Canberra Girls Grammar School has contacted the Deakin Residents Association regarding the school’s interest in taking a 25-30 year lease over the sports field and maintenance sheds in Latrobe Park.
The school would offer to invest approximately $1million to upgrade and maintain the facilities of the ground, including installing a 300 metre running track and building new changing and toilet facilities.
For the term of the lease, the school would seek exclusive or pre-emptive rights to use of the sports field between 8.00am and 5.00pm on all school days, with occasional use at weekends. Public access would be available at other times, or by arrangement.
They are also interested in obtaining use of the storage depot (between the field and the Scout Hall) for school purposes.
See these links for all correspondence between CGGS and DRA on this matter:
- CGGS original draft proposal, with illustrations ( Dec 2015)
- DRA response to CGGS raising initial concerns (Feb 2016)
- CGGS response to DRA, including revised proposal and invitation to information session (May 2016)
Deakin Residents Association needs to know the views of residents and other groups who currently use or otherwise value the public open space of Latrobe Park, in order to determine a response to this proposal. The School has asked for our views, hopes for our support, and wishes to discuss any local concerns before directly approaching the ACT Government.
DRA is not ready to support this proposal without a better understanding and careful evaluation of the pros and cons of such a development on what is currently public open space, and precisely what terms would apply to any agreement with the ACT Government.
We will be deciding on our position after the information session being hosted by CGGS on 12 May (see DRA home page)