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Report
by Beaumaris Conservation Society Inc. observer of the Public Meeting held
below: The
meeting was ably chaired by Murray
Thompson, MLA for Sandringham, who was thanked at the end by strong
applause. Speakers representing groups associated with Beaumaris Reserve,
including the Tennis Club, Soccer
Club, Art Group, and Returned Services
League (principal watchers over the Cenotaph) gave
their reasons why they could not accept a skateboard ramp near their areas of
concern. They were followed by representatives of Friends
of Balcombe Park (Joan Couzoff), Bayside
Friends of Native Wildlife (Michael Norris), and Beaumaris Conservation Society Inc.
(its Secretary, Ron Morris). Each speaker addressed the meeting for up to 5
minutes. The conservation speakers said they were not in favour of removal of
indigenous vegetation, but stressed that Balcombe Park
had by far the greatest priority for protection.
Peter Wolstenholme, of Neighbourhood
Watch, spoke of problems of facilities that attract certain age
groups. A resident of Individual
speakers then spoke for a similar time. They included former BCS Inc. member
Tina Owens; two teenage boys, Nick and Tom, who were skateboard enthusiasts;
and Geoffrey Goode. Tina spoke strongly on the need for physical recreational
facilities for teenagers beyond ball games, and urged those present to do
something positive to cause such facilities to be built. The teenage speakers
told of their keenness on skateboarding, and the need for a ramp. They
instanced other sites, such as the north-west corner of Banksia Reserve.
Geoffrey gave background to problems with a previous ramp (reverberant
timber, not concrete), and the Bayside Council commissioners’ sale of
two grassed spaces on Speakers asked
why the Beaumaris
Campus of The meeting
concluded with a show of hands, for each of the 3 sites below, of those
favouring them for a ramp. Few favoured any of those 3 sites. Nearly all
hands were raised in favour of the Council examining further sites than those
three. People accepted invitations to join a Working Group to pursue
speakers’ concerns. Beaumaris Conservation Society Inc. chose not to
provide a representative for that Group, but offered to give its views on any
new sites proposed. ************************************************************************************************** Residents
Conservationists Cricketers Skateboarders Senior
Citizens Soccer
enthusiasts Artists Dog
walkers Tennis Players
RSL Members Library members
Friends of
Balcombe Park WE NEED
YOU! We intend forming a Working Party of interested
residents to investigate more closely a possible requirement and/or a
suitable location for a Skate Board Facility in Beaumaris. At the Bayside Council Meeting on 22 August
there was stiff opposition to all three possible sites: · the Concourse Green, and · Beaumaris Reserve at The meeting was well attended by a large
number of residents. Councillors Beadle, Ryan, McLorinan, Dwyer and Wilson
voted successfully to defer a decision until after a Special Council Meeting
to be held at As this Special Council Meeting is less than
three weeks away, many of those attending Monday’s Council Meeting decided a “Call
to Action Meeting” was required. Please support your Beaumaris Community by
attending a Public Meeting at Beaumaris
Community Centre At Due to obvious time constraints, individual
speakers will be limited to 3 minutes each. Please tell your “Interest Group”
Coordinator before the meeting if you wish to speak. The Chairperson might also allow each
identified “Interest Group” that registers with one of the people below
before the meeting to have one representative speak for up to 10
minutes. To further discuss any of the above items, please
contact Elspeth Black 9589 0198 / Norm Stewart
9589 1435 / John Lawler 9589 4020 YOUR ATTENDANCE
AT THIS MEETING IS CRUCIAL TO GENERATE A UNITED COMMUNITY APPROACH ON THIS
VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ISSUE. |