2010 Kew after Bracks 
& Brumby 
Inc
Kew
Cottages
Coalition
Alternative
5-Point
Plan
for
the
development
of
the
remaining
Kew Cottages Public land.
Baillieu offers disabled a
real alternative
at Kew
Victoria
Votes
Thursday
25th November 2010
There is now a clear difference in
policies between the major parties
for the development of the remaining
14 hectares of Public Land at Kew
Cottages.
ALP Southern Metropolitan Candidate,
Jennifer Huppert, says a
Brumby Government will provide four
more years of "great success", plus
five story apartments overlooking
the Yarra Bend Parkland.
Ms Huppert's vision for the
future of this project is "that it
continues to deliver high quality
integrated housing for former Kew
Cottages residents."
On the other hand, however, Liberal
MP for Kew, Mr. Andrew McIntosh
says that a Baillieu Government will
insist on the developer of Kew
Cottages fulfilling all its
contractual obligations, "including
the
preservation of 40 percent of the
site as open space and restoring the
recreation building that was
demolished in breach of contract".
In this week's Liberal Nationals
Coalition policy statement on the
future development of the remaining
Kew Cottages Public Land, Mr.
McIntosh says that a Baillieu
Government will support the Kew
Cottages Coalition Alternative
5-Point
Plan.
Mr. McIntosh says that:
"The (Liberal Nationals) 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."
Outlining his personal vision for
the future development of the site,
Mr. McIntosh goes on to say:
"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."
Mr. McIntosh says that, subject to
any contractual obligations to the
contrary, all of the remaining
Kew Cottages Public Land would be
listed on the new Register of
Significant Public Land to be
established
by a Baillieu Government.
He said that a Baillieu Government
would also 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.
President of the Kew Cottages
Coalition, Brian Walsh, today
welcomed
the Liberal Nationals Coalition
policy statement on the future of
Kew
Cottages. Mr. Walsh said, that "At
last the disabled have a clear
difference in policies between the
major parties that they should
consider when they vote on
Saturday."
The Way Forward for 2011 ...
1.
Moratorium
on further development and land sales pending:
•
Review regarding suitability for
Victorian Disability Respite Care Centre
• Feasibility of jointly
funded (public-private) shared sporting facilities
• Assessment of the
remaining environmental features of the site
• Investigate the State
risks (Sovereign risk) to ceasing the current Walkers
contract
• Investigate the cost of
buying out the Walkers contract and the public/private
options needed
to do this.
2. Assess the feasibility of a Victorian Disability
Respite Care Centre
•
Number of potential options - including a
model similar to the "Hamer Centre”
Parliamentary
Inquiry into Public
Land
Development: Key
Recommendations.
CHAPTER 3
RECOMMENDATION 3.1
That greater provision
for open
space be incorporated in state and local
planning frameworks and
guidelines, with measurable objectives.
RECOMMENDATION 3.2
That the Government support local councils in developing and
achieving
local
and regional open space strategies. These strategies should
consider
the
local characteristics and needs including population density
and
appropriate
open space provision per capita.
RECOMMENDATION 3.3
That the Government
work with
councils and local communities to review
open space provisions
in and
adjacent to declared activity districts and that
further development in
these
centres take account of open space needs. In
particular, formal
policies
should be mandated for zones where the
Government proposes
high density
or high intensity development.
RECOMMENDATION 3.4
That the mechanisms governing developer contributions to
open space and
cash-in-lieu of open space be urgently examined with a view
to ensuring
their
effectiveness, enforceability and transparency.
RECOMMENDATION 3.5
That the mechanisms be
strengthened for ensuring developer contributions in
cash are directed
toward the
purchase, maintenance or improvement
of open
space be strengthened.
RECOMMENDATION 3.6
That the Government examine funding mechanisms for the
acquisition of
strategic land and open space, and the retention of local
pocket parks
by local
government.
RECOMMENDATION 3.7
That a comprehensive
audit of
public open space in the areas covered by
Melbourne 2030 be
undertaken.
RECOMMENDATION 3.8
That any sale and alienation of open space be minimised
until an audit
is
undertaken.
RECOMMENDATION 3.9
That retention of
public land in
the public estate be adopted as the default
position, unless it can
be shown
by a process that the land in question has
insufficient public
value
according to updated criteria.
RECOMMENDATION
3.10
That the Government investigate mechanisms to ensure public
open space
in
metropolitan and regional centres be afforded greater
legislative
protection
similar to that afforded to other land of State
significance.
...
RECOMMENDATION 5.1
That issues relating to
donations from organisations or individuals engaged in
a tender process with
the State
be referred to the Electoral Matters Joint
Investigatory Committee
of the
Victorian Parliament as part of its Inquiry into
Political Donations and
Disclosure. In particular, the Electoral Matters
Committee should
consider
whether political parties be precluded from
accepting donations
from those
engaged in commercial use or development
of public land or other
public
assets.
RECOMMENDATION 5.2
That the Victorian Government publish the full financial
arrangements
and
probity report for the KRS development.
RECOMMENDATION 5.3
That the Victorian
Ombudsman
investigate the probity of the KRS
development tender
processes.
FINDING 5.9
Based on current development proposals, the further
development of the
KRS
site will result in a missed opportunity to use the purpose
built
facilities for
much needed disability and respite care.
RECOMMENDATION 5.4
That the Government
review the
current proposal for the KRS development to
ensure the project
incorporates
protection of the heritage trees and buildings,
protection of open
space and
provision of much needed disability services.
Ombudsman's
Investigation:
Key Recommendations.
I recommend that:
Recommendation 1
The ... Department of
Human
Services and Major Projects
Victoria
review
their
file
management
practices
in
relation
to
procurement
processes
to
ensure
the
standards meet the
requirements of
the Public Records Act 1973.
...
Recommendation 6
Major
Projects
Victoria
improve
its
financial
accounting
processes
to
include
disclosure
of
project management fees prior to
and on completion of each
project.
Recommendation 7
The State Services
Authority
examine and report to the
Premier on the circumstances
in
which it is necessary for
individuals to perform public
servant duties when not
engaged as a
public servant.
Recommendation 8
The State Services Authority
examine and report to the
Premier on the
circumstances in
which it is necessary for public
servants to be paid gratuity
payments.
...
Recommendation 10
The
Department
of
Human
Services
report
on
the
financial
return
to
the
State
Government
from the Kew Residential
Services
project in its Annual Report.
Recommendation 11
The Secretary of the Department
of Innovation, Industry and
Regional
Development conduct
a review of Major Projects
Victoria’s current projects to
ensure that
the State Government’s
obligation to disclose contracts
on the Contracts Publishing
System
website is met.
...
Recommendation 13
The Secretary of the
Department of
Planning and Community
Development review the
policies
of
Heritage
Victoria
to
ensure
that
officers
do
not
express
opinions
on
the
heritage
significance
of
a place.
...
Recommendation 16
Prior to commencement of any
Expression of Interest or
Request for
Proposal phase of
a major development project of
this nature, departments ensure
that
there is a degree of
certainty about the site, its
condition and availability.
Recommendation 17
The State Government
initiate
arrangements to ensure the
disclosure of government
contracts
for both state and local
government in line with the
policy statement Ensuring
Openness and
Probity in Victorian
Government
Contracts.
...
Remaining
Public
Land: Key Reserves at Risk.
