Howdy dear availees, and I know we here at TMGI have been bangin' on about this for several posts now, but it is a critical and time-sensitive issue...I revisit/revise this every day, and this post is fairly much sortta' how I process each and every issue relative to this topic...(and clearly we ain't the only ones concerned-Ed)...well indeed, so let's start there...
Ain't Going To Happen, Stupid Idea, What A Stupid Thing To Say:..and as contradictory as it may sound, we here at TMGI absolutely concur...(100%-Ed)...and we did a whole post about it just recently...(albeit a fairly facetious post-Ed)...yeah, but you know how we at least try to engage with dear availees with attempted humour and all that...(so that was what? satire was it?-Ed)...anyhoos, each and every time we go through this, our genuine base belief remains constant...(that "it's a ludicrous and disastrous idea'"?-Ed)...yeah, that... and every time it's the same result, after going through everything covered in previous posts and/or below, this remains our base belief...no sarcasm, not 'satire', it is clearly a ludicrous and disastrous idea...individually, no single issue challenges this base belief, and even collectively they don't totally erase it...(well there is one single issue-Ed)...ah yes, and we'll get to that...
Above terms also used either individually or as various combos of 'responses' we've received on Facebook...(but no 'Comments' on this 'ere blog yet-Ed)...indeed, but we don't often get many comments here on the blog...(whatevs, we've always copped our fair share of abuse, usually 'anonymous'-Ed)...yeah, true, but this issue seems to have struck a chord, it's different, so whilst some don't entirely agree with what we here at TMGI have been sayin', they clearly share our concerns...(and most especially on the 3 issues, starting with MGCCs' extraordinary list of 'Confidential Meetings and/or Decisions'-Ed)...yep, that's a biggie...(which is directly related to a separate issue, the actual 'Final Cost' of the Wulanda Hub-Ed)...where-in MGCC states it's $62million, and using MGCCs' own Budget costings it's closer to $80m...(and 'allegedly' much nearer $100m-Ed)...sure, but $80m, provable using MGCCs' own figures, MGCC has budgeted $80m...(and in a context where MGCC has 'buried' most if not actually all other Hub-related facts and figures-Ed)...and hence the layers of distrust build...
TMGI Is Spreading Malicious Rumours:...as I've previously 'fessed-up to, the rumour about MGCC trying to buy-up land along in the Rail Easement area near HCR, has been circulating for I'd reckon at least a year...(along with sporadic rumours about MGCC plans for those vacant rail and depot sites adjacent to the Rail Easement-Ed)...yep, all stuff near HCR, but not HCR itself...(yeah, and I hear talk that those sites my be heavily contaminated due to their industrial history-Ed)...fair point, but a few weeks back that rumour became about Hastings Cunningham Reserve itself...someone raised it with me, and so I had a bit of a gander...didn't have to go far before finding that there was actually a MGCC meeting planned about 'HCR and Housing', and when I looked at the meeting notification, it states "HCR Area'...
After I publicly raised this issue on Facebook and this 'ere blog, in less than a week there has been enough concern voiced by Mt Gambier citizens (Ratepayers) that MGCC felt obliged to post an official albeit unsigned denial (attached below) on their website and social media on Monday 30th Jan 2023...(and in that denial, MGCC does acknowledge that they have indeed been looking to 'acquire' land along the Rail Easement that adjoins HCRs' Northern boundary-Ed)...yes they do, so what was otherwise just another rumour, MGCC has confirmed that as fact...also, we note use of the term "no intention of selling" as being a pseudo-denial that is a long way from stating that they 1) haven't considered the sale and/or 2) will not ever sell, and/or 3) may develop the site outside of actually specifically "selling" it, eg, a 99-year lease or similar...(like what was done with the Forestry Sell-off, selling "3 Rotations", which in reality is effectively a century of private ownership of the SE Forestry Estate-Ed)...exactly like that Ed...
'Area' Refers To Adjacent Vacant Sites:...I do agree that it's possible to perhaps have confused/conflated MGCCs' plans for other vacant semi-industrial sites, eg, former rail and depot sites near HCR,with the actual HCR...(yeah, fair call, but then these 'sites' would be mentioned specifically by name in MGCCs' official 'Information/Briefing Sessions' or identified in Minutes of other Meetings-Ed)...indeed, and that's not what's happening...whatevs is happening on/with those sites, and how that has and/or hasn't been publicised, all that's very important but not a factor in this case, 'cos there's still the issue of the MGCC Info Meeting that is notified for 7th March 2023 that is about HCR...and in that notification MGCC uses 'HCR Area'...if it where other sites to be discussed at that meeting, each individual site would need to be identified...(and isn't that what the legislation demands?-Ed)...as I understand, yes, each individual issue/topic is considered (by legislation) to be a 'single line item'...heck, they might even have ta' do separate meetings/notifications for each site...but I can only find one such notification, and it goes like this...***
Information/Briefing Session (7th March 6pm)
Update Hastings Cunningham Reserve Area And Public Housing
(Closed To Public)
***...which, as a 'single line item', states that MGCC is having a 'secret meeting' about 'Housing and HCR'...(by legislative definition, it states that meeting is about 'housing on HCR'-Ed)...this refers to any and all 'areas' that define Hastings Cunningham Reserve, ie, all open spaces/clubs/facilities combined...as explained, if this was about any other area/sites, they would have to be individually identified...
