Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 5th February 2020

Correspondence

Comment made that people want action on climate change so a letter to be sent to a local paper in support of action being taken by Government. This was done.

Dent’s Paddock Development

A VCAT Hearing in May.Issues arising are the proposed location of offsets after removal of vegetation on the site. a request that some of the $7 million offered by Government for the purchase of open space be spent on purchasing this site. There is a shortage of open space in Chelsea and Edithvale.

Road the Bay Trail

A careful watch on work being undertaken along Beach Road by a MBCL member reports that construction appears to be progressing according to the plans approved by Council. While Kingston Council’s plan for the trail from Mordialloc Creek to Carrum proposes to use the Long Beach Trail, LXRA plans to build a bike trail along the Station Street side of the rail line. This will mean removing all existing Banksia Woodland along the rail line. This route is not necessary because there is an existing bike track along the opposite side of Station Street.

Braeside Park Survey

Activities being suggested in this survey include festivals, food outlets, camping, dogs, etc. Such activities would require lighting, increased parking space and noise thus creating disturbance for the flora and fauna which is a feature of Braeside Park.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 3rd July 2019

Review of Ward Boundaries

Discussion re possible changes to ward boundaries as a result of the State Government’s proposal for changes for no ward boundaries at all, but with for example, for Kingston as of now, nine councillors. However council’s are not keen on this idea and neither are many residents. Apparently Bayside have just finished their review and they have continued with 3 wards with 3,2,3 councillors in the 3 Wards.

Mordialloc 5th Sea Scouts Rehousing

A suggestion at the Mordialloc Creek Community meeting that the Sea Scouts want to have the scout hall on the George Woods Reserve extended so that both 4* and 5 scouts could use this building. However that will mean yet another building occupying limited open space at that site. The alternative is for the Sea Scouts to relocate to the Mordialloc Sailing Club building at Aspendale. The yacht club member spoken to seemed to think that this would be a good idea. Chelsea Yacht Club shares its building on the foreshore with other boating activities.

National Tree Planting Day Sunday 28″ July

The NRA team were delighted with the number of residents and Scouts who turned out to help plant 1800 plants on this lovely sunny Sunday on Mordialloc Creek bank. It is great to note how well trees lining the banks of the creek have grown over the years. Water birds noted were ducks. cormorants. water hens and a Nankeen night heron. Unfortunately also noted were long strips of plastic in the reeds on the creek bank.

Heritage Listing Pompei Site

No response from Kingston Council re local Heritage listing for part of the Pompei site, or for Mordialloc Creek boating area around the Island and Doyle’s hotel -all part of the early settlement around Port Phillip Bay.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 1st May 2019

Neighbourhood Character Study

May has certainly been a busy month with meetings and workshops and now the Neighbourhood Character Study to unravel. Consultants Curry and Brown claim that Kingston is managing to cope with housing demand and doesn’t require changes, however Ethos Consultants, presenting the current study, are claiming that there must be higher density housing around the Activity Centres in Kingston on the Frankston line. This three storey development should extend for 800 metres walking distance from the stations. Residents have made it clear that they want gardens and trees, and definitely do not want two storey buildings in the back yards of houses when development is taking place. In other words they want Mordialloc to retain the family friendly atmosphere for which it is famous.

It was pleasing to learn that “old Mordialloc” retains its Heritage listing and that Ormond Street has been able to have at least two lovely little Edwardian cottages Heritage listed. Unfortunately two Edwardian houses in Barkly street are to be sold so will probably be demolished and replaced with three storey characterless blocks of units.

Mordialloc Creek Community Meeting

Mordialloc Creek Community Meeting discussed dredging the creek from the mouth up as far as the rail bridge. The contaminated dredge spoil will not be pumped onto Aspendale beach as happens when the creek mouth is dredged. This spoil will have to be either deposited in landfill or into the dredge spoil grounds in Port Phillip Bay where the Yarra spoil is deposited. Whichever it is it will be expensive.

