The continuing saga of the Loos!

Following a visit into the information/quick queue counter at IGA Ritchies where two young ladies were not serving customers for the moment, I complained about the filthy toilet in the Ladies block when I was advised, “yes we know about it, but it is not our duty to clean it, but the Councils” The Glen Eira Council” I clarified, and was told “Yes it is the Council responsibility”: The other lass nodded agreement.

Wednesday, June 25^th, 2008

Correspondence No 1:  Addressed to IGA Management

I just had reason to use the female toilets situated on the corner of at your Bentleigh East store (East Boundary & Centre Road.)

The condition was absolutely filthy, on going into the store to advise them, I was told it was a Glen Eira Council responsibility.  On ringing the Council I was advised it was Ritchie’s responsibility for its cleanliness.  Both the staff at Ritchies and the Council implied previous complaints had been received.

Obviously the toilets had not  been cleaned for some considerable time.  As the building is adjacent to the food shop itself I feel this situation is most unsatisfactory regardless of who accepts responsibility.

As the blue sign on the post in Centre Road points the public to this toilet block I had assumed it would be Council to speak to.

Please advise who I may address this potential health risk area to as eventually the Council should become involved one way or another!

Or should I address my concerns to the State Health authorities?

People using these toilets then go into the store and handle food potentially starting a poisonous health hazard.

Mary Walsh

Correspondence No. 2: Addressed to mail @ Glen Eira Council

A copy of the email I have just sent to the management of Richies.   Personally I feel it unfair to expect the Supermarket staff to be held responsible for the cleaning of a public toilet facility.    Should they be compelled to lock the toilets, on requesting its use,  it would not prevent the public from leaving them filthy.

I would have thought the Council’s Health Officers would get the connection between public toilets, immediate food outlets and no formal cleaning regime in place.   I can’t believe the lack of responsibility towards protecting the public at large.  Reminds me all over again of the Gourmet Inn (Chinese Restaurant)  in Glen huntly that took 7 visits by Health Inspectors before being compulsorily closed, while the public remained at risk.

Obviously Richie do the general public a favour by picking up what should be a Council responsibility.  Provision of a public toilet which is cleaned each day and is monitored accordingly.     This oversight must be changed!

Correspondence No 3: Email (introductory to attachment) sent Tuesday 9am July 1, 2008

Public questions on the unpleasant subject of toilets but just a like battered children, few take any action until a major disaster unfolds.    In the case of IGAs East Bentleigh toilets, hepatitis, aids, food poisoning, STDs…anything is possible from this level of neglected cleanliness around food.  Shoppers leaving filthy toilets to rummage through fresh fruit and vegetables.  Yuk, I certainly did not then go into the store realizing the implications.     Perhaps since cleaned now (or locked up altogether) because of my making a fuss but what of the situation ongoing with neither Council nor Supermarket actually accepting responsibility for a major health hazard.

Not good enough, I’m afraid to say!

Mary Walsh

Attachment to correspondence No: 3 was my public question as sent originally to all Councillors

Public Question of Council for Meeting Held July 1, 2008

On the subject of Public Toilets:

As an individual with a compromised immune system, I take health risks very seriously.

It is on public record that six toilets were replaced by one in the Bentleigh Shopping Centre.   Given that there is a surveillance camera immediately above the only existing toilet in the vicinity Council will be aware that it is insufficient to meet the needs of the community.  With six in a queue on Saturday a father resorted to his two girls relieving themselves under a tree.   In addition frequently there was no toilet paper provided which leaves it vulnerable to soiling.

Question 1: Does Council plan to increase the number of public toilets to meet the demands of a very young and an ageing population.  (An area,  that caters for the needs of thousands of visitors per day).

Question 2: What is the process undertaken by Council to ensure public toilets are adequately maintained by the contract cleaner supposedly on a 24 hour cycle.   (It is quite evident that some feces are days old, in and around the toilet bowls.

Question 3: Glen Eira public toilets are a health hazard, and two previous examples have been provided recently.   I spoke and wrote to both IGA management and Council because of the very real threat of a major food poisoning epidemic.  I thought it appalling that people serving food in the supermarket would be held responsible for the level of cleaning required of a major public toilet block, and I asked of Council why it should be IGA’s responsibility to provide a public service that surely is Council’s to provide.

What steps are being taken to ensure someone accepts responsibility for the cleanliness of toilets situated adjacent to the IGA in East Bentleigh?.

Do Council Health Inspectors actually check the condition of public toilets on a regular basis to ensure contractors are fulfilling their job description?  And if so, how do the toilets continue to deteriorate?

Thank you for your response.

Mary Walsh

Correspondence No. 4 (Acting Mayor Esakoff response to my concerns follows) received in writing July 4, 2008

At the Council Meeting on 1 July 2008 you asked the following Public Question:

“It is on public record that six toilets were replaced by one in the Bentleigh Shopping

Centre.   Given that there is a surveillance camera immediately above the only existing toilet in the vicinity Council will be aware that it is insufficient to meet the needs of the community.  With six in a queue on Saturday a father resorted to his two girls relieving themselves under a tree.   In addition frequently there was no toilet paper provided which leaves it vulnerable to soiling.

