News: 19990813-49 Mawson Lake Impressions

From MawsonLakes.Org

Posted by PaulS on Sunday, 15 August 1999
from the as-I-see-it dept.

[edit] Mawson Lake Impression

This article is composed of my impressions of Mawson Lakes. It points to the fact the residents are the core of any community and some of the problems that are occuring.

Delfin is business of selling land. This is what they do. While there may have been other issues from other parties at the beginning of the whole MFP saga, the driving force is the real estate market and the sales people involved. This is definitely a necessary evil, as no progress would have been made if Delfin hadn't decided to lead the development.

In the area of real estate development, a quality physical environment is something which is directly marketable. It is fortunate that Delfin have also decided to include education, employment and recreation in their formulae. This was their success at Goldern Grove, and Delfin will win another award with Mawson Lakes.

In order to make all this happen, the dream must be sold and others must be made to want what Delfin is selling. Those people who were involved early and bought the vision did so hopefully with the knowledge that there was still many problems tht needed to be sorted out.

Many of the initial comments I received about the development were negative; mosquito problems with the lake, smells from bolivar etc. Since then, there have been other concerns raised, mainly by current and future residents. (I've listed the ones I know about at the end of this article.) As most of the contact between residents and Delfin comes though the sales staff, who are not interested in these concerns directly, there is currently much scepticism about how these problems are being addressed by Delfin. Unfortunatly, the process of building is one which seems to lend itself to this attitude.

One of the most dissappointing aspects has been the way that the builders have approached the construction of their display homes. While I appriciate that each house can't be an architectual masterpiece, more attention should have been paid to the types of features put into each house. Either the builders could have been offered more advice by the government from the start, or might even have been sponsered directly by the development to include more 'proof of concept' projects. This seems to be specific case of a more general problem.

With the constuction of any development comes an incredible amount opportunity. Mawson Lakes has the additional offering of being modeled on a village type community, which is unique within modern Australia and probably the world (given it's location to the rest of the Adelaide). Already amongst it's residents, Mawson Lakes can count a fireman, a home construction sales agent, a taxi driver, a storeman, a builder and an electronic engineer. In the near future you'll be able to add RAAF pilots (highly likely), a computer programmer and a computer software distributer, a computer consultant, a retail salesperson (probably several), a loans officer for the Commonwealth Bank and a computer systems administrator (with a background in theoretical and mathematical physics) and their respective partners and children. All of these people, and other that follow, will bring something to the community whether they choose to or not.

We should be using this fantasic opportunity to do 'cool stuff'.

Problems:

• Crime and crime reporting: How can our local policeman report crime (which is occuring in the area) when Delfin needs to be able to sell property?
• Flooding and insurance: Do I need flood insurance? Is the area prone to flooding? What studies have been done? Some insurance policies only cover against flood if you are in a high rainfall area, rather than if you are down stream from one.
• High voltage power line across development: No date on the removal of these yet. Stay tuned.
• Mosquito problem in main lake, creek and ponds: Are the mosquito eating fish eating mosquitos?
• Aircraft noise and safety: What are the current aircraft arrangements? Are these going to change at all? What about the noise level map? (Is it still around?)
• Railway line noise: This has become more of an issue as land closer to the line is sold. Are future residents being told about this?
• High council rates: What services are we going to get? Will there be a local library, or will we have to pay as a community borrower at the UniSA library?
• Lighting and security in parks at night: Apparently, we're waiting on ETSA for this one. They're on their way though.
• Cycling facilities: Paths used for cycling should have a line painted on them for safe night use, as well as shared access.

Possible 'Proof of Concept' Projects: Some of these are currently under discussion by the developers and relevent parties, some are purely historical and were put forward at the at the time of the MFP, and some are just my own ideas.. (Additional suggestions welcome.)

• Home Computer Network: Recipe/nutrition database, TV program guide, Cable TV, Cable Modems.
• Local Computer Network: A community network, local information which encourages involvement and participation. Computers set up to exchange information. (see next)
• Home Education: Offerings in the home (a example).
• Photovoltaic Grid Connect Electricity: together with net billing, making green power a viable alternative.
• Energy Efficient Housing: Identifiable examples, where a particular technology has been used. eg. See 'such-and-such' house.. it has this 'energy-saving-idea'.