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KEW COTTAGES COALITION

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Explore the Corruption ?

The Yarra River Green Wedge established in 1984. Kew, Melbourne Australia.

This prize 27 hectare site just kilometres from the city is

being developed on a model than concerns

the Committee greatly....

David Davis MLC
Chairman,
Select Committee
of the
Legislative Council
on
Public Land Development.

It was September 11th 2008. 

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"... The final financial return to the State will not be known until the end of the project....">>

Department of Human  Services
Melbourne
March 29th 2010

  "...  If a con game is successful, the mark does not realize he has been "taken" (cheated), at least not until the con men are long gone..."
 
(Read More)

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This STOP PRESS Monday 9th November 2020 Boroondara Council Election... Cr Nick Stavrou, Studley Ward Read More here Monday 9th November 2020 Boroondara City Council election results 2020 Parliament of Victoria Friday 30th October 2020 Heritage Protection on trial... Clifford Hayes MP. Successfully calls for a Parliamentary Inquiry into Heritage Protection Wednesday 28th October 2020 'Heritage Lost' probe See below: Public Meeting 26 Feb 2020 - Resolution 2. Thursday 3rd  September 2020 Boroondara Council Election... Read more here Tuesday 11th  August 2020 ... Heritage Victoria's response to KCC Submission...  Read more here Read more here Thursday 16th July  2020 Kew Cottages Coalition Submission to Heritage Victoria Re: Draft Covenant ... if there is to be any realistic hope of the Heritage listed trees being properly protected ... then the Draft Covenant must be withdrawn, redrawn, and re-advertised for public comment... Download the complete KCC Submission  here (Zip File) Friday 26th June  2020 Public Notice Heritage Victoria call for Submissions P26760 - Proposed Covenant "... The Covenant will bind the owners of 1-8 Main Drive at the above place to the implementation of the approved Tree Management Plan... Parliament of Victoria Thursday 18th June  2020 Jacinta Allan, Minister for Priority Precincts The new Minister for Priority Precincts provides a late reply to Clifford Hayes  QUESTION ON NOTICE (Victorian Parliament QON No.1873,  17 March 2020) See below: Public Meeting 26 Feb 2020 - Walker Kew Cottages Contract Resolution 4. I thank the member for Member for Southern Metropolitan for his question...... "Stage Nine (sic) , which is now being developed, features an apartment complex and is being delivered by KDC. Early works on the Apartments commenced this year. Any request for an extension of the project term will be considered by Development Victoria in accordance with the conditions in the agreement. All sales are being carried out in compliance with the relevant legal requirements." Monday 1st June  2020 Parliament of Victoria Richard Wynne, Victorian Minister for Planning                                                   Clifford Hayes, MLC, Southern Metropolitan, Sustainable Australia Thursday 19th March  2020 Parliament of Victoria   Wednesday 26th February 2019 Kew Public Meeting Motions passed Unanimously   The following Motions were passed unanimously by the Meeting: 1. Given Heritage Victoria’s difficulty in enforcing the mandated Phytophthora control regulations, we call on Gavin Jennings, Minister for Priority Precincts to immediately halt all further development on the Kew Cottages site until the level of Phytophthora contamination can be accurately defined. 2. This Public Meeting calls on the Legislative Council of the Victorian Parliament to establish an inquiry into Heritage Protection in Victoria. 3. This Public Meeting calls on the Minister for Planning to commit to returning Kew Cottages Planning Authority to Boroondara Council when the Walker Development Contract expires on 31 Dec 2020 4. This Public Meeting calls on the Minister for Priority Precincts, Gavin Jennings, and Development Victoria,  not to renew the Walker Kew Cottages Contract when the current contract expires on 31 Dec 2020. * 7pm   Wednesday 26th February 2020   KEW PUBLIC MEETING Important Information Update Melways  Map 45 D6 *** Download Feb 2020 Newsletter Print Version  here Friday 20th February  2020 Photo: Walker Development Stage 8 Proposed Oakwood Apartments site Main Drive Kew 3101 Heritage Tree 191-  the Canary Island Pine,  on the left in this picture appears to have died in a very similar circumstances  to a Bishops Pine that was found to be infested with the deadly pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi after construction works began in February 2006 Read more>> View Channel 10 TV News: Threat to Yarra Bend Park  Monday 10 July 2006 >>> The Canary Island Pine Tree below is much to closer (approx 50m) to Yarra Bend Park than the