We have been running consultation about our Freshwater Lake in West Lakes; ‘the duck ponds’. Our initial consultation closes on Thursday this week (so if you have any feedback, be sure to let us know by then). We will then present a report to a public meeting of Council where Elected Members will consider this initial round of consultation feedback. Further technical work and anticipated costings on potential options will then be completed and also reported to Council, then a further round of consultation on the preferred option/s will occur before Council makes a final decision on what to implement later this year.
We’d like to clear a few things up as we continue our process of consultation and providing options for Council to consider:
- At no point has council suggested that Freshwater Lake be filled in and sold for development. Freshwater Lake is Community Land, and will remain Community Land.
- We provided four options to our community to seek their feedback on. Two of those options are about retaining the Lake, and two options were about either reducing the size of the ponds, and the fourth option was to fill in the Lake and turn the whole area into open space/parklands.
- It is a normal part of consultation to ask our community for their views. There is no agenda other than to ask our residents what they want.
- We have heard loud and clear from many in the community that preserving the lake/duck ponds is important to them.
From here, a report is being prepared for the next Council meeting on 11 April 2022 for Elected Members consideration. If you’d like to have your say, go to yoursaycharlessturt.com.au