Garden City Reserve - Port Melbourne Primary School

Garden City Reserve
Port Melbourne Primary School

This is a letter provided by the City of Port Phillip for circulation to residents.

Tuesday 29^th January 2013

Dear Resident

Re: Use of Garden City Reserve by Port Melbourne Primary School

As you are aware, Council have been approached by the Port Melbourne Primary School with a proposal to use a section of Garden City Reserve at lunch times for their grades 4, 5 and 6 children.  The purpose of this letter is to inform local residents and park users of the outcome of this request.

A community meeting was held at the Sandridge Trugo Club building in Garden City Reserve on Thursday 17 January at 6pm to provide residents abutting the Reserve and general park user the opportunity to speak directly to Council Officers on this issue.

From that meeting Council Officers have investigated several issues raised by residents in attendance and by email including the current condition of the grass and tress at the Reserve, Covenants associated with parcels of land within the Reserve and the lack of appropriate opportunities for the local community to comment on the schools proposal.

The outcome of Council’s investigations is that the school will be offered a one school term trial period for use of the reserveso that the real impacts of the use are known, with residents, park users and the school given the opportunity to provide feedback to Council prior to any further arrangement being considered.

Due to resident concerns of poor grass coverage of the central area of the Reserve, the school will be limited to the grassed area adjacent at the western end of the park near the Beacon (see attached map), on school days from 1.45pm – 2.25pm for the trial period. 

Throughout the trial period Council officers will evaluate the use by the school and any impacts the use has on other park users.  This will also be an opportunity for park users to discuss any issues they may have with the Reserve with staff.  Council will also liaise with and inform the Beacon Cove Neighbourhood Association and Port People to ensure adequate opportunities for local residents to be kept informed and provide feedback.

The community will have the opportunity to provide comments throughout the trial period via email to the Sport and Recreation team – helpsportandrec@portphillip.vic.gov.au or phone 9209 6777.   A formal community consultation will commence three weeks (11^th march 2013) prior to the trial period ending with the opportunity for the local community to provide feedback on the school use of the reserve.

Kind regards


PAUL MORRIS
Acting Coordinator Recreation

Attachments

1.       Map of School use location for trial period

2.       Garden City Reserves - Park Maintenance Schedule

3.       Port Melbourne Primary School terms &conditions for trial period

  

Paul Morris

Team Leader Sport & Recreation - Culture & Leisure

T: 9209 6468 l F: 9536 2724

Private Bag No 3, St Kilda, VIC, 3182 www.portphillip.vic.gov.au