MARGARET SANDFORD is a former Melville councillor who voted for the city to develop two new parks on council-owned properties in the Canning Bridge precinct. With a new council toying with the idea of rescinding that decision, she’s urging them to consider the benefits as well as the costs.

I WOULD like to urge City of Melville councillors to “Pass the Parks”. 

There are many valid reasons why the creation of two new parks, either side of Canning Highway at 13 The Esplanade, Mt Pleasant and Moreau Mews, Applecross amongst the high-rise of the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Precinct are supported by the community. 

But the councillors who wish to prevent this happening only state financial reasons.

So, I will present a case of why having the parks make good financial sense… and when reading, compare this to Melville’s proposed new library and cultural centre, which is predicted to cost $57 million and will be paid for by an increase in rates paid by Westfield tenants. 

I also need to state that I am not against high-rise when properly planned nor against the development of a new library and cultural centre. 

Reasons

Firstly, the reasons community state for the parks:

The Canning Bridge Precinct Vision 2011 stated public open space would be included;

State guidelines are that POS should be within 400 metres or five minutes’ walk;

The marked increase in residential population in CBACP area needs to be catered for equitably;

The river is a not a friendly venue for young children’s recreation, particularly in inclement weather;

The riverbanks are eroding and not always available to walk on;

The pathway along the river is shared by bikes and pedestrians, which is not child or dog friendly;

Around 13 The Esplanade the nearest public open space is the small Clive Street reserve some 900 metres away, while Deep-Water Point is 1.4 km away;

High rise developments like the Precinct are actually more than 400 metres from the river foreshore; and,

Parks provide a play area for residents, particularly young children, office workers and the many dogs now living in apartments.

Financial case

And now the financial case:

The nine high-rise developments (844 dwellings) in the CBACP are currently providing a rates uplift to council. They have delivered an increase from about $100,000 to $1.8m, with an average of $2,200 per dwelling.

Another 3,000 dwellings are expected to provide additional rates of $6.2m. 

So, combining the current ($1.8m) and future rates uplift ($6.2m), this will provide $8m per annum revenue for the council.

Consultants Hatch Roberts Day advised that public open spaces in the CBACP were an “investment” for the City because the properties in the CBACP would increase in value with access to parks and improving local amenities, therefore providing additional rates income for the City. 

The land for the parks was purchased in the past, so will not cost current or future ratepayers anything.

The Esplanade site was purchased in 1970 and the Moreau Mews site was about $11m; they are already council-owned land and will not cost current or future ratepayers. 

However, the detractors say that if those sites were now sold, they would provide $20m to the council and that the creation of the parks will cost $9m. 

However, this $29m can be covered by the $8m rates uplift in 3.6 years and then the council would continue to have the extra $8m rates uplift into the future to use as they see fit… to reduce rates overall or provide other amenities such as youth activities. etc. 

After the Senior Citizens Centre at 13 The Esplanade was demolished, the council tried leasing the land as a high rise aged care facility. 

The lease negotiations dragged on unsuccessfully for 14 months, due to Oryx developers insisting on having rent increases capped at no more than 2 per cent per annum for 90 years. 

The Council rightly refused to agree to Oryx uncommercial terms with 11 votes to 2. 

Now some councillors are trying to say that the city would lose $0.65m annual rent from not going ahead with the proposed high-rise nursing home. 

Compare this figure to the Rates Uplift of $8m. 

Having these parks makes good financial sense so I urge the Councillors to vote in favour and “Pass the Parks”.

The community can have their say at a Special Meeting of Electors to be held on Monday March 25. It has been combined with the City of Melville AGM and starts at 6pm at the council buildings in Almondsbury Road.