Tag » Kingston Conservation and Environment Coalition

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 3rd May 2000

Members may be wondering at the change in logos at the top of the page. We have been advised that MBCL is eligible for a Melbourne Water grant to assist with the publication of this newsletter. We are, of course, delighted. Thank you, Melbourne Water!

Monitoring Program

Four members have volunteered to take part in a monitoring program of the Natural Bush Areas along the creek and foreshore. This will involve photographing selected sites on a three monthly basis to check on re-growth and revegetation in these areas. During May, sites were selected by Tony Collins Team Leader Excel, and volunteers, Nina, Brian, Penny and Mary.
The selection process was in itself informative. For example, great work is being done on the north bank of Mordialloc creek with weed removal and planting of species indigenous to the area, however there is still the problem with the south bank of the creek, formerly under the control of Chelsea Council but now the responsibility of Melbourne Water. Maintenance and weed removal is urgently required to prevent weed infestation recurring on the opposite bank.
While foreshore vegetation and planting programs are creating a haven for birds and a buffer between the built area and beach, a major problem continues to be the destruction of foreshore vegetation by residents who want to ‘improve’ their view. Two incidents occurred recently when banksias and tea-tree were bull-dozed from the foreshore at Chelsea and Carrum.

Stormwater Management

Progress in suburban council’s storm water management strategy’s was the topic for discussion at the Dandenong CIC meeting held at Kingston in May. Kingston Council’s Environment Officer, Doug Evans, presented a report stressing that the quality, rather than the quantity, of storm water was the main aim of the management plan.

Council Report

Cr van Klaveren gave a comprehensive report on current issues of local concern:-

  • JvK attended the PPCC AGM at which the Hon. Victor Perton was guest speaker.
  • Decisions have to be made about saving the historic house, Mayfield, and the impressive stand of European trees
  • The Kingston Residential Strategy is still being considered by Council. The State Government has nominated setbacks and overshadowing as issues to be addressed. Members claim that density is still a major issue as is the retention of trees.
  • JvK attended a VCAT hearing with residents concerned about a sub-standard unit development which had been approved by ‘delegation’
  • Mordialloc Activity Node, now known as the Mordialloc Precinct, will be the subject of a study when tenders are decided. Councillors Petchey and van Klaveren are on the Steering Committee. Environment members must also be included in this important study.
  • JvK and Councillor Normington inspected the Mirvac development site at Kingston Centre where 450-500 houses are to be built.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 4th August 1999

Braeside Park

The Mayor has been invited to the Annual General meeting 22-8-99. This will be the 10th anniversary of the Park. A grant of $700 has been earmarked for a portable display board.

Port Phillip Conservation Council

Sandridge Beach is to be re-nourished with 100,000 cubic metres of sand taken from the Bayside area. Bayside Council has to give approval for the sand removal. Groynes are to be constructed at Sandridge. Lifesaving Clubs in Kingston have been generously funded – Mordialloc LSC : $14,500, Mentone LSC: $48,500, Aspendale LSC:- $20,750. National Park, Portsea likely to be privatised. The company operating the car ferry is interested. PPCC organised a tour 1-8-99 to Campbell Cove where 159 beach huts are enjoying a rent free existence on Crown Land.

Carrum Residents Action Group

The State Government plans to sell Bonbeach TAFE and CRAG have been given 12 months notice to re-locate their community plant nursery. The sale of TAFE, almost certainly for residential development, will mean a further loss of open space in the City of Kingston.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 3rd June 1999

Welcome

We are delighted to welcome new members Penny and Ernest McGuire White and Nina and Brian Earl. Attendance at meetings, suggestions, queries and/or complaints will also be welcome. Please come along!

The Parks

A burn at Rowan Woodlands to encourage regeneration of indigenous plants.

Karkarook Park
Ron gave a talk to encourage the formation of a Friends Group for this park which has had its third opening ceremony this time by the Hon. J. Kennett. Once again the Friends were not invited!

Braeside Park
Administration changes has meant the loss of two more rangers. Mark Mooney, after 11 years., has transferred to Nepean National Park. Letters have been sent to Geoffrey Leigh, MP requesting funding to install a litter trap in the park on Dingley Drain. Funds for a trap have been approved for the Woodlands Industrial Estate. A monthly test of Dingley Drain is carried out by the Friends group. Quarterly reports will be issued shortly. According to Kingston’s Stormwater Management Plan March 1999, Dingley Drain is subject to tip leachate.

