6.30 pm at Narre Warren according to their website.

It's the big joint out the front of Fountain Gate shopping centre, can't miss it.

Mel Ref 110 D4 (corner of Magid Drive and Patrick Northeast Drive)

I thought the Casey councillors were in favour of the MFC setting up at Casey Fields? It was only 2 (one a so-called Demons supporter! <_< ) who were against this happening?

Hopefully Jim Stynes and the MFC board can make a few phone calls and get things back on track?

It would be very, very disappointing if the plan to move the Demons Summer training base into Casey Fields fell through.

As the August 5th meeting is an "open" one to the general public I encourage all Demons supporters to get down their and make as much noise as possible to make sure the Demons DO move into Casey Fields.

Noise in these sorts of places should be responsibly kept to the conclusion of each Councillor's debate - it's not like it's at the footy and you urge the players on during play.

Displaying views at the conclusion of a debate is ok.

Keep respect for the Mayor's ruling - the Mayor will call for silence at times if the crowd gets too loud or unruly (like the Wimbledon umpire when the crowd goes from loud to quiet in an instant).

The last thing that should happen is to get Councillors, who are supportive, offside because of poor behaviour in the public gallery.

The last thing that should happen is to get Councillors, who are supportive, offside because of poor behaviour in the public gallery.

Absolutely!

The last thing that should happen is to get Councillors, who are supportive, offside because of poor behaviour in the public gallery.

That is definitely one way to fracture a relationship before its even begun!

But I'm up for a beer anyway! Whether I go or not!

From this week's Cranbourne Journal:

http://cranbourne.yourguide.com.au/news/lo...nt/1061141.aspx

Casey called to account

THE Auditor-General will be asked to look into the controversial $1.2 million ratepayer-funded plan to get the Melbourne Football Club to Casey Fields.

Casey councillor Kevin Bradford is preparing a report for the Auditor-General's office to review the council's proposal, which he says lacks transparency, accountability and planning.

Cr Bradford said he hoped the report would lead to the Minister for Local Government "calling in'' the plan.

"I'm going to personally deliver it [the report] to the Auditor-General's office to have this proposal reviewed. I'm hoping the Auditor-General will report to the State Government about the serious issues about what this council is doing with ratepayers' money.

"The Minister for Local Government may decide to look at[the Auditor-General's] decision and decide to call [the council's proposal] in.

"There's growing anger in the community about ratepayers funding facilities that Melbourne will only use for two years before the club's training and administrative base at the Olympic Park precinct is completed, while sporting clubs in Casey are in desperate need of council funding.''

Cr Bradford said concerns about the proposal were also raised after new Melbourne chairman Jim Stynes revealed the club was $4.5 million in debt and ordered a total review of the club's operations.

"We don't even know whether moving to Casey is part of the new chairman's agenda and is part of his review.

There's also concerns about whether the Demons can afford the $500,000 which is their part of the deal.

"We need to hear from Jim Stynes where he stands on the issue.''

A report on the Melbourne Football Club proposal will be tabled at Casey Council on August 5, when a decision is expected.

The Journal contacted the Melbourne Football Club to get comment from Mr Stynes, and chief executive officer Paul McNamee, without success.

From this week's Cranbourne Journal:

http://cranbourne.yourguide.com.au/news/lo...nt/1061141.aspx

Casey called to account

THE Auditor-General will be asked to look into the controversial $1.2 million ratepayer-funded plan to get the Melbourne Football Club to Casey Fields.

Casey councillor Kevin Bradford is preparing a report for the Auditor-General's office to review the council's proposal, which he says lacks transparency, accountability and planning.

Cr Bradford said he hoped the report would lead to the Minister for Local Government "calling in'' the plan.

"I'm going to personally deliver it [the report] to the Auditor-General's office to have this proposal reviewed. I'm hoping the Auditor-General will report to the State Government about the serious issues about what this council is doing with ratepayers' money.

"The Minister for Local Government may decide to look at[the Auditor-General's] decision and decide to call [the council's proposal] in.

"There's growing anger in the community about ratepayers funding facilities that Melbourne will only use for two years before the club's training and administrative base at the Olympic Park precinct is completed, while sporting clubs in Casey are in desperate need of council funding.''

Cr Bradford said concerns about the proposal were also raised after new Melbourne chairman Jim Stynes revealed the club was $4.5 million in debt and ordered a total review of the club's operations.