Bishops Pine that was located further to the east on Main Drive Kew Photo: New Tree Fencing installed around Tree 191, (Sunday 16 February 2020) Following Kew Cottages Coalition Stop work call, Thursday 13 February 2020 Walker's Oakwood Apartment Observation tower was suddenly removed, and new Tree Protection fencing was installed  around the dead Canary Island Pine Tree 191 Thursday  13th February 2020 Threat of deadly plant pathogen resurfaces at Kew Cottages Development. Read more >> Mr. Walsh said, "It beggars belief that a nationally recognised threat abatement plan that has operated on a State Government major project for over a decade suddenly appears to have ceased without any warning to the public!" Monday 10th February 2020 Residents remain confused because Heritage Permit Conditions for the proposed Oakwood apartments clearly state that works are not to begin before a series of safeguards to ensure the long term protection of  the trees have been satisfied. (Heritage Permit 26760) Yet none of these safeguards yet appear to be in place. There are: No plant quarantine facilities No Phytophthora cinnamomi  warning notices. No new Permit  details The new Stage 8 works appear to be in breach of the Heritage Act - just like the excavations  in January 2019 Read more >> Photos: New works begin, Walker Corporation's proposed Oakwood Apartments site, 1 Main Drive Kew, Monday 10 February 2020 Photo: Boring Machine,  1 Main Drive, Monday 10 February 2020 February  2020 Walker Development Stage 8 New excavation works commence Proposed Oakwood Apartments Site, 1 Main Drive Kew,  The iconic Canary Island Pine  (Heritage Tree 191) now appears dead. Despite this, no protection measures appear to have been put place for neighbouring heritage trees. Instead, Walker have erected a lookout tower alongside their Oakwood Apartments Sales office (see below) Photo: Main Drive Kew, 12 Feb 2020 Monday 7th October  2019 Vale Max Jackson, Former CEO of Kew Cottages Max Jackson , The Melbourne Sunday Age, Mar 2017. Photo: Joe Armao   Some sad news from Kew Cottages Coalition Max Jackson, Former CEO of Kew Cottages, and a founding member of the KCC has died of cancer at Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne. "Max was a lovely guy and terrific advocate for the intellectually disabled. Max was a fantastic supporter of the KCC and all that we are fighting for,"  said Brian Walsh, President, Kew Cottages Coalition. "Max never complained about his illness. He was always there when others needed help. The Kew Cottages Coalition will forever be in his debt," Brian said. When The Sunday Age ran its front page story , "Where's the Money from Kew Cottages" in March 2017, Max was there among the dilapidated heritage buildings to tell The Sunday Age and Victorian taxpayers how they had all been duded by successive governments. Max explained that, "The Kew project was supposed to be the revitalisation of disability services." "However, standing on the periphery of the redevelopment it appears that transparency has been the loser, and Walker the big winner." "This government has an opportunity to rectify a lack of transparency by successive governments and ministers," Max  said. He called on the Andrews government to "come clean". The Sunday Age Editorial said Max was right on the money.. " ....If the government truly wishes to learn from the experience of the development at Kew Cottages, an independent inquiry should be established into the outcome. At the very least, the auditor-general should be asked to examine the circumstances surrounding the deal," The Sunday Age said. We will remember him... https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/kew-cottages-deal-must-be-examined-20170317-gv0ggd.html Tuesday 16th August  2019 Walker's Proposed Apartment Site  1 Main Drive The Heritage listed Canary Island Pine Tree 191 is now suffering from significant dieback The Tree 191 is a short distance down hill from the site of the illegal excavations that took place a few months previously (January 2019) Tuesday 30th April  2019 Parliament of Victoria Richard Wynne, Victorian Minister for Planning, Read more >> Wednesday 20th March  2019 Parliament of Victoria Clifford Hayes, MLC, Southern Metropolitan, Sustainable Australia  Tuesday 5th  March  2019 Fresh claim on heritage fight Developer allegedly ‘damaged Kew Cottages site’ Shelby Brooks An activist group has accused developers of breaching the Heritage Act at the former Kew Cottages site. The Kew Cottages Coalition held a public meeting on February 26 to discuss alleged “unauthorised excavations” by developers Walker Corporation which president Brian Walsh said happened on January 21. “Walker Corporation apparently breached the Victorian Heritage Act by drilling bore holes in a very sensitive heritage area without a permit,” he said. “Developers always appear to be trying to cut corners — it’s not safe, it’s