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Responding by phone to the Kew Cottages Survey, Western Victoria DLP MLC, Peter Kavanagh,   drew attention to the DLP's long standing support for the KCC since he was elected to Parliament at the last election.

I am on the record as opposing the sale of the land at KRS for private housing and supporting the use of the remainder of the site for much needed disability respite care - in the spirit of what the land was originally set aside for. I support the five points below, with the qualification that I would support a register of public land no matter who is in government. The lack of a comprehensive register of Victoria's public and was a key finding of the Select Committee into Public Land Development, of which I was a member.

 

 

From:   <andrew.mcintosh@parliament.vic.gov.au>
Date: 23 November 2010 13:03
Subject: Re: ** Urgent Please ** Victoria Votes: Local Candidates Survey Form - Please Acknowledge & Respond by 23-Nov'10
To: Kew Cottages Coalition <admin@kew.org.au>

Andrew McIntosh
Liberal Party

1.        Do you and/or your party support the Brumby Government’s Plan for high rise development on the Kew Cottages Public Land overlooking Yarra Bend Park?

No.

2.        What is your personal vision for the future development of the remaining stages (4-7) of the Kew Cottages Public Land?

I opposed the redevelopment of Kew Cottages and the loss of 27 hectares of public land.  The fact that Stage 1 of the project made a $17 million loss is an indication that the project was misconceived from the start, a matter that the Victorian Treasury pointed out in 2005.  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.
 

3.        Do you and/or your party support the following Alternative Five Point Plan for   the development of the remaining Kew Cottages Public Land?

Kew Cottages Coalition Alternative 5-Point Plan

1.Implement all of the Public Land Development Inquiry Recommendations on Kew Cottages.
2.Implement all of the Ombudsman Kew Cottages Inquiry Recommendations.
3.Register all the remaining Kew Cottages Public Land on the proposed Baillieu Government’s new Register of Significant Public Land.
4.Boost State Heritage Controls to address the significant regulatory failings dentified by the Ombudsman’s Kew Cottages Inquiry.
5.Refocus Government attention on upgrading services on the State Heritage site for the intellectually disabled and the wider community.

Yes. (Detailed answers to the above have already been emailed to KCC)

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:   <kate.jackson@alp.org.au>
Date: 23 November 2010 21:37
Subject: Re: ** Urgent Please ** Victoria Votes: Local Candidates Survey Form -Please Acknowledge & Respond by 23-Nov'10
To: Kew Cottages Coalition <admin@kew.org.au>

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From: Vern Hughes <vern@civilsociety.org.au>
Date: 23 November 2010 12:49
Subject: Re: ** Urgent Please ** Victoria Votes: Local Candidates Survey Form - Please Acknowledge & Respond by 23-Nov'10
To: Kew Cottages Coalition <admin@kew.org.au>

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From:   <andrew.mcintosh@parliament.vic.gov.au>
Date: 22 November 2010 15:12

Dear Brian,

I trust that if we win Government, we can begin to sort out the problems created by Labor at Kew Cottages. I have had the opportunity to consult with some of my colleagues, David Davis, Mary Wooldridge and Matthew Guy.  I am attaching the Victorian Liberal Nationals response to to KCC's Five Point Plan.

All the best,

Regards,

Andrew McIntosh

Brian Walsh
President of Kew Cottages’ Coalition

Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Response Kew Cottages Coalition

1.        Implement all of the Public Land Development Inquiry Recommendations on Kew Cottages?

The Coalition gives in principle support to the recommendations of the Select Committee on Public Land Development.  It is essential that we ensure that Melbourne’s public land is audited and protected to preserve the amenity and liveability of our city.   In particular, a Coalition Government will review the current proposal for the Kew Residential Services site to ensure the project incorporates protection of the heritage trees and buildings, protection of open space and provision of disability services.

2.        Implement all of the Ombudsman Kew Cottages Inquiry Recommendations?

The Coalition gives in principle support to the recommendations of the Ombudsman’s inquiry in to Kew Cottages and the St. Kilda Triangle redevelopment and will work towards their implementation.  The Ombudsman’s report highlighted concerning issues about lack of documentation, probity plans that were  not followed or were missing, lack of understanding of conflict of interest and failure to publish contracts after signing as required.  Therefore, the Coalition supports the recommendations as a means to improving record-keeping, transparency and conflict of interest  as well as providing insight into the financial arrangements behind the Kew Cottages development.

3.        Register all the remaining Kew Cottages Public Land on the proposed Baillieu Government’s new Register of Significant Public Land?

Yes, subject to any contractual obligations to the contrary.

4.        Boost State Heritage Controls to address the significant regulatory failings identified by the Ombudsman’s Kew Cottages Inquiry?

The Coalition would regard the regulatory failings in relation to heritage controls at the Kew Cottages’ redevelopment as significant and will work towards addressing these deficiencies.

5.        Refocus Government attention on upgrading services on the State Heritage site for the intellectually disabled and the wider community?

The Coalition will insist on the developer of Kew Cottages fulfilling all its contractual obligations, including the preservation of 40 per cent of the site as open space and restoring the recreation building that was demolished in breach of contract.  The 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.  The loss of $17 million allegedly sustained on the first stage of the project makes the financial viability of the project questionable.  

Finally, a Coalition Government would 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.

---

From: Ray Levick <raylevick@yahoo.com.au>
Date: 22 November 2010 10:10
Subject: ** Urgent Please ** Victoria Votes: Local Candidates Survey Form - Please Acknowledge & Respond by 23-Nov'10
To: Kew Cottages Coalition <admin@kew.org.au>

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Attn: Kew District Lower House Candidates, and Southern Metropolitan Region Upper House Candidates

Dear Candidate,

The initial stages (1-3) of the Government/Walker Corporation development at Kew Cottages have been

extremely controversial in terms of adherence to Governmental “due process”, environmental impact, loss of

facilities for disabled Victorians and heritage loss.

As a consequence, a Public Meeting convened at the Kew Civic Centre on 2nd February 2010, called on all

candidates, in this year's election, to clearly state their views on the remaining Stages (4-7) of this

controversial Public Land Development adjoining the Yarra Bend parklands.

The Brumby Government failed to respond to this Resolution and to the Recommendations of two Public

Inquiries regarding Kew Cottages. So, one week before the election the views of individual ALP candidates

regarding the remaining stages of the Kew Cottages development are still unclear.

Similarly, the Opposition parties have yet to announce a clear alternative Plan for the development of the

remaining 14 hectares of Kew Cottages Public Land (Stages 4-7). So the views of Opposition candidates

also remain unclear.

This continuing lack of information about candidates’ views on this important issue so close to polling day is

not in the public interest.

To better inform the public, therefore, please complete the attached Online Survey form no later than this

Tuesday 23 November 2010.

Your participation will help us provide an adequate and comprehensive response to the 4th February public

request from your constituents.

The results of this Survey will be widely distributed to the media and published online via our

website www.kew.org.au

The website www.kew.org.au is permanently archived by the National Library of Australia, for current and

future voters to assess.

Thank you for participating in this Kew Cottages Coalition State Election Survey.

Yours sincerely,

Brian Walsh

enc: Online Survey Form (PDF Form Format) - Please complete and email completed Survey Form to admin@kew.org.au

President

Kew Cottages Coalition

M. 0414 979 300

W. www.kew.org.au

twitter.com/kewcottages