Question 1: Does Council plan to increase the number of public toilets to meet the demands of a very young and an ageing population.  (An area, that caters for the needs of thousands of visitors per day).

Question 2: What is the process undertaken by Council to ensure public toilets are adequately maintained by the contract cleaner supposedly on a 24 hour cycle.   (It is quite evident that some feces are days old, in and around the toilet bowls.

Question 3: Glen Eira public toilets are a health hazard, and two previous examples  have been provided recently.   I spoke and wrote to both IGA management and Council because of the very real threat of a major food poisoning epidemic. I thought it appalling that people serving food in the supermarket would be held responsible for the level of cleaning required of a major public toilet block, and I asked of Council why it should be IGA’s responsibility to provide a public service that surely is Council’s to provide. What steps are being taken to ensure someone accepts responsibility for the cleanliness of toilets situated adjacent to the IGA in East Bentleigh? Do Council Health Inspectors actually check the condition of public toilets on a regular basis to ensure contractors are fulfilling their job description? And if so, how do the toilets continue to deteriorate?”

At the invitation of the Acting Mayor the Director Community Relations provided the following Council response to your Public Question. He said:

“Two male cubicles and a urinal plus 3 female cubicles were closed at Bentleigh Library (Jasper Road) and replaced with a single new Exeloo,   As with the old toilets, the new Exeloo experienced some anti social behaviour, however, the installation of a security camera has assisted in reducing this behaviour. At this stage there is no proposal to increase the number of toilets at the Jasper Road location. This facility does have high usage, however, this is no more than several other sites within the municipality.

As indicated by signage located on the Jasper Road Exeloo Council has other toilets available at Bentleigh Hodgson Reserve (within 150 metres of the Jasper Road Exeloo). Yet more public toilets are available in the Bent Street carpark.

Council’s public toilet cleaning contractor cleans the Jasper Road Exeloo each morning and again at lunch time. In addition the cleaning contractor responds to any additional calls from Council should the facility require an additional clean.

The Ritchies IGA Supermarket is located at 10-16 Heather Street Bentleigh East. The toilets you refer to are located outside the store in the car park of Ritchies IGA. These toilets are provided for public use only. These toilets are owned and managed by Ritchies IGA.

Ritchies IGA has advised Council that they engage a contractor to clean the toilets on a daily basis.

These public toilets are not used by food handlers working inside the store. Ritchies food handlers have their own staff toilets within the store.

Under the provisions of the Victorian Food Act, Council Environmental Health Officers must inspect every food business at least once each year and as such Ritchies IGA is inspected annually by Council Officers. National Food Safety Standard 3.2.3 - Food Premises and Equipment - requires that a food business must ensure that adequate toilets are available for food handlers. Adequate means - toilets must clean and operating effectively. Council inspections of Ritches IGA have found that the staff toilets provided within the store for food handlers are maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

It should be noted that these provisions for toilets do not extend to the public toilets that are provided outside the store in the car park.

The responsibility for cleaning of IGA’s toilets rests with the owner of those toilets, that is to say, the IGA store.

In your question you have made a number of assertions that are potentially seriously harmful to the reputations of others. In future it may be beneficial to seek further information before making such assertions.”

Thank you for your Public Question. Yours sincerely,

CR MARGARET ESAKOFF ACTING MAYOR

July 2, 2008.

Mary Walsh’s response to the letter signed by Cr Esakoff

It serves no good purpose to shoot the message when a resident tries to highlight an incident that could result in a serious health risk.

To clarify points raised:

In relation to the Jasper Road toilet facility:  The Council has no plans to increase the number of toilets which originally numbered six facilities, and is now replaced by one.  Men stood at a urinal with an efficient use of resources, now each needs to use the facility regardless.

Council is aware that the traffic is very heavy for the use of the single toilet but does not intend to facilitate a need to improve the service.   We are instead directed to another public toilet facility 150 metres away from the shopping centre itself and into a park it seems. ( Great stuff for individuals on walking frames, and small children in pushers).   Obviously extremely fit themselves Councillors don’t have firsthand experience of people suffering various health issues in an ageing society (well not yet anyhow).

At the risk of being accused of “assertions that are potentially seriously harmful to reputations”   and I quote  “In your question you have made a number of assertions that are potentially seriously harmful to the reputations of others. In future it may be beneficial to seek further information before making such assertions.”

I feel that if the contractors reputations are being damaged then that is unfortunate.   I did not have a camera at any of the three toilets I have needed to bring to Council’s attentions recently, but they most definitely had not been cleaned within 24 hours of my complaints.  I could always have scooped up the evidence and brought it with me to Council of course!!

I thought I had made every effort to establish a line of communication with someone in authority and able to provide a solution to my concerns prior to my Public Question.  I suggest that all parties maintain a perspective on this matter of basic hygiene and accept that toilets do get soiled by the general public and how best to address that with provision of some sort of brush supplied within the units or a rigorous follow up to the Contractors obligations.  Should the wording of the letter signed by the Deputy Mayor seek to intimidate me, it won’t work!  Offence is not the best line of defense when public health is at risk.

