Anger at park kinder project

MICHELLE HERBISON
PLANS to build a kindergarten on parkland are bad for Barwon Heads, residents told a council meeting this week.
Councillors voted in favour of the $3.67 Village Park kindergarten plan in Geelong Rd despite residents’ concerns.
Karen Howie said council failed to consult widely enough on the preferred site.
“The kinder community has been consulted extensively but nobody else has.”
Ruth Lee wanted a new kindergarten but also opposed the site.
“We do not think park land should be taken away from the community when another site is available.”
Russell Mitton asked council to consider Barwon Heads’ community garden land.
“The community arts garden is already a hub for mothers.”
Cr Jan Farrell raised questions over council choosing the site while a master plan for the park was incomplete.
“It doesn’t seem clear that the community garden site is not worthy of discussion.
“The limits of people to appeal and take this to VCAT will be very much limited because the master plan is still in progress. The normal process is that one process should finish and the next should start but this hasn’t been taken to the broader community.”
Cr Andy Richards said Cr Farrell was “incorrect”.
He pointed to plans for a children’s hub on open space in Cr Farrell’s Ocean Grove ward without the facility appearing on the space’s master plan.
“An open space process has nothing to do with VCAT and there are no guidelines in running dual processes around a master plan and a kindergarten.”
Cr Richards said residents would have an opportunity to make submissions.
“The park at this stage appears to be a better site due to its more-central nature to the town for walk-ability.”