Cr Christensen says he has visited all but one of the sites identified in council’s plan and is hearing the concerns of individuals voiced in meetings. 

On Wednesday night he was one five councillors to attend a meeting at Old Bar to discuss the plans proposal for Carle Park, Waterman Street Reserve, Bluehaven Estate Reserve, and portions of Badgers Park, Charles Boyce Park and Mistral Place Reserve.

More than 120 people reportedly attended the meeting and voiced opposition to the plan and were heard by Cr Christensen. Also listening were Cr Kathryn Bell, Cr Peter Epov, Cr Robyn Jenkins and Cr Alan Tickle.

Cr Christensen watched as Cr Epov announced to the meeting that he and Cr Bell had submitted a ‘Notice of Motion’ for the March 18 meeting of council seeking the withdrawal of the Open Space Improvement Plan.

Cr Epov reported that “on hearing this information, the jam-packed room clapped loudly and cheered enthusiastically.”

“I was very impressed with the impassioned statements that were expressed so eloquently and concisely by members of the Old Bar community. It was obvious that many people had gone to the trouble of judiciously reviewing and dissecting the entire plan and its relevance to their community. These people had done their homework and they were very well informed,” Cr Epov said.

And that, according to Cr Christensen, is exactly what council wants the community to do.

“This is the process of consultation with our community. If the community is concerned, contact us, we will have a meeting and talk about the issues. We want people to put their submissions in with ideas – that is what we are after. People have different ideas to us and to council staff and we want to hear them,” Cr Christensen said.

“That’s what it’s about. It’s just frustrating that it’s all negative.”

Cr Christensen does not support the intent of Cr Epov and Cr Bell’s Notion of Motion.

“The motion doesn’t go forward with an alternative suggestion – it is just stop,” he explained.

“For Cr Epov to say that the proposal needs to be abandoned is ridiculous. This is the process, if enough community members protest, then all councillors will see that and it will be voted down or amended. That’s the process, but to abandon it is ridiculous. At this point in time the Open Space Improvement Plan is just a proposal.”

Cr Christensen says he understands the concerns of people who live near the parks and reserves that are the focus of the plan.

“If I lived next door to one of the parks then I would be concerned and probably wouldn’t want to lose it - that’s plain and simple and most people see that,” Cr Christensen said.

“But we also need for people to look outside the window and consider the whole community. How we debate that and come up with solutions, well that is an issue.

“We know the community wants us to upgrade so many park facilities, and somehow we need to pay for it and that is what this proposal is all about. It’s a hard sell, a very hard sell but it is something we need to talk about.

“We have people out there who say that council has no vision, but to me, this is trying to show a little vision, trying to move forward and have a few ideas about how to upgrade things that the community has been wanting for years.

“You want community input but I believe you have to put some sort of plan out to them first - and to be frank, that is what council staff are paid for - to come up with ideas and plans.

“As a community you can then either agree with them or not, but that is what council staff should be doing. I am asking for people to look at the big picture, and that’s the hard part.

“I’m not trying to criticise our community members but I believe they need to hear how it is sometimes.”

“Here is a plan and some vision, whether you agree with the process or not, at least acknowledge that council is trying to move forward and deliver what a large part of the community want, that is improved parks and facilities. Come forward with some ideas for your area and get involved in helping this great region to promote itself!”