not fair, it’s got to stop.” Mr Walsh said he had lodged a complaint to Heritage Victoria regarding the alleged illegal works. Last year the Heritage Council overruled Heritage Victoria’s refusal of permission for a three storey and basement apartment building on the site, a decision slammed by Boroondara Council. Sustainable Australia member for Southern Metropolitan region Clifford Hayes has said he would “fight tooth and nail” to have the planning controls returned to Boroondara Council “so that the voice of the community is heard”. “This 27ha landscape is one of the few pristine, culturally significant spaces of open land left in the area, and it should be protected,” he said. Walker Corporation spokesman Tim Allerton said the project started in 2006 under multiple permits, including “both planning approvals and heritage approvals. “Walker Corporation continues to work closely with all appropriate approval authorities with respect to the development of the Kew Project.” Click here for Hard Copy > Tuesday 26th February 2019 Kew Public Meeting Motions passed Unanimously   The following Motions were passed unanimously by the Meeting: 1. That the Victorian Government and Development Victoria must immediately cease all further development at the Kew Cottages Development site. 2. That the Victorian Government  must immediately reinstate Boroondara Council as the Planning Authority for the Kew Cottages site. 3. That the Victorian Government must ensure that Heritage Victoria is provided with adequate funding to both: proactively inspect and monitor compliance with heritage permits; and to properly enforce and defend its decisions in the public interest. 7pm  Tuesday 26th February 2019   KEW PUBLIC MEETING Important Information Update Download 26 Feb 2019 Power Point Presentation Print Version  here Melways  Map 45 D6 *** Download Feb 2019 Newsletter Print Version  here Links: Rod Quantock, MC Guest Speakers: Clifford Hayes MLC Cr Phillip Healey Download Email Heritage Victoria, response to unauthorised works at Kew Cottages, 25 Feb 2019 ===== Monday 21st January  2019 Excavations and tree trimming observed on Walker's proposed apartment site Kew Cottages Coalition lodges an official complaint to Heritage Victoria. Read more >> Kew Cottages Remix From The Archives... 2018 2015 2014 2013 2012 Monday 20th February 2012 A cracking public meeting over Lang Walker's Kew Cottages fiasco Stephen Mayne I've been to some lively public meetings in my time but few rank alongside last Thursday night's community meeting over the 27ha Kew Cottages site being developed by colourful Sydney billionaire Lang Walker. The site has a sordid history of broken promises, excessive secrecy and utterly inappropriate political donations by Walker, who even sent Graham Richardson down from Sydney to try and bang a few Labor heads together. Once the Brumby Government was defeated, things were meant to get better. Alas, whilst local member and Justice Minister Andrew McIntosh repeatedly called the Labor government's contract with Walker "an abomination" he hid behind so-called "sovereign risk" arguments in justifying little change and the non-release of the contract. Health Minister David Davis, an upper house member for the region which includes leafy Kew, made the incredible claim that he supported Boroondara Council's recent litigation over Walker's attempts to have nature strips classified as public open space. He even called on Boroondara's Green mayor Heinz   to further explain what was happening? It wasn't until Davis had left the meeting that Mayor Kreutz explained that council had only obtained legal advice and this had strongly argued against actually launching litigation. Given that Kew Cottages is state government land and the previous government kicked the council totally out of the process, it was incredible to have Ted Baillieu's factional enforcer somehow calling on the council to explain what was going on. Mayor Kreutz just asked that the government reinstate the council as the relevant planning authority. Both McIntosh and Davis came across as being poorly briefed on the whole situation, which is ultimately in the hands of Major Projects Minister Denis Napthine. The Baillieu Government is badly split on planning issues. Planning Minister Matthew Guy is strongly pro-development, yet Baillieu himself is hugely conservative and believes passionately in preserving Federation suburbs which dominate the Boroondara landscape and includes his Hawthorn electorate. Throw in a whole bunch of angry new residents who are opposed to ongoing disability services being provided on the historic site and cranky with Walker for failing to deliver their long-promised pool, gym and cafe, and you have one almighty mess. Surely the Baillieu government should just write a cheque to make Lang Walker go away and then completely go back to the drawing board with a new masterplan for the