Port Philip Conservation Council Report

Our delegate to the PPCC reports that Sandringham LSC wants to combine two foreshore buildings into one new building at the bottom of the cliff on the sand. There is some opposition. The intrepid lifesavers have evidently not heard of the EPA reports into climate change and storm surges. Stephen also reports that the PPCC would like an MBCL brochure for their Web site.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 4th November 1998

Correspondence

As a result of much correspondence incoming requesting assistance, the question was asked “How do other groups support MBCL?” Do we need to use the media more to inform the public of issues? How effectively do we network? There appears to be a need to use local papers to publicise issues and to recruit if possible, potential councillors with an understanding of the importance of environmental issues.
Council elections will be held in March 2000. Any volunteers?
Letter from J.Eggleston to Kingston Traffic Officer concerning traffic / parking problems in Como Pde/Alameda Street, Parkdale.
A submission has been sent to the EPA who requested information about, amongst other issues, groundwater in the Dandenong CIC.

The Parks

At Braeside Park there is increasing emphasis on volunteer involvement. For example Parks Management prepares submissions for the Friends Groups to obtain funding to carry out projects. e.g. $5000 for protection of plants, $20,000 from Federation Grants to build a Heritage trail. Leisure Action has received a Grant to provide easier access for disabled persons. A grant is available for a picnic area in the Western section. A letter was received from Vic Roads informing Parks Management that the Mornington Peninsula Freeway is unlikely to be built for ten years. Parks staff may continue to use the red brick building on the site.
Park Rangers have to provide Volunteer Activity Reviews each year. Streamwatch is to standardise water tests carried out by volunteers on Dunlops Drain in the Park. Sunday 8th November at 2pm a Spring Heathland Walk with Leon Costermans.
Planting is continuing at Karkarook Park. Open Day Sunday 5th November.

Kingston Conservation & Environment Coalition

The Flora and Fauna Seminar has been broadened to include the geological sandstone areas in Kingston and adjoining Councils in the sandstone region because of similar plant species. KCEC have applied for a Federal Grant of $20,000 to pay lecturers and publication of proceedings of the seminar. Next meeting 3rd December at Moorabbin 7.30pm

Kingston Lodge Development L33

The Report of the Panel Hearing Amendment L33 into the Kingston Lodge Residential Development has been released and justifies the concerns of those opposing the overdevelopment of the site. The Panel Members are quite scathing about the Hains claim that the development will be “leading edge environmental living”. The Panel states that there is nothing special about this style of housing, in fact it is simply an “urban conversion”. They state that “Amendment L33 to the Kingston Planning Scheme not be approved at this time” They recommend further work be done to clarify the green wedge boundaries and ensure that they are sustainable plus other issues. Once this has been done “Amendment L33 may be reconsidered.” Kingston Council has already gone to the Dept. of Infrastructure to have the ruling overturned and continue to request that the green wedge boundary be moved to Springvale Road to enable this development to proceed! Panel refused a controversial development at Cranbourne. J.Cuthbertson was influential!

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 7th October 1998

For Sale! For Sale! For Sale!

Original watercolour cards with envelopes. Local Scenes. Great for OS friends.
All proceeds to MBCL.

The Parks

Further to last months minutes referring to proposed signs at Bradshaw Park we have been advised that the signs will be metal, 6ft long and approx. 3ft wide. The signs will be pictorial only with outlines of animals which children/students can colour in. The signs will be sealed to weather proof them. It is proposed to place the signs along both the Nepean Hwy and railway fences. Council is prepared to construct an improved entrance when the Friends have decided on the design.
Water analysis is continuing at Braeside Park. We will be interested to hear the results when they are available. Sunday 8th November at 2pm a Spring Heathland Walk with Leon Costermans.
Planting is continuing at Karkarook Park.

Sercos’s Foreshore Management

A bi-monthly meeting with Serco, MBCL and KCEC members took place 8-9-98. Issues discussed were a proposed ecological burn at the Mundy Street, Mentone site to encourage regeneration of indigenous plants. There is no official plan for foreshore management. The Kingston Foreshore Strategy Plan will become the official plan when the study is completed by the consultants. There are opportunities for Friends Groups to be involved in decision making if they contact Council when new specifications are being prepared. We reported that beach cleaning machinery was damaging spinifex which is spreading onto the beach and stabilising the sand and dunes.

Kingston Conservation & Environment Coalition Annual General Meeting

A Public Transport Users Association representative attended this meeting and asked for submissions opposing the Scoresby Freeway. Paul Mees of the PTUA will represent MBCL at the Panel hearing as well as the many other environment groups who are objecting to the proposed freeway which will encroach into the green wedge and encourage more development in the wedge.
KCEC have applied for a $20,000 Federation Grant to assist with the planned two day Flora and Fauna Seminar on biodiversity in the sandstone areas in Kingston and adjoining suburbs.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 2nd September 1998

We welcome new members David & Joan Eggleston.