"We don't even know whether moving to Casey is part of the new chairman's agenda and is part of his review.

There's also concerns about whether the Demons can afford the $500,000 which is their part of the deal.

"We need to hear from Jim Stynes where he stands on the issue.''

A report on the Melbourne Football Club proposal will be tabled at Casey Council on August 5, when a decision is expected.

The Journal contacted the Melbourne Football Club to get comment from Mr Stynes, and chief executive officer Paul McNamee, without success.

What does this mean? Usually anything with the word "audit" in it is bad, right?

What does this mean? Usually anything with the word "audit" in it is bad, right?

It means Casey councillor Kevin Bradford wants the State Government to scuttle the plan, based on a review Bradford hopes the Auditor-General will conduct after he gives them a report on the plans.

It means Casey councillor Kevin Bradford wants the State Government to scuttle the plan, based on a review Bradford hopes the Auditor-General will conduct after he gives them a report on the plans.

I doubt the state government will scuttle the plan. It's a local council issue with the majority of councillors in favour.

Is this guy really a Demon supporter??

Here's hoping, as that's all we can do, that the plan passes council on Aug 5 and we can start smoozing the locals.

Bradford has been against this from day one. Fair enough..his prerogative. Id be curious as to Bradfords political aspirations

I doubt the state government will scuttle the plan. It's a local council issue with the majority of councillors in favour.

If the majority of councillors weren't in favour, there'd be nothing to scuttle - that's moot.

The fact that it's a local council issue doesn't mean the State Gov won't get involved - there is a Minister for Local Government for a reason.

Any more substantive reason you doubt the State Gov will scuttle the plan?

Keep in mind Bradford is a past Mayor who definitely liked to do things his way...whehter that was legal or not ! lol. That is to say..some of his overlording tactics were often knocked on the head and he probably still smarts from this.

With Bradford its very much "my way or the highway"...probably the Princess :D

If the majority of councillors weren't in favour, there'd be nothing to scuttle - that's moot.

The fact that it's a local council issue doesn't mean the State Gov won't get involved - there is a Minister for Local Government for a reason.

Any more substantive reason you doubt the State Gov will scuttle the plan?

The State Govt won't scuttle it if the local council has followed appropriate protocol which from all reports they have. I'd say it's a matter of a clash of ego's with Bradford the problem.

It was pleasing to note that Jim Stynes thanked Paul McNamee for his work on the club's plans for Casey - this suggests that the club is still committed to a Casey connection.

I guess we will await further pronouncements with interest.

I was given to understand this is Connolly's little pet project..and is very much up on agenda listings !!

It was pleasing to note that Jim Stynes thanked Paul McNamee for his work on the club's plans for Casey - this suggests that the club is still committed to a Casey connection.

Yep.

I was given to understand this is Connolly's little pet project..and is very much up on agenda listings !!

Chris Connolly.... a raft of stability in a turbulent sea.

I didn't like what that imbecile Don McIntyre (a Melbourne hater?) said on page 27 of the Herald Sun today about the MFC. He is basically trying to put a 'guilt-trip' onto the Casey Council. <_<

He should be intelligent enough to realise that the long-term advantages of having an AFL club with their training facilities in the Casey area will pay dividends and have a lot more benefits for ALL of the people that live there.

I didn't like what that imbecile Don McIntyre (a Melbourne hater?) said on page 27 of the Herald Sun today about the MFC. He is basically trying to put a 'guilt-trip' onto the Casey Council. <_<

He should be intelligent enough to realise that the long-term advantages of having an AFL club with their training facilities in the Casey area will pay dividends and have a lot more benefits for ALL of the people that live there.

Can you liknk us to this article

I can't find it on the net.

Go and buy today's Herald Sun to read it.

Here is the letter from p27 of Thursday's HS:

A demon of an offer

Casey Council wants the Melbourne Football Club to come to the City of Casey.

Not only will ratepayers fund the move, but the Council is offering a $600,000 parcel of land. Some Councillors are now asking for the final vote on the issue to be held after the next election.

Casey residents, like anywhere else in Australia, are struggling to hang on in this unrelenting time of doom and gloom.

If the Council has a spare $1 million or so, it should give it to agencies that assist the homeless, families who are being evicted so that landlords can raise rents, people asking for food parcels or for assistance with mortgage or utility payments.

People who have never used these agencies before are now flooding them daily.

I bet they will sleep better knowing the MFC will have a home in Casey.

