Mike Purtell
7 Baxter Av SPRINGWOOD 2777
4751 2143
purtells@tpg.com.au

Mike Purtell

Southern Car Park Option

I Do Not Support

• I request that Council extend the Town Square so that it covers the full area that it zoned to be and the people voted for the larger square without compromising "the view" that is so important to residents and shoppers in Springwood. Do not interrupt this view in any way.
• If a decked extension was developed for markets etc, then it is essential that the square extend up higher so the view would still be available to shoppers.
•  Markets in the Civic Centre are weather protected and have a special community atmosphere, as do those at Springwood Primary school. Parking at these 2 sites is difficult enough without making it worse by competing with shoppers. Let the markets stay where they are.

Northern Car Park Option

I Do Support

• Enable shops at street level carparking behind & dwellings over the top of this
• Expand the existing Supermarket
• Place a coffe shop on top to access the brilliant views from town

Civic Centre Site Option

I Do Not Support

• I request that all existing facilities be refurbished and that we work with what we have got.
• Children's Playground is much more secure and less prone to vandalism where it is in the northern car park. It must remain free of fee for use and no pay rides are to be included.
• Braemar must be kept where it is and the land should be zoned COMMUNITY land.
  Any proposed café's etc should not compromise the functioning of any part of Braemar, including the local history facility, I request that the art gallery be upgraded to a regional art gallery .
• Existing library services must be available to the public and be FREE of CHARGE -I support the expansion of library services.
• Expanded Neighbourhood services are needed and it would be preferable to put these at the rear of the existing/ redeveloped Civic Centre rather than a national chain supermarket (e.g. Woolworths) -I do not want Woolworths to take over this site -large statements should be banned in Springwood -we want all the shopping centre to work in balance -large shopping centres with specialty shops just wreck the existing finely balanced shopping that has taken years to get right
• NO LARGE SHOPPING DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS SITE
• Residential development on the David Rd edge of the site would only compromise car parking as in the Southern Car Park, and less would be available to those shopping, using the Civic Centre or Neighbourhood Centre etc It again would not provide security from vandalism for reasons already stated.
• A supermarket extension or development onto the existing car park will only increase the incidence of vandalism and graffiti.
• I DO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING SUPERMARKETS THAT ONE OR BOTH BE UPGRADED TO THE STANDARD OF THE BLAXLAND SUPERMARKET - IF WE GET THIS STANDARD OF SUPERMARKET THEN THAT'S ALL WE NEED. PLACE A BAN ON AN ADDITIONAL SUPERMARKET.
• Also no supermarket is allowed to be built with such large scales -the large Coles ,Woolworths etc are lazy designs -they just plonk the exact plan in the town and it is the future eyesore -this should be banned from being done in Springwood.

In Summary

1. Do not SELL community land ( i.e. Council owned land ) to business interests and as a consequence lose the ability to control what happens on that land .It would be far better to LEASE the land.
2. Option 2 is too much , too soon because insufficient research has been done into community needs. A social survey is needed first, before committing the peoples land to other uses.
3. Some of the other options need further exploration before any decisions are made.
4. More community consultation is needed.
5. If option 2 was pursued, council should demand a set of expectations from potential interested participants rather than offer suggestions.
6. Why proceed with the possibility of selling Crown Land before the State Govt is holds an inquiry into use of same?
7. Let us not follow in the footsteps of
   • Maleny in Q'land
   • Mudgee in NSW
   • Young in NSW
   • and other areas where local shopping centres and associated community spirit have been severely disadvantaged by the arrival of National Chain Supermarkets.
8. 8.Do potential business people know the pitfalls of being part of a large shopping complex e.g.
   • rents tied to cash register takings
   • cash registers linked to a central "watch dog" office
   • compulsory 7 day trading
   • no shut down for holidays  
9. Maybe businesses in Springwood are suffering from reduced takings since Coles opened at Winmalee, but they are still making a living (or they would not still be here ). Encourage local supermarkets to upgrade their existing stores -that is all that is required.
10. A spruced up town that continues to be friendly, has a village atmosphere , and caters to residents and visitors needs is a gem. Let Springwood be that GEM -a Village where great bushwealks are easily accessable.
11. What are we doing to encourage families into surrounding bushland for walks etc, then proceed into local café's, coffee shops, ice cream parlours for refreshment afterwards?
12.  We love Springwood , do our shopping and business here and a fair bit of our recreation also occurs here. Let's not destroy this unique place.
13. I request the following also be included in any development

That we retain Ownership of the land That any proposals put forward, retain the ownership of the three council owned (managed & owned on behalf of the community) sites and that any income these sites might generate(especially rent) be fed back into the servicing of Springwood Town Centre -in fact this should form part of a self sustaining fund to service Springwood Town Centre -we will then always have adequate funds to maintain Springwood Town Centre Proposals that encompass Sustainability That any plans proposed have strong sense of sustainability & these developments are carbon neutral, energy efficient Carbon Neutral Town Centre That We Develop a Carbon Neutral Policy for the Springwood Town Centre that includes existing development -this works in with Councils existing theme of becoming a sustainable city Define the critical & beneficial social patterns of Town Centre That we embark on a serious study of beneficial social patterns in the Springwood Town Centre -that once these beneficial patterns are understood that we promote and enhance these social patterns -this process has not yet occurred -unless we embark on this process it is not possible to get the planning right. Eg playstructures in front of baby health centre - associated and linked to shopping/ toilet facilities / community facilities. "that's why I continue to shop in Springwood". When I get the paper I walk past buskers, and often encounter passers by for a short chat ,bread milk, fresh fruit & veg , deli & barber are all close by -"what a great place to shop" and all are run by locally owned businesses so money spent there goes straight back into our local economy not large company ownership. Retain and enlarge existing Town Square That the existing town square be retained and that it be planned to be expanded to cover the full zoned land zoned community land(no purchase or rezoning is required) so that we finally get the proper Town Square we need -the present one is far too small -essential this is written into the planning Retain Existing Small Parks The small scale of the existing parks in the Town Centre are great These should be retained and maintained in a good state That the policy of progressively planting indigenous native species in these parks remain as the Landscaping Policy Establish strong links to bushwalks That links to bushwalks be laid down and made obvious -signposts put up so that visitors are encouraged to go from the town centre on a bushwalk both into Fairy Dell, Deanei Reserve,& Springwood Creek Approach & involve Local Members for help -expanded community Services That we seriously look at how community services can expand That federal & state members be involved in seeking out funding for community services -eg New Drama theatre, Regional Art gallery What can they offer us -they both have their offices in Springwood We need to lobby them -what can they offer Work Together That we learn to think laterally and make decisions thru community endeavour not just business community on their own or community activists on their own That we work together -we did it for Foundation Day why not for planning Springwood town centre Shop Top Housing I am encouraging of shop top development - provided it is a quality development I think it can be a good thing to populate Town centre -we oppose development in the perimeter edges of town so we don't lose further bushland & thus further biodivserity loss -so I can agree to town centre housing(over top of shops) -this can be a marvellous chance for Council to address the housing issue -and populate the Town Centre Retain Free public carparking Carparking is free -lots of it public parking at present -it must stay that way Private ownership entails private parking -restricted times, locked gates etc That the same amount of free car spaces are maintained in any development More Festivals That the proposals incorporate the encouragement of more festivals, exhibitions, street celebrations that celebrate Springwoods great location in the Centre of the World Heritage National Park Retain and expand & improve Existing Services Special request that the Council Offices remain and be expanded. Develop a Regional Art Gallery in Springwood