I am merely bringing the attention of filthy toilets to the interest groups concerned.

Neither have I evidence of my walking into IGA Ritchie store and speaking to the two individuals at the front counter, or of my phone conversation with the Town Hall spokeswoman that the service desk referred me to.  I believe phone conversation may be taped so there is no problem in checking the proof of my “assertions”.   What I can categorically say is that both people at Ritchies and Council, I spoke to implied that previous complaints had been received,  and that both had made the other organisation responsible.

It never occurred to me that staff at Ritchie would be using an outside public toilet nor did I say that.   Of course staff toilets would be so much easier to clean and maintain, but I was only addressing my complaint to the public toilets within an IGA building complex.  Selective reading of my previous correspondence takes some concerns out of context methinks!

I was as close as a phone to all parties as I gave my full details as demonstration of my genuine concern.   No one has contacted me with the exception of the offensive letter, read in public by the Director Community Liaison Officer in response to my public question.

As a direct response to the lack of cooperation I feel from this Council relating to what I see as a serious breach of sanitation controls I will endeavor to involve myself further into health and safety  related issues within Council’s prerogative of responsibility.

I repeat my questions again:

Given that Council has said now that IGA is “responsible” why should a supermarket being held responsible for the supply and cleaning of a public toilet?   Isn’t that a Council’s role in a strip shopping centre to supply and maintain public toilet facilities.?

If Richie advises Council they employ a Contractor to clean toilets each 24 hours who is responsible for “policing” that agreement to ensure compliance.

When Council employs a Contractor to clean toilets throughout the municipality,  who monitors the Contractor’s work to ensure compliance with the criteria.

Because Ritchie is a private organisation providing a public toilet, who if not the Council, is responsible for ensuring that it is kept in a clean state precisely because it is used by some many members of the public?

A year or two ago, Mr Burke himself may well remember me meeting him shopping in Glen Huntly Road Caulfield South,  and my bringing to his attention an overflowing public ladies toilet around the corner in Hawthorn Road.  With water up to the top of the bowl and water pouring out onto the street, (in a drought time) I made the effort to report this matter to the necessary authorities!   Council should encourage public minded people to step forward and highlight issues that require the attention of Council. Or whose attention should it be?  Potentially seriously harmful to reputations of others!!…..seek further information!!…..from whom do I seek my information Madam Deputy Mayor?  (Certainly not from the Council’s Director  Community Liaison  Officer) I did my best to stay nice……..but gosh it’s hard work!

Mary Walsh

The beauty of this lady is that she is very willing to learn, but of course needs a little time to become conversant with the “everyday” English language.   Undertaking classes on a regular basis my friend has the ability to learn very quickly, and in the month I’ve known her, I am very pleased with her progress in basic “understanding”.

If you believe you could offer this lady employment, living near Clayton and with access to public transport.   Please contact me in the comments and I will pass on your details to the lady concerned.

Her first language is Mandarin.  And her name is Sha!

PS I asked Sha to read this item back to me and she did so very clearly.

The original of this email sent to 9 Councillors, the Glen Eira CEO and the Council’s spokesperson remains outstanding as a Public Question put to the last Council Meeting.   Mr Magee is still awaiting a response from Council.   At the last Council Meeting Cr Robilliard put forward an Urgent item of Business that Cr Staikos be appointed to the Steering Committee as Feldman replacement.  It was disallowed as Urgent, and it is rumoured that Mayor Tang, representing Rosstown Ward wants to be appointed instead.   I believe it is appropriate for a Tucker Ward Councillor and one who has worked with the people be appointed for the Steering Committee.  Mayor Tang should be busier representing Glen Huntly’s interests if he has spare time!

4th June 2008

Glen Eira Mayor

Cr Steven Tang

Glen Eira City Council

PO Box 42

CAULFIELD SOUTH 3162

Dear Steven

The members of The Northern Memorial Action Group have become concerned that, with the resignation of Cr David Feldman, the Pool Steering Committee will be without a representative from Tucker Ward.

We were happy that, as a resident of Tucker Ward David Feldman knew how important this treasured asset was to his community.

The Northern Memorial Action Group asks that Cr Nick Staikos replace David Feldman on the Pool Steering Committee.  He is also a resident of Tucker Ward and as he is in touch with his community’s feelings, he understands as David did, the importance of the memorial pool to the local community.

I thank you for receiving this letter and hope that the council understands that Tucker Ward needs a voice on this committee.

Yours sincerely

Jim Magee

Residents & candidates know the attendance voting system will favour the existing Councillors because they are “known”. It is up to residents to make the effort to acquire the best possible candidates acting for the residents, to be ELECTED.

Knowledge of the candidate by the community is imperative.

Residents want Councillors who will respect their viewpoints and treat Submission to Council as an alternative solution to issues already canvassed to them by Council

Councillor Staikos Viewpoint (Representing Tucker Ward)

Better investments

Glen Eira city councillors have recently voted for attendance voting to the November 2008 council election instead of the postal option.