5th Mordialloc Sea Scouts

5th Mordialloc Sea Scouts are looking for a new home and an extension to the 4th Mordialloc building on George Woods Reserve was mentioned. However a better idea would be for the 5th Sea Scouts to move in with the Mordialloc Sailing Club at Aspendale Beach where they could store their own boats or use the club boats. When discussed with a Sailing Club member he seemed quite pleased. Mentone Girl Guides have use of Parkdale Yacht Club. Multiple use of buildings would reduce the expense for Council who has to keep providing venues for various sporting groups and then having to maintain them.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 6th March 2019

Correspondence

Tony Collin’s Quarterly Report was received concerning work carried out by Council. During February Parks staff worked with Clare McPhee onsite at Regent’s park to relocate regenerating seedlings of Banksias and Burdarias from within the proposed netball court project construction area. Some seedlings will be provided to local residents and many used as planting stock for the relocated Jack Cuthbertson Memorial Garden which was unfortunately removed to make way for two netball courts. it is pleasing to read that Groves Reserve is now being cared for by the NRA team – Council’s newest Natural Resource Area. Also good news to read that the Peter Scullin Reserve will be planted with approx 80 indigenous coastal trees this Winter, 2019.

Beach Road Boulevard

Kingston Council so resolved to plant both sides of Beach Road with indigenous trees and christening the road a Banksia Boulevard. Some of the younger councillors may be surprised to learn that pre-amalgamation six Bayside Mayors also wanted to call Beach Road a boulevard as a means of protecting it from becoming a heavy transport route for steel trucks from Hastings some of which had crashed on the Charman Road corner. The name change didn’t happen but a curfew.on heavy commercial vehicles using beach Road has been in use since that time.

Melbourne Water’s Strategy of Healthy Waterways

Melbourne Water’s Strategy of Healthy Waterways may align with Living Links in the Dandenong Catchment to carry out reporting and monitoring of data on the condition of the waterways. Mordialloc Creek is under discussion at the moment as a result of the proposed Mordialloc Freeway. Extensive work will be undertaken north of the creek beginning by drilling down into a landfill to provide pylons for an elevated six lane freeway and /or an eight metre embankment to carry the freeway in other sections of the 9km freeway. The elevated six lane freeway will pass over the internationally recognised Waterways Wetlands-harbour for bird life and treasured by the residents. A three week Hearing has just concluded where 135 submissions were lodged, only 35 of these submissions approved of the freeway, with objections on grounds of noise , emissions, disturbance of bird life on the three surrounding wetlands. Contamination of the groundwater as a result of disturbance of acid sulfate soil and pollutants from the landfills could impact on major drains flowing into Mordialloc Creek, the wetlands and eventually Port Phillip Bay.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 6th February 2019

Correspondence

Letter to Clifford Hayes, MP Member for South East Legislative Council, in response to the MP’s request to learn of important issues in his electorate. Money for Dent’s Reserve was one issue mentioned. The MP is a member of Sustainable Population Australia.

Regent’s Park

A meeting on site with a Council Office, a MBCL member and a qualified gardener discussed means of saving Banksia seedlings from the Jack Cuthbertson Memorial Garden before it is destroyed to make way for two netball courts. The seedlings would be propagated and distributed to the community. The Council is no longer spraying the site.

Rossdale Golf Course

Rossdale golf course is reported to be up for sale again for housing. This will mean more loss of open space. Golfers will have to ply on the Capital Golf course adjacent to the Moorabbin Airport. 2500 acres will come back to Council from the sale of the golf course.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 5th December 2018

Pocket Parks

Pocket parks for marginal seats were part of the Labor Government’s pre-election enticement. While City of Kingston missed out on the offer, despite Edithvale and Chelsea lacking in open space, there may be an opportunity to gain funding as a result of an appeal to the local member and/or Council’s developer’s fund in lieu of open space.

Heritage Listing of Pompei Site

Heritage listing of the Pompei site was refused. State listing may be acceptable for local heritage listing. Mordialloc Creek was an important means of early settlers gaining access to the Mornington Peninsula by horse and carriage or wagon. Boat building and fishing soon became important means of earning a living around the creek, therefore why not include the creek and environs in a local heritage listing? D. Murray’s well researched book of maps of the local area is an interesting and useful guide to changes of land use over the years -and is still changing. Apparently DEWLP is surveying vacant land throughout the State and evidently considers the Pompei site and Attenborough Park to be vacant land!

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 7th November 2018

Committee of Management Mordialloc Creek

W. Grahame reported on this meeting which was held at the Mordialloc Motor Yacht Club. Melbourne Water, Kingston Council Officers. DEWLP. Boating and Fishing Club Members were in attendance. Issues raised were moorings. Sea Scouts lack of boat launching facilities.