Correspondence

Submissions have been sent to the Federal Government’s ANZEC Enquiry, the Scoresby Freeway EES (Paul Mees of the PTUA will attend the panel on behalf of environment groups). We were asked by Kingston Council’s Planning Officer, Mark Woodland to comment on L38, Council’s plans for Epsom Race Course. All submissions are available if members are interested in checking them.
J. Cuthbertson will write to Dr Miles Lewis (TCPA) re the Hains property development.

Mordialloc Local Area Traffic Study

Concern was expressed that intense development in some sections of the municipality will intensify traffic and parking problems for residents. e.g. a proposed development on the corner of Alameda Street, Parkdale and Como Parade. There are reports of similar over- developments at Aspendale.
Recommendation:- That Parkdale Mentone Village Committee form a sub-committee to examine the development applications to Kingston Council and make comment.
The ARUP traffic report and summary are available for comment.

The Parks

Friends of Bradshaw Park have received a grant of $300.00 for signs to be placed on the fence. The signs would contain information about the flora and fauna within the park. It was suggested that the money might be better spent on an entrance designed to attract attention from passing traffic. Signs often add to the clutter along roads and highways.
A Braeside Park volunteer has nobly commenced analysis of the water in Dingley Drain which flows through Braeside Park. In the last three months 5000 plants have been planted in the new parking area. Jewish school children were given a grant to plant 1000 trees in the Park! Melbourne Water owns the Mornington Peninsula Freeway reservation and brick building used by Parks staff. Vic Roads wants to buy the reservation from Melbourne Water and use the brick building for their own staff.
The front part of Karkarook Park may be handed over to the public in November.

Kingston Conservation & Environment Coalition

Regular meetings are being held by a KCEC committee to plan a Flora & Fauna Seminar to be held in March 1999. Kingston Council is supporting a Federal Grant application of $20.000 for the seminar.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 4th March 1998

Correspondence

Letter from SERCO inviting MBCL to meet with them for a briefing.

The Parks

Braeside Park Management plan to rotate rangers between Parks as far afield as the Peninsula. David Sewell, Head Ranger will be based at Rosebud. Mr Sewell claims to be a park developer rather than a conservationist!! Letters have been written. The River Red Gums are still unhealthy cause unknown.
Karkarook Park is going ahead with a ‘hole’ being dug which will eventually become a flood retarding basin. The hole will cope with stormwater from the Bentleigh/Oakleigh region. Before the water flows into the Heatherton Drain it will be diverted into reed filled settling ponds. The ponds adjacent to Warrigal Road will be ready in six months. Later water will flow into a filled sand quarry to become a ‘lake’ and part of the Chain of Parks.
Friends of Bradshaw Park will hold a book launch at the Park on Tuesday, 31-3-98 at 2.30pm. The book or kit is designed for school children visiting the Park.

Kingston Conservation & Environment Coalition / Wetlands Hains Property

The Amendment which proposes to re-zone the Hains land from part General Farming, Stream and Floodway, Garden Industrial and Special Extractive Industry to Public Purposes 10 and 20, Reserves and Residential Zone 1, has been placed on Exhibition from 5 March -6 April. Approval for this change of zoning will permit the 700-800 residential development to proceed in the Green Wedge. The SENSUS Strategic Review of the Keysborough Wetlands Area recommended retention of the Green Wedge. There is still time to lodge an objection to this overdevelopment and loss of open space.

Mordialloc Foreshore / Coastal Action Plan / Height Limits

The third meeting of the enlarged Kingston Foreshore Strategy Committee met 24-3-98. KCEC/MBCL had one representative on this large Committee which is looking at ways to ‘develop Mordialloc as a tourist destination. Height limits have been lifted in the area from Centreway, Mordialloc, south towards the creek. There have been hints of a ‘hotel and conference centre’ in this constricted area. The public will eventually be given an opportunity to comment. Kingston Council has invited the DNRE, Parks Victoria, Tourism Victoria and others to work on this scheme. Is this a little like inviting a tiger to tea with Tom the cat?

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 2nd July 1997

The Parks

Bradshaw Park Friends of Bradshaw Park were pleased to have 10 people participating in a working bee last month. David Bainbridge has re-located to the Grange Heathland.

