❓ Dr. Woollard questions the Minister about the Heathcote Coordinating Agreement, focusing on community concerns and the retention of Duncraig House and the lowlands. The Minister's response details a meeting with Melville City Council, highlighting their anger at the agreement and its impact on public open space.
AnsweredQoN 682Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEATHCOTE COORDINATING AGREEMENT
I know that the minister met with the Melville City Council this week to discuss the Heathcote coordinating agreement and ask - (1) What was the outcome of the meeting, bearing in mind that now more than 15 000 people have signed petitions to retain intact Heathcote, Duncraig House and the lowlands? (2) Will the minister indicate the Government’s current position on the retention of Duncraig House and the Heathcote lowlands? Ms MacTIERNAN
I know that the minister met with the Melville City Council this week to discuss the Heathcote coordinating agreement and ask - (1) What was the outcome of the meeting, bearing in mind that now more than 15 000 people have signed petitions to retain intact Heathcote, Duncraig House and the lowlands? (2) Will the minister indicate the Government’s current position on the retention of Duncraig House and the Heathcote lowlands? Ms MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I attended a meeting with representatives of the Melville City Council. Some 13 or so councillors, the mayor and various senior staff attended the meeting. I attended the meeting to gauge the attitude of the City of Melville to the situation at the former Heathcote Hospital site and to the agreement that was executed by the previous Minister for Lands in the dying days of the previous Government. Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
(1) What was the outcome of the meeting, bearing in mind that now more than 15 000 people have signed petitions to retain intact Heathcote, Duncraig House and the lowlands? (2) Will the minister indicate the Government’s current position on the retention of Duncraig House and the Heathcote lowlands? Ms MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question. I attended a meeting with representatives of the Melville City Council. Some 13 or so councillors, the mayor and various senior staff attended the meeting. I attended the meeting to gauge the attitude of the City of Melville to the situation at the former Heathcote Hospital site and to the agreement that was executed by the previous Minister for Lands in the dying days of the previous Government. Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
(2) Will the minister indicate the Government’s current position on the retention of Duncraig House and the Heathcote lowlands? Ms MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question. I attended a meeting with representatives of the Melville City Council. Some 13 or so councillors, the mayor and various senior staff attended the meeting. I attended the meeting to gauge the attitude of the City of Melville to the situation at the former Heathcote Hospital site and to the agreement that was executed by the previous Minister for Lands in the dying days of the previous Government. Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
Ms MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question. I attended a meeting with representatives of the Melville City Council. Some 13 or so councillors, the mayor and various senior staff attended the meeting. I attended the meeting to gauge the attitude of the City of Melville to the situation at the former Heathcote Hospital site and to the agreement that was executed by the previous Minister for Lands in the dying days of the previous Government. Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
I thank the member for the question. I attended a meeting with representatives of the Melville City Council. Some 13 or so councillors, the mayor and various senior staff attended the meeting. I attended the meeting to gauge the attitude of the City of Melville to the situation at the former Heathcote Hospital site and to the agreement that was executed by the previous Minister for Lands in the dying days of the previous Government. Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
(1) What was the outcome of the meeting, bearing in mind that now more than 15 000 people have signed petitions to retain intact Heathcote, Duncraig House and the lowlands? (2) Will the minister indicate the Government’s current position on the retention of Duncraig House and the Heathcote lowlands? Ms MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question. I attended a meeting with representatives of the Melville City Council. Some 13 or so councillors, the mayor and various senior staff attended the meeting. I attended the meeting to gauge the attitude of the City of Melville to the situation at the former Heathcote Hospital site and to the agreement that was executed by the previous Minister for Lands in the dying days of the previous Government. Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
(2) Will the minister indicate the Government’s current position on the retention of Duncraig House and the Heathcote lowlands? Ms MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question. I attended a meeting with representatives of the Melville City Council. Some 13 or so councillors, the mayor and various senior staff attended the meeting. I attended the meeting to gauge the attitude of the City of Melville to the situation at the former Heathcote Hospital site and to the agreement that was executed by the previous Minister for Lands in the dying days of the previous Government. Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
Ms MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for the question. I attended a meeting with representatives of the Melville City Council. Some 13 or so councillors, the mayor and various senior staff attended the meeting. I attended the meeting to gauge the attitude of the City of Melville to the situation at the former Heathcote Hospital site and to the agreement that was executed by the previous Minister for Lands in the dying days of the previous Government. Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
I thank the member for the question. I attended a meeting with representatives of the Melville City Council. Some 13 or so councillors, the mayor and various senior staff attended the meeting. I attended the meeting to gauge the attitude of the City of Melville to the situation at the former Heathcote Hospital site and to the agreement that was executed by the previous Minister for Lands in the dying days of the previous Government. Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
Mr McRae: It was desperation. Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
Ms MacTIERNAN: It is quite true that it was a matter of desperation. All the councillors at that meeting recognise that this is a very challenging issue for them and that there is no easy resolution to it. A number of the councillors expressed extreme anger at the agreement, which they say was foisted upon them. They expressed anger that they are being required to sell public open space all around the rest of the city of Melville to ensure that there is no development on that site. They believe this is a massive inequity, because areas within the city of Melville that have around three per cent of public open space are losing space. That is basically a mass transfer of public open space from the other areas of the city of Melville into the Applecross ward. The councillors were also very keen to ensure that the agreement that was signed at the behest of the previous State Government, which is often referred to as the great - Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
Mr McGowan: Holy Grail. Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
Ms MacTIERNAN: Yes, the Holy Grail. Although some of them clearly support it, many feel that it was forced upon them. They also drew my attention to the fact that at the very same meeting, the City of Melville had resolved that there be a development of some seven or eight houses along Duncraig Road to enable the council to be recompensed for the some $6 million that it has expended on developing the Heathcote heritage precinct. They are concerned that if that resolution is not given effect to, this most inequitable process whereby the rest of the City of Melville loses its public open space to enhance that area in Applecross will continue.
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