2010 Kew after Bracks 
& Brumby 
Inc
Kew
Cottages Coalition
Alternative
5-Point
Plan
for
the
development
of
the
remaining
Kew Cottages Public land.
Baillieu offers disabled a real alternative
at Kew
Victoria Votes
Thursday 25th November 2010
There is now a clear difference in policies between the major parties
for the development of the remaining 14 hectares of Public Land at Kew
Cottages.
ALP Southern Metropolitan Candidate, Jennifer Huppert, says a
Brumby Government will provide four more years of "great success", plus
five story apartments overlooking the Yarra Bend Parkland.
Ms Huppert's vision for the future of this project is "that it
continues to deliver high quality integrated housing for former Kew
Cottages residents."
On the other hand, however, Liberal MP for Kew, Mr. Andrew McIntosh
says that a Baillieu Government will insist on the developer of Kew
Cottages fulfilling all its contractual obligations, "including the
preservation of 40 percent of the site as open space and restoring the
recreation building that was demolished in breach of contract".
In this week's Liberal Nationals Coalition policy statement on the
future development of the remaining Kew Cottages Public Land, Mr. McIntosh says that a Baillieu
Government will support the Kew Cottages Coalition Alternative 5-Point
Plan.
Mr. McIntosh says that:
"The (Liberal Nationals) Coalition is also aware of short-comings in
the building of the 55 first stage private dwellings. Despite the
statement by then Community Services Minister, Sheryl Garbutt in June
2005 that surplus funds from the sale of the land would be invested in
disability services, the Ombudsman’s report notes a departmental
briefing of the Treasurer in March the same year advising that it was
unlikely there would be any surplus from the project."
Outlining his personal vision for the future development of the site,
Mr. McIntosh goes on to say:
"The future of the Kew Cottages site depends on the extant contractual
arrangements between the Victorian Government and the developer.
Much of these arrangements remain shrouded in secrecy. As no
monies have or are likely to be applied to disability services as the
original justification of selling public lands, my own personal vision
would be that the Kew Cottages site remains part of the stock of public
lands."
Mr. McIntosh says that, subject to any contractual obligations to the
contrary, all of the remaining Kew Cottages Public Land would be
listed on the new Register of Significant Public Land to be established
by a Baillieu Government.
He said that a Baillieu Government would also refer numerous concerns
about the redevelopment of Kew Cottages to the Independent Broad-based
Anti-corruption Commission once it is established in July 2011 for
investigation and report.
President of the Kew Cottages Coalition, Brian Walsh, today welcomed
the Liberal Nationals Coalition policy statement on the future of Kew
Cottages. Mr. Walsh said, that "At last the disabled have a clear
difference in policies between the major parties that they should
consider when they vote on Saturday."
The Way Forward for 2011 ...
1.
Moratorium
on further development and land sales pending:
•
Review regarding suitability for
Victorian Disability Respite Care Centre
• Feasibility of jointly
funded (public-private) shared sporting facilities
• Assessment of the
remaining environmental features of the site
• Investigate the State
risks (Sovereign risk) to ceasing the current Walkers contract
• Investigate the cost of
buying out the Walkers contract and the public/private options needed
to do this.
2. Assess the feasibility of a Victorian Disability Respite Care Centre
•
Number of potential options - including a
model similar to the "Hamer Centre”
Parliamentary Inquiry into Public
Land
Development: Key Recommendations.
CHAPTER 3
RECOMMENDATION 3.1
That greater provision for open
space be incorporated in state and local
planning frameworks and
guidelines, with measurable objectives.
RECOMMENDATION 3.2
That the Government support local councils in developing and achieving
local
and regional open space strategies. These strategies should consider
the
local characteristics and needs including population density and
appropriate
open space provision per capita.
RECOMMENDATION 3.3
That the Government work with
councils and local communities to review
open space provisions in and
adjacent to declared activity districts and that
further development in these
centres take account of open space needs. In
particular, formal policies
should be mandated for zones where the
Government proposes high density
or high intensity development.
