My statement to be read at the “Save OG Park” group meeting tomorrow... I am unable to attend today’s meeting due to a long-standing family commitment. I thank the convenors of the meeting for the offer to provide a statement that will be read out. Firstly, and most importantly, Council has removed itself from any talks about a handover of the Ocean Grove Park from Trust for Nature. Trust for Nature initiated those discussions, firstly with the Ocean Grove Park committee and subsequently with Council. Both the Ocean Grove Park committee and I were always insistent that any transfer of the land to Council (or any other organisation) would need to ensure that the park was protected in perpetuity with a water tight guarantee. I have always maintained that the park is a loved and valued community asset that needs to be protected for future generations. Lawyers engaged by Trust by Nature and Council have been working together to create a water tight legal document that would provide unambiguous protection. Despite their best efforts over many months, they can’t deliver a legal solution that provides the level of protection that this community needs. Without that protection I can’t be a party to any consideration by Council about the transfer. I am advised that the draft legal documents provide protection via a covenant and a caveat that states that if any future development is proposed by a future Council, that the land is first to be offered to Trust for Nature. My position is that if Trust for Nature are trying to divest themselves of the land now, how can we be sure that they’ll accept it back in the future? I see that as a risk that neither I nor the Ocean Grove community should accept so Council officers, at my request, withdrew from the negotiations to transfer the land. Some facts about the performance space. Council provided $20,000 to Ocean Grove Park Inc in the 2009/10 budget in response to a request for funding for a scoping study and detailed design for a performance space. In 2010 Ocean Grove Park Inc applied to Council for a permit for the construction of the performance space. The permit was issued on 10 November 2010. The application included a commitment by Ocean Grove Park Inc. to establish a venue management committee and to develop a user’s manual to address hours of operation and noise management. The Council report noted that any performances at the space would need to comply with State Government noise regulations. A business case and detailed design for the performance space was completed in August 2012 and stated a construction cost of $1,002,000. The business case included letters of support from local schools and a variety of community organisations. That document was used as a basis to secure funding for the performance space. Funding commitments to date: • State Government $500,000 via the Putting Locals First program • Ocean Grove Community Enterprise $150,000, • Ocean Grove Park Inc. up to $180,000 • Council $200,000 in the 2013/14 budget, currently conditional on the park being handed over to Council. The removal of that condition will be the subject of a report to Council in April. Council officers and I will continue to work with State Government, members of Ocean Grove Park Inc, the Ocean Grove Arts Network, Ocean Grove Community Enterprise, local schools and the wider community to deliver a performance space in Ocean Grove Park. In closing, I’d encourage the local community to acknowledge the work of the volunteers that have looked after Ocean Grove Park over so many years. I am disturbed and disappointed by the behaviour towards those volunteers by some in our community. Ocean Grove is better than that. Thank you. Jan Farrell
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 08:40:31 +0000
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