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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 6th May 2009

Submissions

Submission has been sent to the Federal Government’s National Biodiversity Strategy Review Task Group. Letters sent local papers and printed include praise for Kingston’s Mayor and Local Member of Parliament supporting the Chain of Parks Concept in the northern section of Kingston’s green wedge, and the importance of trees and green roof tops as a means of combating the heat island effect caused by climate change. Letters to Julia Gillard and Mark Dreyfus asking that a population summit be convened .There is an urgent need to reduce the migrant intake because of the dire state of Victoria’s water resources.

Meetings Attended

Nina attended Bradshaw Park working bee 18 April and the Friends of Mordialloc Creek working bee 2 May. Mary attended KRAMMED meeting 27 May and Walter and Mary attended Sustainable Population Australia AGM 16 May. MBCL will be represented at the New Residential Zones Advisory Committee Panel Hearing Monday 1st June. City of Kingston will be presenting their NRZ submission 16th June at Level 1, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne.

Meetings to be Attended!!

A Coalition of Concerned Councillors has been formed to voice strong opposition to Brumby’s takeover of Planning and Development. Steps of Parliament House Wednesday June 10th at 1pm. It is important to attend this meeting if our suburbs are to be protected from 4-8 storeys in our suburban streets.

National Climate Emergency Rally /13 June 2009 1pm at the State Library.

A meeting of the Public Transport Users Association 15 June 4th Floor Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

KRAMMED’s next meeting 24th June @ 1 Montgomery Street, Mordialloc 7.30pm

Peter Scullin Reserve / Parks and Sports Grounds

Report was presented by two welcome guests to the May meeting – Tony and Stephen from Kingston Parks & Urban Design. Discussion about paths to the renovated toilet block at the reserve resulted in a decision that one concrete would be sufficient. The band Rotunda is to have seats and fencing to prevent Windows customers parking on the grassed area.. Stephen reported that the concrete barbecues and seating have now been painted all over in a sand colour thereby considerably reducing their bulky appearance. Possibility of trees being planted on the Hazel Pierce reserve to prevent parking on the grassed area.. Tony reported on methods of providing sufficient water for the parks and Kingston’s fifty sports grounds. Tanks holding 45,000 litres of water from the Eastern Treatment Plant will be available. The NRA team and Green Corp have embarked a re-veg program for the foreshore . Planting will include replacing Banksias and when they have died Program based on Jeff Yugovich’s density EVCs.Kingston Heath’s Botanical Gardens have been restored and are well worth a visit.Although St Kilda FC still have a lease o Moorabbin Oval the NRA team is continuing re-veg work with Greg’s Friends group.Street tree planting has begun again. Tony and Stepphen were thanked for making time available to keep us informed of projects along the foreshore and creek – MBCL’s major area of interest.

Living Links

Talks are continuing between Melbourne Water, the Catchment Management Authority and Council’s NRA team.A five year has been presented.The plan will cover the area from the mouth of the Mordialloc Creek, Attenborough Park , Pompei’s land, George Woods Reserve up as far as Wells Road. Living Link were sent info about our interests and concerns For the project area.

Airport Master Plan

Cr West reported on the plans for airport development. This will mean loss of the golf club which is part of Kingston’s Green Wedge. There are 500,000 flights per annum in small planes. Most of these are training flights for Indian and Chinese trainee pilots.

Dingley News

Janice Munt announced that the Brumby Government willinvest $80 million to build a new 3,5 km section of the Dingley Arterial linking Perry Road with Westall Road and South Road extension. Interestingly a report by Simon Cropper into Herb-rich Grassy Wetlands found remnants of this rare species on the site of the extension. Info has been passed onto Brian. Brian also lodged an objection to 28 double storey dwellings in Tootals Road. A typical over development of the site which seems to be occurring throughout Kingston in Incremental Change zones. KRAMMED have been to VCAT to a similar over-development in Chelsea with twelve two storey dwellings on block with lack of open space and inadequate parking. This design was modified somewhat.