Braeside Park will be holding an open day Sunday 10th August from 12 noon to 4pm. September 13th, 27th & October 11th 8am-11am with Robert Berry “Birds for Beginners”

Karkarook Park was finally officially opened 27-6-97 with a full complement of important people from councils, Melbourne Water and local politicians. Marie Tehan, Conservation Minister, said that the huge hole left after CSR completed sand mining would become a 14 hectare lake for non-powered boating. 8 hectares would become an artificial wetland to filter stormwater from the urban areas.

Kingston Conservation & Environment Coalition / Wetlands

Negotiations with the Haines family are continuing in an attempt to reach a satisfactory outcome for a series of wetlands along the north bank of Mordialloc Creek Haines wants residential development with a “lake” on the site.
A KCEC meeting was held at the Braeside Visitors centre to plan a promotional brochure for the wetlands project.

Mordialloc Creek / Dandenong Valley Catchment Action Committee

The next meeting of the DVCAC will be with a new committee under new management (CALP?) It is hoped to have MBCL/KCEC reps on the new committee in order that we are kept informed about continuing problems with water quality in Mordialloc Creek. Tip leachate and sewage overflows are of concern. At the 23-7-97 meeting, Graham Rooney Melbourne Water, gave a comprehensive report on water quality in the Catchment. Monitoring points will remain at Pillars Crossing and Wells Road below the bridge. Sampling will be on a monthly basis but it will take five years of sampling to determine a trend! At present nitrogen samples are still high in the creek. Solids are worse because of diversion of the DSWB. Phosphorous, copper, lead still high at Wells

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 2nd October 1996

Bradshaw Park

Council Staff are still trying to find the wooden routed sign which was removed without permission by the contractors from the Park. There is criticism of the new design of signs for the Natural Resources Areas.

Signage

The cost of replacing signs throughout the City of Kingston is as follows:-

  • Signs with the Kingston Logo on a white background in shopping centres and parks $48,000
  • Boundary signs $17,000
  • Dog signs $10,000
  • Logo $4,000
  • Installation costs $50,000

Braeside Park

Rangers are monitoring the Dingley drain which flows through the Park and carries leachates from the landfill sites in Spring Road. October 20th a walk was organised by Friends of the Park.

Karkarook Park on Warrigal Road

Planting continues. The trees at the moment are very small.

Continue reading »

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 7th May 1996

Correspondence

Incoming Scoresby Transport Corridor EES, Braeside Park News, Greg Wilton MHR, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Kingston Transport Strategy Study Forum.
Outgoing City of Kingston re CCT Parks, Hon Marie Tehan re Spider wire, City of Kingston re Ward Boundaries, City of Kingston re Woodlands Industrial Estate, City of Kingston re Chemical weed spraying, Leader Newspaper re misleading report on size of Windows on the Bay.

The Agnew Report

G.Agnew attended the following meetings:- Scoresby Transport Bypass, KCEC Transport Study, Port Phillip Conservation Council meeting as Vice President & MBCL Rep.
PPCC Report:- Re-location of Chemical storage to Pt Lillias still a major issue, Pt Wilson also a major concern, Hampton beach re-nourishment, Cerebus tourist development discussed. An embayment has formed on Sorrento beach which has trapped septic tank outflow from the Birrell approved restaurant on the foreshore. Main cause for concern at present is the introduction of spider wire to the marine environment. Spider wire is invisible and indestructible and therefore a danger to divers and marine life. A letter has been sent to Hon Marie Tehan re this matter. There will be a story on the ABC 7.30pm Report this week. Watch for it!

Heritage Listing Beaumaris Cliffs

There has been no response from the City of Bayside re including the (former) Mordialloc section of cliffs in the Heritage listing. Glen will follow up this matter.

The Parks

Bradshaw Park
Following an earlier successful planting day there will be another on the 18th May.

Braeside Park
A bicycle path is being installed in the park. The Friends group has written to Melbourne Parks & Waterways complaining about the environmental impact which the Woodlands Industrial Estate is having on the Park. Floodlighting is shining into the park and multi-coloured containers are littering the industrial estate. City of Kingston is responsible for landscaping the estate to shield Braeside from the visual pollution of the site. The Haines property issue is unresolved. Power lines will not be built across Braeside for 10-20 years (Never hopefully!) The seed smoke day was successful with 25-30 people attending. 5 Aborigines identified scar trees in the park. A wetland and bird habitat has been constructed behind Garden World and another wetland is being designed to attempt to further reduce and filter pollution entering the Dingley Drain which flows through the park.

Karkarook Park
M.P.& W are attempting to tighten specifications before sand mining companies tender for sand extraction & undertake restoration work when mining is completed.

Continue reading »