RECOMMENDATION 3.4
That the mechanisms governing developer contributions to open space and
cash-in-lieu of open space be urgently examined with a view to ensuring
their
effectiveness, enforceability and transparency.
RECOMMENDATION 3.5
That the mechanisms be
strengthened for ensuring developer contributions in
cash are directed toward the
purchase, maintenance or improvement of open
space be strengthened.
RECOMMENDATION 3.6
That the Government examine funding mechanisms for the acquisition of
strategic land and open space, and the retention of local pocket parks
by local
government.
RECOMMENDATION 3.7
That a comprehensive audit of
public open space in the areas covered by
Melbourne 2030 be undertaken.
RECOMMENDATION 3.8
That any sale and alienation of open space be minimised until an audit
is
undertaken.
RECOMMENDATION 3.9
That retention of public land in
the public estate be adopted as the default
position, unless it can be shown
by a process that the land in question has
insufficient public value
according to updated criteria.
RECOMMENDATION 3.10
That the Government investigate mechanisms to ensure public open space
in
metropolitan and regional centres be afforded greater legislative
protection
similar to that afforded to other land of State significance.
...
RECOMMENDATION 5.1
That issues relating to
donations from organisations or individuals engaged in
a tender process with the State
be referred to the Electoral Matters Joint
Investigatory Committee of the
Victorian Parliament as part of its Inquiry into
Political Donations and
Disclosure. In particular, the Electoral Matters
Committee should consider
whether political parties be precluded from
accepting donations from those
engaged in commercial use or development
of public land or other public
assets.
RECOMMENDATION 5.2
That the Victorian Government publish the full financial arrangements
and
probity report for the KRS development.
RECOMMENDATION 5.3
That the Victorian Ombudsman
investigate the probity of the KRS
development tender processes.
FINDING 5.9
Based on current development proposals, the further development of the
KRS
site will result in a missed opportunity to use the purpose built
facilities for
much needed disability and respite care.
RECOMMENDATION 5.4
That the Government review the
current proposal for the KRS development to
ensure the project incorporates
protection of the heritage trees and buildings,
protection of open space and
provision of much needed disability services.
Ombudsman's
Investigation: Key Recommendations.
I recommend that:
Recommendation 1
The ... Department of Human
Services and Major Projects Victoria
review
their file
management practices
in relation to
procurement processes
to ensure the
standards meet the requirements of
the Public Records Act 1973.
...
Recommendation 6
Major Projects
Victoria improve
its financial
accounting processes
to include
disclosure of
project management fees prior to and on completion of each project.
Recommendation 7
The State Services Authority
examine and report to the Premier on the circumstances in
which it is necessary for
individuals to perform public servant duties when not engaged as a
public servant.
Recommendation 8
The State Services Authority examine and report to the Premier on the
circumstances in
which it is necessary for public servants to be paid gratuity payments.
...
Recommendation 10
The
Department of
Human Services
report on the
financial return
to the State
Government
from the Kew Residential Services
project in its Annual Report.
Recommendation 11
The Secretary of the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional
Development conduct
a review of Major Projects Victoria’s current projects to ensure that
the State Government’s
obligation to disclose contracts on the Contracts Publishing System
website is met.
...
Recommendation 13
The Secretary of the Department of
Planning and Community Development review the
policies
of Heritage
Victoria to
ensure that
officers do not
express opinions
on the heritage
significance of
a place.
...
Recommendation 16
Prior to commencement of any Expression of Interest or Request for
Proposal phase of
a major development project of this nature, departments ensure that
there is a degree of
certainty about the site, its condition and availability.
Recommendation 17
The State Government initiate
arrangements to ensure the disclosure of government contracts
for both state and local
government in line with the policy statement Ensuring Openness and
Probity in Victorian Government
Contracts.
...
Remaining
Public Land: Key Reserves at Risk.