Channel Deepening

Judy attended the PPCC meeting and gave us a copy of report on channel deepening which PPCC secretary Jenny Warfe had prepared. The EPA admits that high tides have risen 1cm claiming that this was ‘consistent with predictions. Storms on Anzac day created havoc on foreshore infrastructure around the bay – and will continue to dos as the sea levels rise. POMC are patting themselves on the back about the glowing auditor’s report into their activities but as Michael Morehead lawyer for Blue Wedge, said “The report is premature. And the need for bigger ships now seems dubious” as shipping companies realize that smaller ships are more economical after all.

Pace Developments Mentone / Mordialloc

Krammed member, Carmel, attended a mediation meeting re the Le Gym Mentone development now minus an Aldi supermarket and probably four storey’s instead of five, but still with a hotel, gym, conference centre and apartments. Uncertain future of NQR on the development site at Mordialloc. Claims that units are selling at $695,000 for a corner unit.St Nicholas Hall, corner Bear and Albert Street has been sold for $1,5 million according to the Age -for ‘low rise residential development.’

Signage Spotlights Pompei’s Landing

Nina has been trying to alert council to the fact that these lights have been burning day and night. Environment Officers claim that there is no law preventing this unless residents complain. CEO will request light sensors be installed.

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League Inc.

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 5th September 2007

Thank You to all members for their commitment throughout a stressful year in confronting large and complex issues. Unfortunately the year ahead is likely to present more challenges to the environment locally, regionally and federally but to quote Patrick White we must continue to “protect our parks from the pressure of political concrete.”

Submissions

Completed Metropolitan Planning Audit into M2030. Article in the Age this week describing Delfin’s grab for land to build a “green” town outside the urban growth boundary will test the Planning Minister’s commitment to M2030. Also Submission into the sale and development of public land and open space. A battle royal over Brack’s handling of the Kew cottages land sparked this inquiry.

Waterwatch Program

We are pleased to announce that a cheque for $800 has been received from four councillors’ Ward Funds to enable MBCL to purchase a Chemical Water Quality Testing Kit so that our trained members can commence testing the water quality in Mordialloc Creek upstream of Wells Road bridge. A thank you letter has been sent to councillors.

Living Links Program

Aspendale Gardens Residents Association convened a meeting with NRA Team Leader, Melbourne Water and Living Links officers to discuss Yammerbook Nature Reserve being incorporated into the Living Links program by linking the work on the secondary drain with Mordialloc Creek. Nina and Mary attended this meeting.

Round the Bay Bicycle Trail

Council distributed 11,500 glossy brochures including a biased push-polling survey during September. The material presented council’s preferred option only and not the alternative back of kerb route.KCEC responded by letter-boxing 4000 brochures. Nina and Shana designed and placed an advertisement in the Independent to counter council’s half page ad. in both local papers. Stephen e-mailed people and received an immediate response with residents offering to letter box for us. Council held an “information” session at the Mordialloc Lifesaving Club from 4.30pm to 8pm.Members rostered at the door interviewed attendees and found that local residents were furious at the potential loss of the soft walking tracks on the foreshore. KCEC had organized a meeting at 8pm at the Neighbourhood House.It was standing room only again for very angry residents. Council’s survey results confirmed KCEC’s earlier surveys -people wish to retain the informal walking tracks and prefer the back of kerb option for the bike track. Council voted, 24th September, for a granitic track for Stages 1 and 2. Sincere thanks to all members for a splendid team effort in letter boxing, preparing material and devoting time to counter council’s disgraceful, undemocratic and one would have to say, in some cases, ignorance in dealing sensibly with this major threat to the narrow, fragile foreshore and cliff tops and remnant vegetation.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 2nd May 2007

Forthcoming Events

An Urgent Public Meeting organized by the Southern Victoria Community Action Group to hear from key speakers the many social, economic and environmental impacts about the proposed 8,750 acre Hastings Port expansion of land use and Transport Strategy involving 16 x 1.2km long Freight Trains along Frankston lines per day but mostly at night. Monday 4th June at 7.30pm at Chelsea Function Centre Cnr Station St & Thames Promenade Chelsea.