Attendance voting is $120,000 more expensive than postal. As one of the councillors who argued against attendance voting, I would like to name a few initiatives where these ratepayer funds would be better spent.

The fund could have gone towards establishing one or two walking paths in our parks or drought-proofing an oval.

Council could have allocated the funds to Glen Eira’s wonderful community houses; Moongala Community House, Godfrey Street community House, Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre and Caulfield South Community House.

The funds could have been included in the community grants funds to be distributed to our senior citizens clubs, sports clubs and other organisations.

Alternatively, the funds could have been committed to establishing much need bus shelters and seating, something that has been in the media recently. Sites in need include Mackie Road, outside Moorleigh Community Centre and near the East Bentleigh Senior citizens Centre.

Clearly, there are other areas where this money would have been better spent.

How great to have the old reservoir for open space (the Leader May 27)

My suggestion is that this area be transformed into reclaimed bush that mimics the landscape prior to urbanization.   It could follow the model of some of the most exciting parks in the world, introducing hillocks and valleys and have a few walking tracks meandering through the space, all leading somewhere.

This should become a wonderful example of Australian plant and creativity, a space where people can escape the hustle and bustle of urban life and pretend they are in the country.   A place where they can listen to the birds, hear the rustling of wind through the leaves and hear the crunch of the dirt under their feet.

Artists and photographers will come to look, birds will return and people will feel freedom in their hearts.

The challenge would be to conceal the perimeters so visually; one is not continually reminded of the urban situation.

I would argue against more sporting fields as not economical, costly to maintain and only benefitting the privileged who are fit enough and able to afford sport clubs.

Jenny Better, Caulfield North

Pool for Reservoir

I would very much like to see the establishment of a swimming pool with training facilities at the Glen Huntly Reservoir (It’s for public space,” The Leader May 27)

There is absolutely nothing in the area that is open all year round and is heated.

The closest one is in Balaclava on Alma Road and this leaves a lot to be desired.

Harold Holt is the next closest and judging by the number of swimmers, it is doing very well despite its poor facilities.

Swimmers are obliged to travel long distances from the are in order to swim throughout the year.

Alan Rosendorff, Caulfield

]]> http://marywalsh.nook.com.au/2008/06/19/glen-eira-residents-suggestions-for-booran-road-reservoir/feed/ http://marywalsh.nook.com.au/2008/06/18/submission-by-glen-huntly-traders-to-glen-eiras-2008-budget/ http://marywalsh.nook.com.au/2008/06/18/submission-by-glen-huntly-traders-to-glen-eiras-2008-budget/#comments Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:45:27 +0000 marywalsh Making News http://marywalsh.nook.com.au/2008/06/18/submission-by-glen-huntly-traders-to-glen-eiras-2008-budget/ SUBMISSION TO THE GLEN EIRA COUNCIL ON BUDGET 2008-2009

written on behalf of
GLEN HUNTLY VILLAGE TRADERS’ ASSOCIATION (GHVTA)
The GHVTA is pleased to make this submission to the Glen Eira Budget 2008-2009. The GHVTA believe that the Glenhuntly shopping strip has not received the level of funding sufficient to maintain local community expectations.

This submission aims to address this issue through the securing of funds and implementation of the key initiatives detailed below.
1. To allocate funds to beautify the Glen Huntly Rd shopping strip in terms of :
a)    Addition of 18 Planter Boxes along the shopping footpath and adopt a tree program $26.000.

To be completed before World Environment Day June 5th 2009.
Objectives
-    to soften the large expanse of hard surfacing, to make it a more inviting area for shoppers.
(The Glen Huntly shopping strip is the only major shopping strips in the City of Glen Eira devoid of regularly spaced street plantings.)
-    encourage environmental awareness and community involvement.
ie inviting local groups and businesses to adopt each tree

- to plant and tend to its care. Installation of the planter boxes will be undertaken in accordance with the intent of the Councils Footpath use policies.
b)    Addition of 24 community themed signs attached to existing light poles $30.000
Invite local artist and community groups to create their image of the Glen Huntly Community.
Have the images printed onto village signs hung from steel brackets of similar style to the existing heritage coach lamps.
Objectives
-encourage local artist.
-raise awareness of Glen Huntly’s heritage and existing multicultural community.
c)    Improve Information Signage $10,000
Upgrade and expand the information sign near the railway line.
Detailed signage of local community groups and businesses with map.
Objectives
-direct new comers to the precinct from public transport.
-promote local small business and community groups.
d)    Finding solution for pigeon infestation $20.000
Community education & consultation of programs.
Form a Pigeon Prevention Committee including local businesses & community groups. Development of an information leaflet (written in multiple languages) and distribute to the 30,000 local residents.