Heritage Listing of Pompei Site and Mordialloc Creek Environs

Discussion about Heritage listing for not just the Pompei site and large boat building shed but also the creek environs from the mouth to the railway bridge has been postponed until February 2019. A local heritage consultant thought the whole area was worthy of this listing because of its long fishing and boat building history. While the big shed could become a boat building museum this seems unlikely to happen.

The Grange

P.MacGuire-White reported on drainage run-off from sports ground hard surfaces outside the Grange boundary effecting the vegetation within the Grange.

Green Wedge

Reports of a victory at VCAT with a large Coptic Church being refused. The planning permit sought was not only for the Church, with a tall tower and dome, but stables for horses, sports grounds, etc. The refusal was based on the fact that the church would be more useful in an urban setting rather than on a 40 hectare block of land planned to encourage small size farming activity according to Green Wedge policy documents. With Planning Minister Wynne’s victory in Saturday’s election the Green Wedge may become even more secure!

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 5th September 2018

Dent’s Paddock

Following a Panel Hearing at Kingston Council the Minister for Planning has approved a stay of vegetation removal on the site until January 2019. Some excellent presentations were made by MBCL members and especially a local resident whose family originally owned the land when he was a boy. He was able to give an account of the original vegetation on the site.

Regent’s Park

One brave resident was prepared to go to VCAT on his own in an attempt to prevent this Memorial indigenous garden being destroyed to make way for two netball courts. Some MBCL members felt so strongly about this issue that it was decided to give support. VCAT has permitted a number of people to be joined with the original appellant and will be allowed to speak at the forthcoming VCAT Hearing.

Bay Trail

Still awaiting the result of the VCAT hearing initiated by opposition parties to the Council approved plan for the bike path.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 1st August 2018

Bay Trail

Bay Trail went to a VCAT Hearing in July. The opposition presentation included a Barrister and an expert witness for vegetation. It was thought that the Council presentation was somewhat lacking in some aspects. Awaiting the result of the Hearing

Bonbeach and Edithvale Level Crossing Removals

Also awaiting the Advisory Committee’s conclusions. Kingston Council’s Drainage expert, Alan West’s excellent report on the drainage work already carried out in Edithvale (drain replacements) was received unfortunately at the conclusion of the Hearing but is a great resource to have on hand.

Mordialloc Bypass

RAMF continue’s with their campaign. Perhaps with all the rail and road work announced by the Andrew’s Labor Government recently the unnecessary freeway may be considered to be of less importance and drop down the list!

Regent’s Park

Regent’s Park seems to be heading for a VCAT Hearing. Some support is being organised by a number of objectors who consider that the destruction of a Memorial Garden containing mature trees in memory of a dedicated conservationist, Jack Cuthbertson, shows lack of respect as well as realising that mature trees are a valuable resource as climate change is making its presence felt with climbing temperatures and drought.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 7th February 2018

Mordialloc Creek

Well! After all the sturm and drang over over the Pompeii Landing on the bank of the creek is seems that the current occupant will be offered a nine year lease by Council so that work can continue providing a launching ramp for small boat owners. The land is dispute is a small area of Crown Land. The Mordialloc Fishing & Boating Club will also use this site.

Commercial Developments

Two developments are being planned for Main Street – partial demolition of Mordialloc Hotel and 26 units for the car park went to mediation last month. As did the Grocery Store, a shop with goods too expensive to succeed in Main Street. This shop is to become an up-market cocktail bar. Parking, already a problem in the shopping centre was a concern for objectors.

Mordialloc Bypass

A meeting was held at Waterways cafe 24 February to learn how migratory birds may be affected when the four lane elevated freeway was built across, not only the Waterways wetlands but also Woodlands and Braeside wetlands. According to the Parsons Brinckerhoff report to VicRoads Lathams Snipe, a migratory bird will be affected. A meeting 6th February heard speakers from RMIT, Dr Ian Woodcock and Crystal Legacy, Traffic Planners describe how freeways are consuming the suburbs, rather than building more public transport. The VicRoads team also spoke at this RAMPF meeting at Dingley as did two speakers from Environment Victoria.

Continue reading »