Furthermore, Closed To Public is 'justified' with the following statement...ah, shreck it, here's the full notice again...we've highlighted the topic bit...***
Civic Centre, 10 Watson Terrace
Mount Gambier SA 5290
PO Box 56
Mount Gambier SA 5290
Telephone 08 87212555
Facsimile 08 87249791
city@mountgambier.sa.gov.au
mountgambier.sa.gov.au
Reference: AF22/549
MAYOR
COUNCILLORS
CITY OF MOUNT GAMBIER
Members
1. The Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Philpott has arranged an information/briefing session of
the Council to be held in the Council Chamber, Level 4, Civic Centre, 10 Watson Terrace,
Mount Gambier on Tuesday, 7 March 2023 at 6:00 PM to discuss the following matter/s:
Update Hastings Cunningham Reserve Area and
Public Housing 7 March 2023, 6:00 PM
2. The session described above will not be held at a place open to the public as the matter to
be discussed is of a confidential nature within the ambit of section 90(3) of the Local
Government Act 1999 being:
(j) information the disclosure of which:
(i) would divulge information provided on a confidential basis by or to a Minister of
the Crown, or another public authority or official (not being an employee of the
council, or a person engaged by the council); and
(ii) would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest;
(m) information relating to a proposal to prepare or amend a designated instrument under
Part 5 Division 2 of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 before the
draft instrument or amendment is released for public consultation under that Act;
***...but that reasoning in particular is extremely concerning...when MGCC is denying the public access, when it's a 'secret meeting' and the legislation quoted to justify that 'ban' is relating to "Planning, Development and Infrastructure", that's a massive red flag...(and uses terms like "prepare or amend a designated instrument", eg, development zoning, etc, that's more flags-Ed)...and finally "before (release) for public consultation"...and it is very clearly not "contrary to the public interest" for the public/Ratepayers to be informed right from the beginning and at every stage of the process, especially where new and/or amended instruments are involved...(and most especially where it all relates to a public reserve-Ed)...and that's why this 'secret meeting about HCR and Housing' is so important...
But, as we've repeatedly acknowledged, here's MGCCs' official denial as posted on their website and other Social Media on Monday 30 January 2023, and below that the original bit from MGCCs' Sport, Recreation and Open Space Strategy (SROSS) page 31...***...
Hastings Cunningham Reserve not for sale
30 January 2023
30 January 2023
To reiterate, the City of Mount Gambier has no intention of selling Hastings Cunningham reserve which is community land. Rather, there is a desire to improve the reserve per the endorsed Sport, Recreation and Open Spaces Strategy, which states the need to develop a master plan for Hastings Cunningham Reserve in partnership with site users. This plan will provide a coordinated and strategic planning approach to the provision and development of sport and recreation infrastructure, ensuring it is fit for purpose and meets the community's needs.
***...and here's the SROSS statement re HCR...***
Hastings Cunningham Reserve
• Develop a master plan for the site in partnership with site users, that will provide a coordinated and strategic planning approach to the provision and development of sport and recreation infrastructure ensuring it is fit for purpose and meets the needs of the community.
***...I note that this same statement is used in the SROSS for several other sites, eg, Don McDonnell Reserve, Frew Pk, Corriedale Pk...the HCR 'plan' is given a 'High' priority, meaning a time-frame of '0-2 years'...just for the record, here's 2 of my latest Facebook posts trying to cover/explain some of these issues... ***
***...and the second one...***
***...so we have been tryin' to deal with this thoroughly yet briefly, but it does require a more detailed and robust discussion...(like what we just gone and done-Ed)...yes, just like that...
I note there was an interview on ABC South East Radio the other morning about 'Housing Availability in Regional/Rural Areas'...there have been a few similar discussions recently...(and fair enough, especially renting has gone nutso-Ed)...indeed, but I thought the language in this discussion was quite specific and was particularly relevant to this HCR issue...issues like 'housing pressure', 'affordable housing and social housing plans', 'student accommodation'...also 'regional planning process', 'recreational spaces', 'industry development'...(all fair enough-Ed)...sure, but there was also a lotta' talk about "In-fill of city areas" and how people, especially those moving-in from major cities, they want "different housing...closer to city...walk to cafes"...and sure, this should be looked at, but very, very carefully...it must not compromise any current Open/Reserve/Recreation area...
As many already know, only a few years back a qualified professional was engaged to conduct a formal review of Mt Gambiers' 'Open/Recreational Spaces', but, unfortunately for 'The Engagers' the final report concluded the opposite to what they had wanted, it said there's very little 'Open Space' in Mt Gambier so what there is shouldn't be built on...
In conclusion, and deadset, I......(we-Ed)...'we' have gone over and over this, and researched it as best we can, etc, and asked advice, etc, etc...(and listened to people who've disagreed or had other opinions-Ed)...and in and out and over and back, and we just can't get past that secret Info Meeting...and that is the single issue that over-rides everything else...
We've also taken some very specific 'official' actions to try and clarify just exactly what is happening, especially as it pertains to that 'secret meeting'...we'll keep y'all posted, literally...
Tomorrow: My ICAC Testimony Part IV
I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog, and I hope this post helps...cheers and laters...
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