The Elwood Foreshore has long been a cherished destination for residents and visitors alike.  It was not surprising that many Elwood residents and sport club representatives spoke at Council on 6th September to express concerns about the City of Port Phillip’s proposed redevelopment project which involves relocating roads, parking, and buildings, while also impacting sporting club facilities, accessibility, and existing vegetation.

Councillors voted unanimously to progress the project and to continue its consultation with residents on the Elwood Foreshore Masterplan after amending the motion to acknowledge concerns expressed by Head Street residents and the Mayor of the City of Bayside and to reconsider the location of the carpark. 

Councillors spoke to the motion to reassure residents that their concerns will be heard during the consultation process. Mayor Heather Cunsolo said, “This is a high-level document (Masterplan) and there will be a lot more community engagement as we go through the detailed plan”.

Reflecting the Mayor's comments during the meeting, Cr Rhonda Clark stated "Much consultation has taken place and the sporting clubs have had their input. The community had a very big engagement and opportunity to say, and some of that feedback was definitely taken into account."

Addressing the concerns that not everyone in the community was happy, Cr Clark went onto say "Not everyone got what they wanted, which is disappointing, but there is more demand on this reserve than there is space and we’ve done our best to increase the facilities where we can and where we can see it’s needed."

The project comes with an estimated cost of $50 million, which seems highly unlikely given the extent of the proposed redevelopment and recent cost escalations. This is particularly concerning in light of the council's struggles to provide residents with essential services such as garbage collection whilst charging one of the highest rates in the State.  

The decision to move roads, parking, and buildings will inevitably lead to disruptions and inconveniences for both locals and visitors and involves entirely wasteful expenditure which will not provide a return to rate payers.

With an estimated cost that seems dubious, the City of Port Phillip's decision to invest in this endeavor instead of addressing pressing community needs raises valid concerns about its priorities and its commitment to the well-being of its residents and the significant cost of living challenges.

As discussions and debates unfold, it is imperative that the voices and concerns of the community are heard and integrated into any decision-making process that affects the Elwood Foreshore.