Good News Department

Recent high winds did one good turn when it blew down the controversial THREE storey structure which the developer of Chicquita Park was planning to use as a display home!!
Second Good News story- St Kilda Football Club might decide to relocate from Linton Street Park to another site having been denied an increase in poker machines. Cranbourne Council are very keen to have the club in that city.
And Thirdly- Kingston Council had an unexpected victory at VCAT when the former Baguly flower cultivation concern in the green wedge was refused a permit for sand extraction in the eight hectare site on the corner of Heatherton and Clayton Roads. Barry Ross appeared for the Southern Green Wedge Coalition and must be pleased with the outcome.
Thanks to Tony, Nina and Brian for suggesting that MBCL would be interested in the Waterwatch program, funding permitting.

Living Links Seminar

April 2007 was attended by four MBCL members who reported favourably on the Living Links proposal which is a master plan for a web of living parks, wetlands, pathways and open spaces along waterways and habitat corridors. Three MBCL members have also attended Waterwatch training sessions to become part of the scheme which has schools and volunteers already testing water quality in Mordialloc Creek.Funding the equipment needed to begin the study is still being investigated. It is proposed to test upstream of Wells Road bridge and at the spot where Waterways wetlands re enters the Mordialloc Main Drain. Mordialloc Creek depends on stormwater run off from major drains to provide water for the creek. Drains such as Settlement and Dunlops Drain flow through industrial areas and waste disposal sites. Kingston Council’s stormwater management plan has identified run off from some industrial sites as being a threat to the health of Mordialloc Creek and Port Phillip Bay. Thanks to Judy Fields who is undertaking research into Mordialloc Creek water quality reports.

Greenfields Industrial Development

Greenfields Industrial Development is taking place in Dandenong on the site of the former Dandenong and Springvale Sewerage Treatment Plant on the banks of Dandenong Creek. This plant was decommissioned in 1996. Melbourne Water is now undertaking remediation work to rid the site of contaminants. Dioxin was found at the plant in the 1990s causing concern down stream because at that stage Dandenong Creek water fed into Mordialloc Creek and Port Phillip Bay.
SARA LEE CREEK Cr West reported on plans to discuss with Melbourne Water a means of preventing the creek from becoming a barrel drain. Friends of Heatherton Park want the creek revegetated.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 4th April 2007

Forthcoming Events

A coalition of concerned residents have organized a meeting at Northbrook House, High Street, Malvern, Sunday 6th May. 2.30pm to hear Guest Speaker, – Professor Kevin O’Connor of Melbourne University delivering a lecture on “An Alternative Approach to Melbourne Planning”
Can Melbourne Be Saved? Getting off the carousel of growth madness! Hear Mark O’Connor, Saturday, May 26th, 2.pm at North Melbourne Library, 66 Errol Street, North Melbourne. 3051. SPA AGM.

Living Links

The Living Links project sponsored by Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority was well attended by MBCL members 20th April. Initial reports were that the seminar was well worth attending. A full report is anticipated at Wednesday’s meeting. The prospect of bike path linkages along Mordialloc Creek and Patterson River to Dandenong Creek is an exciting prospect as part of the aim of linking the ranges to the Bay..

Review of Coast and Creek Booklet and Brochure

Any ideas?? Bring them along and let’s hear them!

Friends of Mordialloc Creek

Friends of Mordialloc Creek held a working bee 14th April while Yammerbook Nature Reserve Friends Group and Aspendale Gardens Primary School took part in Waterwatch training in March. Virginia from DSE checked with EPA and advised that while the black anaerobic dredge spoil from Mordialloc Creek looks and smells unpleasant the environmental impacts are minimal.

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