By BRIDGET COOK
A GROUP of Selandra Rise estate residents are kicking up a stink about a proposed toilet block and recreational facilities near their homes that they claim they were unaware of until recently.
A petition, signed by eight homeowners, was tabled at last week’s Casey council meeting calling on the council to investigate the proposed infrastructure by estate developer Stockland that residents were concerned about.
John Muncaster said Selandra Boulevard residents were angry that a public toilet block was going in opposite their front doors in Heritage Park – something they were unaware of when they bought the land in 2011.
“When we were sold the land, we were told it would be a very simple park with a walk way, tress and benches,” he said.
“These were premium blocks and we paid up to $40,000 more for them than some other blocks in the estate.
“I moved in three weeks ago and a neighbour showed me a plan for the park that was apparently approved in April 2012.
“Less than 30 metres from my front door is a toilet block.
“A friend of mine is a valuer and said that if that toilet block goes in it will wipe 15 per cent off the value of my house.”
Heritage Park will be a public recreation area, which will include play equipment, an outdoor table tennis, a half basketball court, a communal dining barbeque area, community garden, olive and crab apple grove, an enclosed dog park area and a public toilet.
A Stockland spokesperson said they had engaged in detailed community consultation for Heritage Park, including a public invitation for all interested residents to take part in a forum in November 2011, which enabled the community to put forward their ideas for the park.
“The inclusion of a public toilet at Heritage Park was at the request of residents following the community consultation,” the spokesperson said.
However Mr Muncaster said they were never invited to that meeting and should have been as affected landowners.
“None of us in the street were invited even though we were sold the adjacent land,” he said.
“We never had a chance to consult about what we wanted in the park.
“I’m not too upset about the other facilities going in that we were unaware of, but definitely upset about the location of the toilet block.
“It’s no longer a simple, heritage park.”
Neighbour Michael Sergides said he was also angry that the land was sold to them as being opposite a “low impact park”.
“It was not sold to us a park with all those added amenities and the toilet blocks in front,” he said.
“Where is the visitors’ car park going to be and what about all the noise and inconvenience of a full-on toilet block, with possible drug taking.
“There are many other parks that don’t have them, and this park is much smaller.
“The serenity of the area is going to be destroyed.
“We feel that since we paid good money for our properties we should be entitled to discuss this.”
The Stockland spokesperson said recreational areas were an important consideration for most new home buyers, and the majority of their customers appreciated their efforts to include a range of public facilities such as playgrounds, cycle and walking paths and sports grounds within the communities.
“The inclusion of a community garden and recreational area at Heritage Park was identified as part of our master plan for Selandra Rise from the first stages of development at this community,” the spokesperson said.
“The inclusion of a public toilet at Heritage Park was at the request of residents following the community consultation.
“Stockland considers this to be a valuable amenity for this public recreational area that will be used by individual residents, families with children and visitors to the area.
“We have carefully considered the proposed location for the public toilet and we have been granted council approval for a site, which ensures the safest location and configuration of the play areas while making optimal use of its location and lighting to ensure the greatest convenience and best possible security.
“The proposed location for the toilet ensures that it can be utilised by visitors to Heritage Park and by the broader community taking advantage of the connecting bike paths, and walking paths, which lead to the local town centre.”
The City of Casey will now consult with residents, Selandra Rise Community Group and Stockland about the matter
The council resolved that no infrastructure could start until a report came back to the council.