site which involves Boroondara Council at every level. Read the Full Edition >> Link: http://www.maynereport.com/articles/2012/02/18-1643-8209.html Remix     Remix Remix Kew Cottages February 2012  Newsletter Download PDF  Print Version The Baillieu Government promised Disabled a real Alternative at Kew BUT Failed to Deliver... Promise Performance Lift the veil of secrecy on Kew Development Contract arrangements Failed Insist on developer fulfilling all its contractual obligations including preservation of 40% of the site as open space and Failed Restore the recreation building  that was demolished in breach of contract. (The Hamer Centre) Failed Support the Kew Coalition 5 Point Plan* Failed Refer Kew Cottages Development to Anti-Corruption Commission by July 2011 Failed The story so far...   125 Years Ago, way back in 1887,  Kew Cottages was Australia's  first 'Government Insurance Policy' for intellectually disabled kids and their families. It offered asylum for the children on a significant piece of Public Land outside of the walls of the Willsmere that was permanently reserved by an Act of Parliament for the intellectually disabled. Today, Kew Cottages is like a "canary down a coal mine".  Over the past ten years nearly half of the the 27 hectares of Public Land surrounding the Cottages in 2001 has been progressively sold off by the Bracks, Brumby, and Baillieu Governments in a most disturbing manner. The 'State Government Insurance Policy' for intellectually disabled kids and their families looks decidedly battered and bruised. In 2008 concerns were raised by a Parliamentary Inquiry that the Government sell-off of the Kew Public Land was shrouded in secrecy and not in the public interest. The Inquiry also expressed concern that two property developers involved with the Kew Public Land deal, Walker Corporation and Mirvac,  had both made large political donations to the Victorian ALP days before the 2006 State Election. At the end of 2008 Parliament instructed the Victorian Ombudsman to investigate the probity of the Victorian Government's Kew Cottage's contract, including the role of lobbyist Graham Richardson in the deal. At the time of the November 2010 State Election there was a strong smell of corruption in the air. The Brumby Government was voted out of office, and the incoming Baillieu Government made an election promise to refer numerous concerns about the redevelopment of Kew Cottages to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission that Baillieu promised to establish by July 2011. The Baillieu Government also promised that, subject to any contractual obligations to the contrary,  all of the remaining Kew Cottages Public Land would be listed on a new Victorian Register of Significant Public Land. In February 2011 a Public Meeting convened at the Kew Civic Centre endorsed the Baillieu Government policy. The Public Meeting also called on the Government to impose an immediate moratorium on further Public Land sales at Kew Cottages, and to implement all of the Recommendations of both the Victorian Ombudsman's Inquiry, and the Victorian Public Land Inquiry. Read More >> However, after a year in power, the Baillieu Government has comprehensively failed to deliver on its election promise for Kew Cottages. And while the Government has so far failed to set up its promised Anti-Corruption Commission, and failed to preserve Public Open Space, it has continued to develop, approve,  and sell off Kew Cottages Public Land.  The Challenge for Change.  << 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010  2011 2012 NOW! >> 2011 2012 The Developer's Contract Lang Walker, Kew Development Corporation  & Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria It is January 2012 and it is still not too late to achieve a better outcome at Kew Cottages because the Government still owns the land... Read More >> From The Archives... 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007  Royce Millar's Front Page Story The Age Wed Mar 28 2007 'Richo' on board cottages project' (Click here for Hardcopy Version) Or Read Online Version at: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/richardson-weighs-in-on-cottages-project/2007/03/27/1174761470790.html Remix

Background Environment Issues Monday 10th July 2006 Melbourne Channel 10 TV News Reports "Yarra Bend Park May Now Be Under Threat" from Deadly Tree Disease at Kew Cottages View  Windows Media  wmv video file (1min39s): (Archive ..)	Bracks Government Cover up on Biosecurity Threat to Yarra ? Tuesday 14th March 2006 Brian Walsh tells the ABC's 774, Jon Faine, he is astounded that the Government now claims it was unaware of the discovery of the fungus at Kew Cottages. Walsh says the Government claim is nonsense, "our information is that they have known for weeks.. " (see below) Listen to the full Interview mp3 audio (2min 34s):

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