I am sure you are all mindful of this, but as a resident living near Westfield Doncaster that went to the first public meeting held by Manningham Council on its “vision” for the Doncaster Hill Activity Centre I would recommend that residents be vigilant on what the final outcome will become.

As soon as the word ‘Activity Centre’ is incorporated into any development plan residents should question if they will be living next door to a twin of the  Doncaster Hill Activity Centre and all that that entails for residents/ratepayers in surrounding local streets.     The restructuring of the area, as highlighted by Manningham Council, is proposed over the next 20 years.  So was Doncaster Hill.   Look at the outcome for residents within that vicinity…firstly, the appropriate infrastructure to support such major developments was never put in place and is still lacking.   Council was consistent in failing to address this issue.

Secondly, the impact on amenities for local ratepayers is severe.   This is a substantial development proposal.

My perspective on this is that it is a deja vu scenario and that if residents are worried as to the final outcome –  they need only look to our small side streets, our courts/cul de sacs and see that no protection was given to these areas – that the same will happen to them.  They need to be mindful of the “consultation” meetings which ultimately failed to address the lack of infrastructure and the impact on amenities.
I would be both alert and alarmed.  

From my perspective I would say that once the Council has determined its agenda they will work to ensure they accomplish it using the 20 year time-frame.  I think it was around 2002 that I went to one of the first meetings about Doncaster Hill –  so they achieved it – and pushing into additional local areas – in 12 years.

This item below was in the Manningham Council section of the Leader Newspaper: ( Have your Say while you can.)