Detailing the health risks of large populations of pigeons and what the community can do to ensure the proliferation of non domestic pigeons is discouraged.
Include product and service information on reducing nesting sites.
Research into possible bate boxes as used by major cities to reduce the existing population.
Objectives
-minimize the population of pigeons in public and commercial areas and thereby reduce the cleaning costs.
-promote community health and education.
f) Planning and Implementation of a Clean Up Gjen Huntly Graffiti Program $20,000. Funds required for
-cleaning/painting products for the removal of graffiti

- materials to develop, copy, print and install up to 10 works of art.

Establish a Clean Up Glen Huntly Graffiti Committee.
Develop and distribute a leaflet to combat the graffiti problem for local traders and residence. Invite the Victoria Police to be involved in talking to schools and youth groups about the graffiti problem.
Involve local schools and youth groups to participate in a quarterly removal of graffiti and art program.
Encourage local youth groups and schools to participate in an art com petition with modest prizes to go toward future development of art facilities. Art works are to be based on community and environmental themes.
Selected artworks to be copied and printed on graffiti proof vinyl. This will be attached to durable Villa board and then secured to area at major risk of graffiti ie blank walls of commercial premises.

Objectives
-prevention of youth feeling the need to engage is anti social behaviors,

-encourage youth to help solve the graffiti problem,

-develop a positive art community,

-reduce graffiti removal costs to local business and the community.
g) Improve Street lighting $30.000
Repair and reconnect the existing nine heritage coach style lamps.
Assess lighting levels after repairs have been made.
Investigate the cost of additional lighting of the similar heritage style or festive style.
Objectives
-improve safety and minimize vandalism.
-promote the heritage theme / history of Glen Huntly.
2. To allocate funds for a structure plan for Glen Huntly according to State Gov guidelines up to $150,000
The GHVTA thank you for your consideration of this submission and await your response.

Inquiries regarding this submission can be made to the contacts detailed below.
Yours sincerely,
GHVTA President Felix Polevoy and GHVTA Vice President Carolyn Mclntyre

(Estimated population 131,144 as at June 2007 according to State Government Recurrent Revenue Base)

Thank you for the opportunity to present my Submission as follows:

The Media’s perception of expenditure by Glen Eira Council was explained in a recent article, in the Caulfield/Port Phillip Leader of June 2, 2008 pg 5., Their picture of a $100 note was cut up according to their estimate of a dollar spent

$29.45 was spent on Capital works, Parks and recreation $14.79, Drains & Building Maintenance $14.48, Recycling & Waste $10.13, Family Services $6.69, Libraries $5.77, Home Care $3.95, Residential aged Care $3.36, Town Planning $3.21, Fire Services Levy $3.17, Community Safety (street lighting, school crossings) $2.92 Cultural Services $.20, and Senior Citizens $0.88.

That Senior Citizens incur an expense of 88 cents per 100 dollar with 20% of the population aged 60 and over was revealing. It explains why we don’t have Senior Citizens Room near where we live enabling the vast majority to make use of their limited resources. One fifth of Glen Eira’s residents it would appear are almost invisible to Council.

CPI (Consumer Price Index) as a tool for information: It is noted that Budget Principles (3.5) again employs language that bears no relevance to reality when it Council claims its existing fees are charges will be increased in line with the CPI ( which is 4.2% as at March 2008). Already Council rate increase is recorded at 6.5%, average rates and charges by 5.8% with garbage charges set at 1.6%.

Again, for the record I wish to place on record, my feeling that Council lacks integrity in providing misleading inferences that the CPI is relevant as an explanation for increasing fees and charges. People could be led to assume increases were in line with the CPI which they are clearly not.

“While the CPI broadly reflects movements in household consumer spending, it is not

necessarily applicable to industries with a significantly different composition, such as

local government” quoted at last year’s budget speech I seem to recall.

Analysis undertaken by the MAV has estimated that a Victorian Local Government Cost (LGC) Index for 2008-09 is forecast to move by an average 4.4 per cent per annum.

Contribution by the community: In the previous 2007-2008 Draft Annual Budget, Council recorded the following statement on page 10 of that Budget

“Because Federal and State Governments continue to withdraw funding from programs and transfer responsibility for some functions to Local Government, members of the community need to contribute more towards some of the services they use” and again the identical wording has been provided pg 10 in the 2008-2009 Draft Budget.

I feel the wording could be misleading and detracts from the opportunities provided by Federal and State Governments to contribute to Local Government if the need is brought to their attention in Council seeking Grants to fund appropriate services in particular for children and the frail elderly.

PUBLIC QUESTION OF COUNCIL FOR MEETING HELD JUNE 11, 2008

Grants from State and Federal Government that fund Council Services

Questions arising out of 4.3 Other Key items (pg 10) of the 2008-2009 Annual Budget in which:

Council advises residents that Glen Eira Council receives the lowest Grants Commission per resident of all 79 Victorian Council.

1.0 Question: Does Council actually apply for all the Grants that are offered by Governments that would support Council’s programs? If not, why not?

Also, is Council actually being rejected by the State Government when it does apply for Grants?

1.1 Question: I would like Council to provide an example of a significant instance where funding has been withdrawn without a supplementary Grant from elsewhere making up the loss for those programs where funding is “withdrawn”?

