will be realigned to go between the new sports fields. The new path is to be as wide as a road (2.5 metres) in beige concrete with a high fence either side. The new fence will be 127 metres long and 1.2 metres high. This will be an eyesore and prevent people from crossing the fields, effectively reducing access to open space. This is the first plan for fencing that we are aware of and are concerned that more fencing might be on the agenda further down the track. We believe we must let Council know that further alienation of open space is unacceptable.
We hope to engage with Council and Councillors to achieve a more equitable outcome for the ambience of the park and for the thousands who use it each week for passive recreation and for the sporting clubs.
We are interested in hearing from park users who are concerned about these changes to assist us in working out an appropriate strategy with Council. If you are opposed to these changes then please contact us by leaving a comment on our website blogspot or writing to us.
If we can demonstrate there is sufficient community opposition we may be able to do something.
We are particularly interested in the views of the cricket or other sports field users who either support or oppose the plans. The changes are being made, as we understand, primarily for the benefit of cricket clubs to enable for more senior level playing fields (which require a 50 metre radius). We are interested in knowing how frequently all fields would simultaneously be used for senior cricket and whether or not the needs of the sports clubs could be accommodated by reconfiguring the fields, eg making one of the fields smaller, to avoid removing more trees.
Please pass this notice to any park users you know who may be interested in this issue.
David Wilde
President, Friends of Caulfield Park
MORE MATURE TREES TO GO AND A NEW 1.2 METRE HIGH FENCED PATH TO MAKE WAY FOR ENLARGEMENT OF SPORTS OVALS
Park users will be concerned to know of further major plans for Caulfield Park which were passed at last week’s Council Meeting (March 17) for the purpose of enlarging the three sports fields along Balaclava Rd. We believe these changes will significantly impact the ambience of the park and alienate yet more open space.
The detailed changes are set out in Item 8.16 of the meeting minutes which can be accessed from the Council website: http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/Files/Mar17-minutes.pdf (see page 99).
Briefly, the changes are:
• Sports field enlargement - the three sports fields on Balaclava Rd are to be enlarged to allow for three 50 m radius cricket fields.
• This requires at least 15 mature trees to be removed. It includes the trees along the brick path that extends northerly from Bambra Rd to the small red brick pavilion. A number of them are very large and striking and, in our opinion, provide valuable shelter for birds and the screening of the new pavilion from the south east corner of the park, as well as significantly enhancing the view of the park from Bambra Rd. Their removal will create no tree breaks between the three new fields and create an expansive open space devoid of shade and seating.
• A new wide concrete fenced path to cut across the park. The existing north south brick path from Bambra Rd will be realigned to go between the new sports fields. The new path is to be as wide as a road (2.5 metres) in beige concrete with a high fence either side. The new fence will be 127 metres long and 1.2 metres high. This will be an eyesore and prevent people from crossing the fields, effectively reducing access to open space. This is the first plan for fencing that we are aware of and are concerned that more fencing might be on the agenda further down the track. We believe we must let Council know that further alienation of open space is unacceptable.
We hope to engage with Council and Councillors to achieve a more equitable outcome for the ambience of the park and for the thousands who use it each week for passive recreation and for the sporting clubs.
We are interested in hearing from park users who are concerned about these changes to assist us in working out an appropriate strategy with Council. If you are opposed to these changes then please contact us by leaving a comment on our website blogspot or writing to us.
If we can demonstrate there is sufficient community opposition we may be able to do something.
We are particularly interested in the views of the cricket or other sports field users who either support or oppose the plans. The changes are being made, as we understand, primarily for the benefit of cricket clubs to enable for more senior level playing fields (which require a 50 metre radius). We are interested in knowing how frequently all fields would simultaneously be used for senior cricket and whether or not the needs of the sports clubs could be accommodated by reconfiguring the fields, eg making one of the fields smaller, to avoid removing more trees.
Please pass this notice to any park users you know who may be interested in this issue.
David Wilde
President, Friends of Caulfield Park
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