Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 4th June 2003

Correspondence

It was encouraging to receive a letter from Member for Mordialloc, Ms Janice Munt congratulating us on the receipt of a Melbourne Water Grant for MBCL members voluntary environmental work. Well done, folk!

Thank you to Mara and Frank for their very much appreciated subs to the Draft Master Plans.

Welcome Back to Dr Bill Hampel who has decided to settle in Mentone and is already hard at work on various committees. Welcome Back to our roving President, Brian, looking fit after three weeks in Europe.

Sincere sympathy to Penny who has suffered a family bereavement

Kingston’s Significant (Disappearing) Tree Policy

Concern continues at the rate that trees on development sites are diagnosed as being ‘sick’ and destroyed. Council is actually making a profit, up from $1000 last year to $3000 this year, in proceeds from people applying to have a tree removed and paying Council the required fees for removal! The Street Tree Planting program aims to plant a street tree in those streets with least trees. It is understood that residents choose the type of tree. Is there any guidance as to the desirability to plant an indigenous tree which will be drought resistant in the coming years of less rainfall as predicted by the CSIRO?

Mordialloc Structure Plan

Nina queried the present status of the Structure plan since there has been no consultation since Brian / Nina organised a public meeting late 2002. Nina e-mailed Cr Petchey and the Strategic planner after reading an article in the Herald -Sun referring to a plan for high- rise development in Mordialloc. We await a response with interest. Bill volunteered to check submissions for Attenborough Park and the Scullin Reserve at Council. Cr West advised that there had been a favourable decision (for us) re the removal of the third bike path. on the foreshore, the removal of the kiosk in Attenborough Park and also the elimination of the Moreton Bay Figs. Our concern now is that with Scullin Reserve being too small to accommodate the excessive crowds attending the annual two-day Wine & Food event, there are plans by the organisers to remove the vegetation on the reserve to make room for the crowd!

Major Activity Centres

There are six major activity centres in Kingston designated for Increased Density development. Mordialloc and Chelsea will be vitally affected by possibly four storey developments The Department of Sustainability & Environment is organising a Multi-storey Residential Design Guidelines Workshop for stakeholders with an interest in the development of guidelines for buildings of 4 or more storeys. 24th July. 5.30pm on Level 29 Nauru House. Phone 9655 6482 if you are interested in going to this workshop.

The Parks

Drills Land The City of Kingston and Melbourne Water are resolving earth works issues and details of the Master Plan. Aspendale Gardens Primary School has received a $6000 grant for an educational program on planting & water monitoring on Drills Land. At Bradshaw Park the May working bee planted grasses and ground cover. Some vegetation is a bit thin due to the drought. Chicquita Park is to go to a Panel Hearing. Rossdale golf course may be sold.

Aspendale Gardens Residents Association

AGRA is to be congratulated on the excellent reports in their Newsletter May/June. AGRA have objected to commercial activities on the heavily trafficked intersection at Edithvale and Springvale Roads. Cafes, a child minding centre and a doctor’s clinic are proposed for this dangerous corner. AGRA also provides a comprehensive report on increased traffic volumes on Beach Road, Nepean Highway, Wells Road and White Street to be expected as unit developments continue in Kingston. The Dingley Arterial Road would have relieved some of this congestion through the City.

Meetings! Meetings! Meetings!

Kingston Foreshore Reference Groups sub-committees have been formed and meetings organised. Community Education, Vegetation, Beach Renourishment and Channel Deepening are some of the groups preparing reports. A Blue Wedge Coalition of Bayside environment and activist groups was formed on the 17th June and will also be actively involved in addressing inappropriate developments on the coastline from Frankston, Mornington, Kingston and Bayside. Next meeting 29th July Mordialloc Neighbourhood House 8pm. Kingston’s Environment Coordinator, Belinda Ainley will speak at Kingston U3A, Alan McLean Hall 17th July explaining her work. The Friends of the ABC meet at the Neighbourhood House, Mordialloc on the third Wednesday of each month. KRAMMED: Next Meeting 23rd July 7.30pm at 1 Montgomery Street.

Congratulations to former MBCL President and Kingston Councillor who commences work in her field as planner in the next few weeks. Well done, Johanna van Klaveren!

Are there any aspiring community radio broadcasters out there to spread the green message?

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League Inc.

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