The Parks
Bradshaw Park was the scene of a book launch in April when Alan Reid from the Gould League launched an audio kit and folio for students who visit the park to use. Friends of Bradshaw Park are to be congratulated on this initiative.
Karkarook Park Work on the front section of the park is almost finished and the Sandbelt Parklands Advisory Committee will be taken on a tour of the park.
Braeside Park Friends group were meeting to discuss Parks Victoria’s plans for Friends groups to be prepared to undertake volunteer work in any park!!. Friends groups have been offered a “rest” house at Dromana!!. Threats to Braeside Park are growing. See attachment. Consultants have been appointed to test water quality in the Dingley/Dunlop Drain which flows through Braeside Park and into Mordialloc Creek. Testing will involve Streamwatch.
Port Phillip Conservation Council
Stephen Calvert-Smith has kindly volunteered to once again be MBCL’s delegate to PPCC meetings. The PPCC have produced Draft Policies for Port Phillip Bay. These include:-
- Bicycle paths
- Height Limits for Medium Density Housing
- Protection of No Commercial Development on the Foreshore
- Foreshore Vegetation
Fortunately these draft policies support MBCL/KCEC policies and submissions to Kingston Council regarding the Kingston Foreshore Strategy.
Amendment L33. The Hains Property
35 submissions were sent to Kingston Council objecting to Amendment L33 which would permit re-zoning of the land to allow for a 700 house development on flood prone land in the Green Wedge. Kingston Council has proceeded with the Amendment L33 before the study of the Keysborough Green Wedge has been finalised. The City of Greater Dandenong has faxed a strongly worded objection to Amendment L33 to the Kingston Councillors claiming the SENUS study states that the Green Wedge must be retained and not built on.
Mordialloc Creek Water Quality
Shadow Conservation Minister, Sheryl Garbutt requested a meeting with MBCL members to discuss the water quality of the creek. Members from MBCL, KCEC and Bay Rescue met with Ms Garbutt in April.
Kingston Council has engaged Sinclair Knight Mertz to monitor bores. Box Hill TAFE will monitor stormwater at Wells Road, the landfill area and Woodlands Industrial Estate. A TAFE student has contacted MBCL for information.
Kingston Foreshore Strategy
Meetings and one workshop have been held with consultants, Urban Design, to decide on and prioritise issues of concern along the 13 kms of Kingston Foreshore. Community consultation should occur within the next few weeks. It is important that residents have input into this process since the strategy includes proposals for medium density housing in some areas, demands by some for more commercial developments on, or in, foreshore buildings and the removal of height limits in Activity Nodes. Bicycle paths are an important issue also. Encouraging more ‘tourists’ to visit the foreshore and ‘use’ it is a major factor in the strategy.
Municipal Strategic Statement Panel Hearing
Panel Hearings were held at Moorabbin Council during April for submitters who wished to explain or expand on their submissions. MBCL was represented by Hon. G. Connard, J. Cuthbertson and M.Rimington. Protection of the foreshore from over development, the preservation of open space and the Green Wedge and the proposal to have Beach Road declared a ‘scenic boulevard’ were the issues of concern to MBCL. We await the panel’s report with great interest.