Reserve project bid ridiculed

By Rebecca Fraser
PLANS by a Casey councillor were ridiculed by some of his colleagues after he tried to push through a $500,000 project at council.
Four Oaks Ward councillor Paul Richardson moved at the last council meeting of 2005 that a report look into the possibility of building a low level skate park, a half basketball court, a sealed car park and a bike path around Kendall Drive Reserve in Narre Warren.
The move came after deputy mayor Rob Wilson dubbed the reserve a huge success and moved that council officers report to a meeting prior to budget deliberations on residents’ requests for a picnic shelter and barbecue at the reserve.
Cr Richardson took things a step further, tacking his $500,000 worth of requests onto the end of the deputy mayor’s motion.
The motion was subsequently lost, and Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland labelled the move the most ‘ridiculous notice of motion he had ever seen’.
“Wow, what a fantastic notice of motion,” he said.
“If we went around to the 200 parks in Casey and asked residents for their requests and voted for it, it would be an absolute joke.
‘At a cost of $500,000, this could cost $300 million on this basis and we would need our brains searched and eyes looked at.”
Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler also had a chuckle at the move.
“Ho, ho, ho, it looks like a master plan to me and it looks like we have got a couple of turkeys here,” he said.
“Congratulations for trying this.
“It is not even shifty because you can see right through it.”
Cr Wilson said Kendall Drive Reserve was a fantastic place, used by families, children of all ages.
He said part of the role of councillors was to bring requests to the council table and all his fellow Four Oaks Ward councillor were asking for was a report.
Cr Wilson said if councillors did not like Cr Richardson’s additions then they could move an amendment, but no one took up that offer.
Cr Richardson said he spoke to residents on the topic, who had pointed out clearly that there were no play facilities for older children at the reserve.
“We need to set up the park to accommodate old and young people.
“Primary aged children will grow up one day and require other facilities,” he said.