Perhaps the group respected the dignity of the occasion.

Or it was deterred by mayor Shirley Cornish's stern threat to adjourn the meeting if anyone played up. Just one resident expressed his protest with a small placard, claiming it "would fight the council" on the issue.

Quite a contrast from the angst expressed these past few months.

That the meeting was conducted in relative tranquillity said more about the council belatedly watering down the officers' recommendations to enable the residents to be involved as a "reference group" as the master plan is implemented.

A temporary cessation of hostilities? So despite the council's strong endorsement of the amended report, there is a long battle ahead before the Essendon Cricket Club can call "over" and relocate to Fairbairn Park.

And the football club will pay dearly, despite playing hard ball.

Rumours circulated that the club would leave Windy Hill and head to Melton if the council did not support it.

Maybe the cricketers should consider Melton after being shown the door at Essendon.

Key debate

LISTENING to the Fairbairn Park debate left an impression that two councillors who supported the proposal felt somewhat uneasy about the report and may have had alternative proposals to give them some level of comfort.

Cr Narelle Sharp wanted to pursue a further amendment but was uncertain as to the processes to achieve her objective.

Then when she wanted to speak to the amended motion, the mayor denied her the opportunity. But she was entitled to speak to the motion, not having spoken to it previously.

Cr Sharp meekly accepted the mayor's ruling without pursuing the matter. Gagged!

Cr Cusack and the mover of the motion, Cr Chantry, were the only councillors to speak in support of the motion, other than the mayor briefly, in closing the debate. For such an important issue - and with 800 residents strongly opposed - the residents were entitled to hear more from those councillors who supported the proposal. Ten out of 10 to Cr Cusack and Cr Chantry.