Happy New Year Everyone!
Let’s hope the holidays have restored energy and enthusiasm ready to step once more into the fray.
Council officers have been busy over the Christmas break working to organize a meeting to present three options to the public of proposed routes for the bike track. The options are: Council’s preferred option for a cliff top path (formalizing informal tracks according to the CEO at a media briefing), The VicRoads option (widening the traffic lanes on Beach Road to accommodate club riders at the weekend mainly), the PPCC/KCEC/MBCL option of standardizing Beach Road traffic lanes to conform with narrower lanes in Bayside and utilize the existing kerb/verge alongside Beach Road to form a shared path. This option means that the informal paths on the dune/clifftop grassed areas would continue to be available for pedestrians free of fast moving wheeled vehicles.
An article in the Age Wednesday,31″ January, “Share and share alike” quoted Mr Vincent, VicRoads claiming “they spend $8 million every year ..creating wider footpaths in outer suburbs to make space for a bike lane up the kerb, on the road side of the footpath,” Well! Well! January proved to be busy month for three MBCL members who prepared submissions and presented them to the Panel Hearing held at the Kingston Club 22nd/23rd January. We were asked to emphasize the importance of retaining the character and heritage values of Mordialloc Activity Centre and request mandatory height limits which are unfortunately likely to be four storeys in some areas especially on the east and west side of the Frankston rail line.
Coastal Vegetation of the City of Kingston
Jeff Yugovich’s research paper, July 2006, reports that “Coastal sand dunes from Bay Street south to the City boundary appears once to have supported Coast Banksia Woodland.” Regrettably only two mature Banksias remain on the foreshore south of Mordialloc Creek.
Melbourne Water Beach Outlets
A final meeting 23rd November to discuss options for removal or alteration to the outfall for the Marina Road and Ashmore Avenue drainage outlets referred to the cost of realignment to Mordialloc Creek of the Ashmore Avenue outlet versus a short outfall with a jetty over. Realignment to the north for the Marina Road drain was worth further consideration however this would bring the drain excessively close to the fragile eroding Beaumaris cliffs. Rock armour would be required to stabilize the foot of the cliffs. RW pointed out that Janice Munt MP had offered money to remove council drains in return for Council providing money for Chicquita Park. The drains referred to are Melbourne Water drains. It will cost $5 million to relocate the Marina Road drain because some Bayside residents don’t like the appearance of the drains crossing the beach.
Planning Decisions
The Pace development 6 Bear Street/89 Albert Smith, Mordialloc was refused by Council and will probably go to VCAT.
The Paintball Games Centre Springvale Road, Aspendale is not proceeding. The application was withdrawn.
Parkdale Plaza Saga continues with the proponent not complying with VCAT directions. MW and JF are watching developments closely.
541 Main Street is rumoured to be under new management.
Attenborough Park
Doyles customers are once again parking in the park despite council policy banning this. Verboten!
Peter Scullin Reserve
Sheoaks vandalized Easter 2006 have not been replaced. The small number of new Banksias planted are burnt by recent south westerly gales. The young sheoaks closest to the pier, on the south west corner of the Reserve are worst affected. If the established shelter belts and healthy plantations of salt bush at the entrance to the pier had not been pulled out this would have protected new plantings until new plants were established. This was the professional advice given to council but ignored.
Kingston Coastal Management Plan
Kingston Coastal Management Plan to be commenced this year mainly as part of Council’s Foreshore Reference Group activities. Excellent articles in the Age reporting on sea level rise and foreshadowing refusal of insurance companies to insure properties in a coastal area and thereby property values drop by an estimated 80% when uninsurable. (Age 1st Feb). CSIRO scientist (Age 2nd Feb) refers to walking “along Aspendale beach near CSIRO’s research centre looking at all the new million dollar houses being built behind the dunes. “I was amazed that our planning codes still allowed people to build so close to the shore so close to low lying land”, Hear!, Hear! Hear!
Frankston Council
Frankston Council shows admirable courage in erecting signs at the site of tree vandalism on the foreshore in front of the property expecting to benefit from views of the Bay. Would that Kingston Council screwed their courage to the sticking point and also erected signs at the scene of similar vandalism,
Coast Action / Coast Care
Nina and Brian attended the community seminar December 6th and found it a rewarding experience. Community based monitoring of Marine sanctuaries such as Rickett’s Point is ideal for a community group involvement.
Environmental Defenders Office Native Vegetation & Law Policy Workshop
Environmental Defenders Office Native Vegetation & Law Policy Workshop has been slotted in at the Neighbourhood House for a Saturday in February. The workshop would run from 10am to 4pm Lunch provided A maximum of ten persons would be ideal according to Verity so please consider this worthwhile exercise Date to be decided but almost certainly 17th February. Please advise anyone who you feel may be interested,