Don McIntyre

Hallam

hmmm...

I wouldn't call that a Melbourne hater. Just someone very conscious of the other struggles going on, not least in the Casey area.

The benefits to Casey are substantial if we do set up a tenancy down there, but only if we follow through properly. Casey would be mad to accept us if all we do is have a kick on their oval, but given that we're talking about Casey as a key new home area surely there's a very positive and enduring relationship to be built. In this case, Casey would be mad to knock us back.

If we're serious about the new direction, getting out from the tower which so many of our off-field leaders have felt comfortable in, and getting involved in the community, then both Casey and the Melbourne Football club will get big wins out of this relationship.

Personally, I think it'd be a handy if we made a pledge not to parachute 100 poker machines into the area, which is probably a legitimate concern for the locals.

http://cranbourne.yourguide.com.au/news/lo...nd/1228312.aspx

Demons may win Casey land

BY SANDRA BULL

28/07/2008 11:06:00 AM

CASEY Council must hand over a $500,000 parcel of land in a decade - by which time its current value is likely to have soared - under a proposal to lure the Melbourne Football Club to Casey Fields.

The draft agreement was outlined to Casey councillors at a confidential briefing last Tuesday.

The 30-minute presentation, headed by chief executive Mike Tyler, was shown even as councillors' requests for copies to study at home were refused.

Cr Kevin Bradford said he could not disclose the actual content of the meeting as it was confidential.

"But I can say the briefing was nothing more than smoke and mirrors with fancy figures in a well-rehearsed sales pitch by the CEO to back up his push for Melbourne to come out to Casey, which definitely will be at the expense of local clubs,'' Cr Bradford said. "The culture of cover-up and concealment is alive and strong in this council as evidenced in the fact that councillors were not handed a hard copy of this sales pitch on which we have to base a decision which will affect this city for 10-plus years and cost potentially millions of dollars.''

The Journal understands the draft provides for:

• The title to land, or land and an existing building, worth up to $500,000 at current market rates to be transferred to the MFC in a decade. In the meantime, the club would lease the land and hold full development rights. The handover would be contingent on the MFC performing its community obligations, eg. visiting local schools. Under this plan, the land could be worth much more than $500,000 by the handover if land prices continue to spiral up. The location of the land is not yet finalised.

• MFC players' summer training to be held at Casey for only 12 months rather than the two year period which was originally envisaged.

• Casey Council to be entitled to a table of 10 seats at the MFC's president's lunch for five home games.

• In a bid to encourage patronage, MFC players to have free access to the Cranbourne Aquatic and Leisure Centre when the state-of-the-art facility opens.

• The AFL club to have priority to temporarily use other grounds, possibly at the expense of local clubs, if Casey Field's No.1 oval is overused.

• MFC's general manager of football Chris Connolly to be named as an ambassador for the City of Casey.

Councillors are due to vote on the final proposal on August 5, with the deal widely expected to be passed despite opposition by some councillors.

The land would be a huge win for the Club.

IMHO, Casey are losers in this deal, and thus Councillors are justified in their oppposition.

• MFC players' summer training to be held at Casey for only 12 months rather than the two year period which was originally envisaged.

So after that, we'll be training in summer at our home base, wherever that might be?

Fair enough.

• Casey Council to be entitled to a table of 10 seats at the MFC's president's lunch for five home games.

The seats will be given to lucky winners of a ratepayers lottery, right?

Here is the letter from p27 of Thursday's HS:

"I bet they will sleep better knowing the MFC will have a home in Casey."

Well, at least he got that part right. McIntyre is a politician who is appealing to the heartstrings here. Those nobs from the Melbourne FC are, in his view, stealing, the municipality's land.

That's rubbish.

The Demons are being asked to be a partner in the development of a community asset, to put money, resources and people into it, to enhance its value and the value of the amenities available to the people of the Casey municipality. This development will also help put Casey on the map and bring substantial future revenue to the people as well as give them a much needed first class sporting facility in the heart of a rapidly growing region.

There are definitely deep seated problems in local government when you have people like those in Maribyrnong almost scuttling the Bulldog's development and McIntyre attempting the same with Casey Fields.

McIntyre is a politician who is appealing to the heartstrings here.

Who is he? I live in Casey, and I've never heard of him.

This meeting with the council on Aug 5 seems to be taking forever to come around. And whilst we are sifting through candidates for the CEO position...