C’mon council

LAST week I drove around Cardinia lakes admiring the new homes, parkland and amenities, not to mention the grand lake and even grander water fountain and it was at that moment that I thought to myself “how sad”.
How sad, that once the developer moves out of that estate and our council take over the service and maintenance, that all of that wonderful work will inevitably and eventually be wound back.
I’m sure that other Pakenham residents have noticed the marked differences seen in estates around town once they have been filled to capacity and the developers have departed.
Lakeside for example, lost its magnificent fountain at the entrance near the BP, which was filled in and turned into a garden bed, while the other fountain and luminaire within the lake itself has not functioned for how long now?
Heritage Springs estate was another casualty, having its quaint little fountain located within William Bruce Ronald Park at the corner of McGegor road and Heritage Boulevard filled in.
Which by the way happened in “Olympic record time” once I started making enquiries about restoring it. Cardinia Council couldn’t move quick enough to rip the plumbing and lighting out and fill in the pond with dirt and plants to mitigate any prospect of restoration work.
I’ve also noticed the remnants of lighting within Sid Earl reserve on the corner of Main Street and McGregor road. Clearly there was lighting within this park, as the bases and wiring still remains.
However for whatever reason, they were once again mysteriously removed and hilariously, no-one at the council seems to know when or why.
Henty Park estate has been without the use of all lighting within Ron Andrews park for at least three months or more and when I inquired as to why, I was told that they were not working due to vandalism. Hmmm, if that is the case then they must be the most stealthy vandals around as there are no signs of damage, tampering or otherwise to the poles, lights or the nearby electrical cabinet, so well done to those individuals your talents are surely wasted.
I bet my bottom dollar if those council employees responsible for managing these assets weren’t paid for the 12 weeks that these lights haven’t worked, something would get done.
Never mind, you will get your brand new Taj Mahal in Officer, hang the expense and bugger the ratepayers.
I also query why a council with a $25m cash surplus due to incomplete projects (yes I was at the council budget meeting, front row, taking notes) sees itself fit to penny pinch and cull community assets in such a way.
Families move into these estates because they like what they see, ergo they don’t want these things removed or ignored once the developer leaves and council decides that it’s too costly or hard to maintain. If that is indeed council’s philosophy, then they should only approve works by developers that they fully intend on maintaining once the developer hands ownership back to the council.
Council boasted in the media a few months ago about receiving funds for “works” within Bourke Park. You know the park, opposite the Pakenham train station that doesn’t even have a name sign to identify it.
Well half the lighting along the footpath through the middle of that park doesn’t work anymore, presumably due to nothing more than blown globes as these lights were fully replaced not even two years ago.
So what are the council doing with that grant money? Gaining interest? Waiting for better weather? Presumably they had to submit a detailed proposal for their “grand plans” before whatever government department merely handed them over the cash?
Here’s a muse, stop talking and start doing, stop making excuses and start repairing or replacing assets. I’m not asking for new infrastructure, merely to maintain what we’ve got and stop removing our community assets, so please just get on with it.
David Connor,
Pakenham.