By DANNY BUTTLER
A SPLIT is likely to develop between residents who are for and against a proposed development on the Pakenham Lakeside foreshore.
The Lakeside Community Development Forum has not decided whether it will support any proposal for a community building near Cormorant Avenue.
The building would contain headquarters for the Lakeside Sailing Club and a local scout group.
LCDF chairwoman Clare Tomlinson said that, while she was personally in favour of a boatshed, scout hall and multi-purpose facility on the site, the LRDF hadn’t come to a decision.
“Personally I would be inclined to say ‘yes’ (and) residents I have spoken to thought it was a good idea,” she said.
Ms Tomlinson said the proposal included public toilets which are desperately needed in the area and would provide a community hub for a variety of residents.
However, she recognised that some residents, especially those who live nearby, would not be pleased with the plan.
Ms Tomlinson said it was important to remember that any building would be a single-storey and not as big as some early draft designs indicated.
But former LCDF chairwoman Kathy Burgstahler said she was concerned that the plan, which was first mooted when the Lakeside development was built, would be pushed through without the knowledge of current residents.
“I purchased in Lakeside three years ago and I was not told anything about the plan,” she said.
“I know a lot of other people from Lakeside who are in the same boat.”
Ms Burgstahler called for a public discussion on the proposal, which was brought before the Lakeside Water Activities Centre Project, which is a partnership between Cardinia shire, Scouts Victoria, Lakeside Sailing Club, Chisholm Institute and the Lakeside Community.
Council’s general manager of planning and development, Phil Walton, said the shire does not have an opinion on whether it should even consider the proposal.
“Cardinia Shire Council is aware that the scouts and sailing club are working on a boat shed concept plan,” he said.
“We believe this plan is based on a boat shed facility included in the Delfin Master Plan for Lakeside.
“Council does not currently have a position on the matter as it is yet to consider the concept plan.”
Whether or not the proposal was originally in the Delfin master plan is irrelevant according to Ms Burgstahler.
“We live in this area, it is our home,” she said. “There should be a public forum so everyone gets a chance to have their say.”
Scouts Victoria strategic development executive officer Rob Charlesworth said the idea was in its very early stages and would only proceed with extensive community consultation.
“We want to grow scouting in growth areas … we are looking at partnership opportunities to look at extending on a Delfin model.”
“We are looking at a water activities centre on the lake (but) it is yet to be decided whether this will take off.”