1.2 Question: I understood Council is the Service Provider but reimbursed by Government. With a aged population of 20 per cent over 60, is Council implying that there is a significant shortfall in funding received in Government Grants and the costs incurred by Council for the Aged Care?.

1.3 Question: Recently in the media it was reported Council received a Federal 2008 Budget Allocation Grant for Capital Works for $517.116 million where Melbourne was allocated $269.637 million and Port Phillip $187.528 million. Would Council agree the Grant was generous, and needs to be highlighted in the Budget as Adopted?

I felt compelled to ask these questions because of another statement on the same page under Aged Care advised in 2007-2008 Draft Budget, and again the same statement in 2008-2009:

Home care: the budget maintains the current number of hours of service. Council’s position is that this service should be funded primarily from taxes, and Council has made strong representation to Federal and State Governments for additional funding.

It concerns me that Council employs staff specifically to make applications for Grants on their residents’ behalf, which appear to be fruitless. Either the Council is remiss in its skills to obtain funds, or the State Government is tardy on passing on to taxpayers the benefit of recouped taxes. Alternatively the facts as stated may be incorrect, hence my questions.

(All elderly folk I’ve spoken to, pay their Council for services rendered. One quoted $7.50 per hour)

Child Care: An increase of $4 per day each child is an additional 5% plus on the family budget, which is above the CPI that the responsible government minister in fending off parents’ anger told the media, it would not rise above the CPI which is currently 4.2%. An additional couple of dollars in charges for child care, compounded with all the other increases in an already stretched family budget ensures Council contributes to a feeling of becoming overwhelmed in trying to survive financially together with costs in rates, and ancillary charges.

Key Capital Projects: To quote Council’s own wording: “The emphasis is on renewing and upgrading facilities that we already have rather than creating additional ones”.

What then is the Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre set to cost in excess of $40 million dollars? At the cost of $10 million each two swimming pools (Bentleigh & Carnegie) could have been completely refurbished, at a cost of half the new additional facilities. Whether funded this year or another, the money could still have been “saved” and spent more wisely for a broader band of residents’ uses.

Under Swim Centres, pg 54, Bentleigh had $11,000 allocated and Carnegie $145,000. Neither of these figures translates into a major redevelopment cost. Residents know of the impending Aquatic Sports Centre but what of Carnegie is bringing this pool up to a standard that indicates Council’s long term commitment to that site. It would be very regretful should it be marked for sale to recoup money for the “Jewel in the Crown” on the basis Council has to rationalize its assets to fund the loan. I would feel more reassured had the amount been $5 million, instead of $145,000.

Best Value: Council prides itself continuously as being superior to its peers in terms of providing service for costs. In terms of service, Council provides no more and no less than other similar Councils, but it may be their rates are lower because Glen Eira does not have a strong industry base on which to rate its properties, unlike most others. Kingston, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Monash all provide library services that are equal to, or superior to that of Glen Eira, perhaps not the actual building, but the resources provided. Removal of rubbish, maintenance of roads etc is also standard.

Providing additional services does not necessarily have to result in increased rates and charges.

Savings can be achieved by reducing expenditure.

One area would be productivity in the Staffing areas where excessive numbers of staff appear to be freed up of their office duties to attend VCAT Hearings, which appear to be regular. Sometimes up to six senior staff attends to argue Council’s case against small community groups.

Best Value should be seen as a method of containing costs rather than generating additional increases in fees and charges year after tiresome year. Premier Jeff Kennett promised this when he abandoned the previous Council system but Glen Eira residents are right back where we left off and we’ve lost our historical name of Caulfield without any lasting benefit.

Best value could be seen as no longer appointing Councillors at a cost of $500,000 in Election Costs Nine additional ongoing salary costs, $60,700 for the Mayor plus eight Councillors each with an allowance of $19600, equaling $156,800 a total cost of $217,500 per annum. In excess of $1.37 million dollars and rising with additional hidden costs. There does not appear to be a requirement to attend any or all of the sub committees of Council or even the Council Meetings themselves in order to receive the Allowance afforded Councillors. In Glen Eira many meetings operate without the benefit of a Councillor’s presence. And recently we have an example of extended leave to the detriment of other Councillors and their constituents. Productivity should be an issue for Councillors as well as the Administration. Both positions are of equal accountability I feel.

“The Government acknowledges the value and significance of the role of Local

Government Councillors – both through their skills and ability to represent and engage

with their constituents and their leadership in developing solutions to the pressing

social and cultural, environmental and economic challenges facing communities

everywhere” but the reality is that currently the Administration prepares the work, provides the solutions and in many cases, makes the ultimate decision for Councillors ill equipped to make complex decisions about issues they personally have little indepth knowledge of. The reality is that Councillors as individuals add another tier to the expense of maintaining local services for residents.

“Local government’s time has arrived – as a matter of priority the sector needs to lead change and pursue self-regulation by being open and accountable.”

“Local government will be the centre of government in the twenty-first century but needs to change the way it interacts with the community. Such change is best implemented at the local level and the sector needs to be the active driver of this reform, not the passive recipient.”

