By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
RIFTS have opened in Ocean Grove’s community over a $1 million performance space proposed for the town’s park.
Resident Christine Brooks said a condition of Geelong council funding requiring transfer of park ownership to City Hall had raised concerns.
“There are a lot of concerned people here because they did not realise how big it will actually be,” Ms Brooks said.
“The park means a lot to many people in Ocean Grove because it was saved from developers years ago and people are worried that it could end up in developers’ hands again.
“The community consultation was not wide enough because many didn’t know about it.”
Ms Brooks said she had complained to Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell about the process behind the proposal.
She had also requested a council feasibility study on building the performance space on council-owned land elsewhere in Ocean Grove.
Ms Brooks said nearby residents were also concerned about sound from events at the performance space.
Ocean Grove Park committee president Colin Atkins said the ownership fears were unfounded because the transfer would include a covenant protecting the park from further development.
“We’re working on a covenant and we’ll only support the park being transferred to council if it’s watertight that park stays as a place for passive recreation forever,” Mr Atkins said.
The level of concern in the community about the proposal was surprising, he said.
“There has been quite a bit of unfortunate stuff spread around but it’s all totally incorrect.
“We had a lot of public consultation, we did a letter box drop, it was advertised. People in Ocean Grove have known that we’ve been working toward this since 2002.
“Now we’re finally getting the funds to put it in place. The footprint of the performance space is less than one per cent of the park.
“It will include a green room that the community will be able to use for events such as plays, art exhibitions or whatever it wants.”
Mr Atkins said the proposal would have a public information session after the covenant was completed.
“Once people understand the protection of the park that will be put in place a lot will have a different attitude to the issue,” he said.