I’m not sure the word “sector” applies to the staff of a Town Hall or to the residents who bear the results of decisions long after Councillors have not been re elected. The sentiments expressed could well be applied to an Administrator dealing directly with the general public. Radical change of style perhaps but if costs continue to spiral out of control with ever increasing cost of living with petrol, food, health, etc the residents will not recover financially to bear the load of governments.

Although the cost of Council itself has not been highlighted as a significant item, as a resident I believe it is one. While it may not be seen as appropriate for the retaining of Councillors to be voiced in this forum, as the expense is incurred as part of the Glen Eira Budget I believe it is relevant to be discussed. All means of saving expenditure I believe has to be viewed from all angles.

Rating Strategy (Appendix B)

The Melbourne Racing Club operates a profit making business like any other in Glen Eira. It is not as if the MRC provides any services free to the community of Glen Eira, and in fact charges entrance fees for both the Course and its facilities when Hired.

Why then does it continue to receive preferential treatment with 76% of the general rate?

When will Council as representative of the people, make realistic overtures to ensure the MRC puts back into the Community a little of what it earns while operating its business on Crown Land?

Why doesn’t Glen Eira Council provide Traders with a Hard Rubbish Collection facilities as is afforded residential rate payers? (Disused shop fittings/chairs were cited as examples)

In conclusion,

I wish to commend Council for the services it provides. The Draft Budget does reflect the diversity of responsibility that Council accepts.

I appreciate the opportunity to respond to issues arising out of the budget and although I have not, for the most part, addressed individual items as I have done previously, I believe issues I have raised do have a financial significance to the community as a whole.

On a less positive note, I believe the expense of the Sport and Aquatic Centre is unjustified and I would have liked to see a complete independent feasibility study for its ongoing commercial viability made public to the community of the City of Glen Eira. This may have occurred but I am not aware of it.

Also I would like to see Council much more pro active in protecting the financial asset that is the Crown Land operated to the almost exclusive enjoyment of the Melbourne Racing Club. I believe Council should pursue all avenues to gain a financial consideration for the residents of Glen Eira, by seeking equal status in revenue raising opportunities as the MRC. In a climate of density housing, the Crown Land should be taken back for the use of the people at a time diversity of uses is an absolute necessity in a shrinking suburb.

I appreciate also that Council has taken into account the concerns raised by residents with its Domestic Animal Management Plan and seen fit to revise the wording from the original document. It would be appreciated by many dog owners to have the off leash limit reduced from 50 mt to 25 mt. Another bonus would be for Council to fund additional off leash areas free of children’s playgrounds and BBQ facilities, a fenced off block of land for use by dog owners with the odd tree and park bench. An urban forest surrounding a small fenced off area would be a welcomed change from sports facilities throughout Glen Eira.

Perhaps in the next budget!.

Thank you for your time.

Mary Walsh

Member of Glen Huntly Progress Group, Glen Eira Residents Associations and Glen Eira Community Associations

Footnote : omitted from the Submission was in the last paragraph regarding a fence off leash free area within an urban forest setting, my comments were intended to relate to the Booran Road Reservoir Reserve which has been gifted by the State Government.

My response, Prime Minister, to your comments

I have among my few treasured friends a ninety year old lady who just quite simply wants to be allowed to die. She is tired of living. She doesn’t like pain so takes 14 tablets a day to prevent this occurring and so prolongs her tired body natural inclination to stop working efficiently. Her husband of sixty years has pre deceased her and she has seen most of her friends go before her. Unable to travel, she is surrounded by a religious community group as neigbours, that do not associate with outsiders. Her family check on their mother on a regular basis but even knowing she is loved, she still wants to be “allowed” to die quickly and peacefully. Every morning she awakes and thinks ” heavens, I am still here and alive, why couldn’t I have died in my sleep?”…Strong language, Mr Rudd, sitting across the kitchen table with a woman who has intelligently assessed her circumstances and wants to die anyhow!

I just know Mr Rudd, that I would like the choice to choose for myself. I am sick and tired of the drawn out excuses that the frail elderly would choose death to prevent becoming a burden to their relatives! This is absolute rubbish! one only has to look at the rows of over medicated, alone people, sitting restlessly in nursing homes to know that for the vast majority of the frail elderly their last years are not spent with their loving family. They are spent alone while their children attend their grandchildren’s wants and needs.

When I was desperately ill myself, I never felt so alone as sitting in a room full of people who had no comprehension of my absolute pain. I knew I was loved and yet, quite often it wasn’t enough at the time to prevent my sense of aloneness in what I must endure. Facing death does this to some people and as a Humanist, Mr Rudd, I don’t have the advantage of “faith” to call on for support. I feel very responsible for me!

A man I’d known for thirty years, told me in conversation that he had not seen his aged father in over a year and yet he felt he had a “good relationship” with his dad. “He’s knows I am a busy man!” A solicitor or a son, he had indicated his choice of priority. Is that what his father would have understood? Will this man spend a week sitting by his father’s bed as he dies slowly, reminiscing about his love for the old man? Twice in three years is not really what constitutes a parent worrying about becoming a burden on their children……They’ve ceased to have a relationship.

Older folk become very independent of their children’s authority over their lives as is indicated by the many news stories where estrangement are common place in many families and yet the Law assumes “happy families” is the normal.

Blood ties yes, but caring, loving, interested, worried - it doesn’t matter what family want - or it shouldn’t! Legislation should be about how the individual feels about their end of life choices for themselves. Not the mother, husband, brother, sister, daughter or son, but about the individual undergoing major medical changes in their lives, or even maintaining existing medical circumstances which continuously and ongoing, take away their joy of living.

Absolutely no one Mr Rudd is overlooking that very inconvenient word “voluntary”, but it does need to be spelt out time and time again. We want to die in a manner that suits our needs - not the relatives - but our own needs for us!

Why is it so very difficult to get this message through to the politicians?

Of course we would love to continue living a happy. healthy life forever, but the reality is that death will not be denied. For so many sick people, to die with appropriate medication to hasten death, is a necessity for their wellbeing and could also by default provide a bonus if it prevents relatives from “suffering emotionally” along with them. I don’t care Mr Rudd if my relatives should gain from my death, if it means I’ve had a good one!

Mary Walsh
May 6, 2008

Where once an aged Coles stood back off the street with a car park in front, the developers have replaced the tired buildings with a large vibrant shopping mall.  Remarkably similar to what Glen Huntly Progress Group had envisioned for Glen Huntly a few years ago.

Full of optimistic naivety I thought that Council had merely overlooked Glen Huntly’s potential but for some reason never  established, Councillors elected to represent our interests had no interest in us at all.   Glen Huntly has remained off the map for political or commercial reasons which remain a mystery.

Getting back to the potential put into action: South Melbourne and St Kilda combined:

Footpaths were full of clutter and lived in with a sense of vibrancy Glen Eira residents could only envy, rather like Springvale but different smells altogether….Not much herbs and spices, so much as flowers and scents…..

Everything was available from covered carpark, large Coles supermarket, chemist, bakery, florist, collectable furniture, bookshop, the obligatory hairdresser and nail attendants, post office, whites good store, CDs & Videos,  hotels,  bags, clothes and shoes.  A clean uncluttered Op Shop was a bonus, as was the clean public toilet (unfortunately built upstairs so I don’t know what handicapped or the frail elderly would do) perhaps there were others close by.   Real restaurants and the odd take away, the rich and the poor were equally catered for.   Everywhere people sat outside in the sunshine socializing with each other.   Having lived close by and worked there many years ago, I loved being able to see the old and the new blend together without any loss of character.    What was particularly appealing was the diversity of goods and services available.

The veranda over the revamped side of Clarendon Street had skylights at its highest point so that the footpath remained sunny and shop windows light and open to the public.   Very, very inviting! And at the same time, the older style had been retained on the other side of the street but blending all together beautifully.   It shows what common sense can do with a mind that is open to new possibilities.

Parking on the street was only available for one hour but of course, we just walked a distance up one side and down the other over a two hour period instead.

Coming back down Inkerman Street, St Kilda, I made a point of looking at the planning of Aldi’s recently opened store within the past year.   The store is built on the street level taking up a large frontage, with three storeys of flats built above and set back off the main street quite some metres.   Behind the first block of three flats there is a space which allows daylight to come into the back of the units as well, probably with car spacing there as well for residents and then behind that is a further block of units built along the same lines.

I cannot see anything wrong with building four storey buildings the length of Glen Huntly Road which is serviced by a tram for its length and meets up with two stations, Elsternwick and Glen Huntly.

Melbourne 2030 has its merit and people, I sometimes think,  would do well to look at its possibilities.    The reason why Clarendon Street and Inkerman Street work, is because the developers planned for the comfort of its users.  The building designs are good, making the best use of limited land.   Aldi is surrounded by many small wooden houses to some extent, given they’re over a hundred years old, they too will perish in time.   My very first job as a “sweet young thing” was as the office junior in the foundry, Galliers and Klaerr Pty Ltd once situated on that site.    Mr Klaerr owned at least 25 houses in the area and left most of his (unmarried) wealth to the Catholic Church.

Even then, in the late ’50s,  the foundry had been there for so many years the rats used to eat the telephone books over the weekend, and my cash used to come from the counter in one of those screwed in money containers that went flying down the passageway to my desk in the office….…..This is change, and sometimes it can be for the better.

That building had lots of character, but you wouldn’t want to work in it or retain it for historical reason in the same way dirty unkempt houses and buildings are not necessarily worthy today of being salvaged…

I had hoped Aldi would find a home in Glen Eira and thought perhaps the old BBC site in East Bentleigh would accommodate my hopes, but unfortunately it is to be another IGA ( Independent Grocers Assoc)  of which GE already have a few.    Unfortunately,  they are more expensive than Aldi,

Perhaps if Glen Huntly is ever to become a Major Activity Centre a second food market would offer choice and it could well be Aldi.