Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 1st June 1993

Bradshaw Park

S. Calvert-Smith reported that Friends of Bradshaw Park are still awaiting the $3000 grant money.
The Friends have plans to extend the underground watering system to obviate the necessity of using the heavy above ground hoses. The group are applying to Council for a grant to finance the watering system

Braeside Park

Conservation Minister Mark Birrell has still not replied to our letter re the change of route for the proposed freeway, although plans are reputed to be drawn up for the change of route.
Rangers report that leachates are still entering the Braeside wetlands from a Springvale rubbish tip.

Mordialloc Creek Report May 1993

This report states that it is possible for leachates to enter Mordialloc Creek via the drains, Heatherton, Settlement, Dunlop and Dingley.
Brian Wallwork, EPA Industrial Waste Management, states that “Nothing much can be done about leachates from old filled tips which were not clay lined”!! Clearly this situation is far from satisfactory and will impact on Port Phillip Bay for years to come.
J.Com, who is liaising with Residents Against Proposed Rip Sites, reported that the EDO and Monash University Honours Graduates are prepared to take up this issue.

Snapper Festival

Virginia Carter of Bay Rescue outlined their Snapper Festival proposal and is seeking assistance from community groups in organising the Festival to take place over three days in October. The League is prepared to offer some assistance but we need to decide in what capacity that assistance is to be given. Amy ideas?????

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 2nd March 1993

Correspondence

No reply as yet from the SEC re the removal of redundant electric light poles on Beach Road nor Vic Roads re providing a pedestrian crossing on the West
side of the Wells Road bridge.

Bradshaw Park

Friends of Bradshaw Park meets once a month and sends Councillors and the City Engineer. Foxes in the park are still a problem and a newsletter to all a means of removing them is being considered.

Mordialloc Foreshore / Kiosk Restaurant

The League has responded to three applications for planning permits for the foreshore.

  1. An application for an ice cream vendors van to permanently occupy a parking space in the Pier Road car park. The car park has been reduced in size due to landscaping work and this will reduce the number of spaces available still further.
  2. The restaurant kiosk has applied to have two signs and a flag on or near the building. The Ministry for Planning and Environment is reasonably satisfied with the proposed signage.
  3. The restaurant has also applied to have a quarter of the floor space of the building occupied by a bar area which will be licensed to sell alcohol without food from 7am to lam the following morning.

The League, in its response to the application for a bar area, stated that the consumption of alcohol without food should be confined to the bar area only.

Mordialloc Creek Pollution

During the period of heavy rain in December, January and February the beaches north and south of the pier were badly discoloured. The EPA reports reveal that Mordialloc beach exceeded the E-coli count on nine occasions. Information about leachates from tips in the Springvale/Oakleigh area caused concern when it was reported that the Brighton layer of the water table had been contaminated with leachates. The clay lid which slipped off a filled tip in Springvale, was probably responsible for the muddy appearance of the creek and Bayside beaches. Vic Roads also had a problem with leachates from the tip preventing work proceeding until the area had been “de-watered”

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 2nd February 1993

Bradshaw Park

Work in Bradshaw Park is proceeding satisfactorily. The Friends group have prepared a new map and information sheet for use by students or visitors to the park.

Parkdale Foreshore Erosion Control / Planing

The plantings are flourishing after heavy summer rain although in places where the water has accumulated some plants have not survived.

Mordialloc Foreshore Landscaping

After a meeting of the Foreshore Steering Committee at the Council Chambers on January 20th, D. Digby was asked to prepare a plan for the foreshore and Scullin Reserve area which would comprise of indigenous species only rather than Norfolk Island pines as was previously suggested by Council staff. Thanks to sterling work by R. Pearson, the plan for indigenous plants only was accepted by the whole Council! Well done!

Mordialloc Foreshore Kiosk / Restaurant

Richard Frank finally responded to our letter pointing out that tea trees and banksias, if let to grow would enhance the view (and also conceal the ugly beach-side restaurant facade). However, there is no evidence in his letter that he has seen the light and will leave the vegetation to grow naturally. The City Engineer has been asked to advise us if there is to be further mutilation of the trees.
Richard Frank has also applied to alter the Mordialloc Planning Scheme so that liquor can be served without food from 7.00 am to 1.00 am the following day, in an area within the restaurant especially set aside for that purpose.
We have the opportunity to comment on the proposal. If members approve, our comments would be that we consider the trading hours excessive, the sale of liquor without food should be confined to the 38m2 bar area and not extend out to and beyond the terrace, there should be no sale of liquor to be taken away and consumed off the premises and overall seating capacity should not be increased beyond the present 100 seats.
Signage for the restaurant/kiosk is under discussion in Council. The League will be given the chance to comment on the size of signs proposed. At present there is to be a flag with logo from the flag pole on the roof, an illuminated sign above the entrance and a small sign near the entrance to the Scullin Reserve. The Ministry for Conservation document, “Siting & Design Guidelines for Structures on the Port Phillip Coast” states:-
“Signs should be concentrated at particular locations where they will have least impact on the landscape.” and “Signs should not generally be higher than the roofline of adjacent buildings or vegetation or be moving or consist of flashing lights.”

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 1st December 1992

Parkdale Foreshore Erosion Control Work

Large basalt rocks have been placed at the foot of the cliffs near Parkdale Lifesaving Club to prevent further erosion from wave action. Some areas on top of the cliffs opposite Parkers road are still very bare and don’t appear to have been planted after last year’s work on the cliff tops. Whilst most sections of Parkdale Foreshore have been fenced at the base of the cliffs, the section near the old banksia has not been fenced despite a recent rock fall.

Bradshaw Park

Friends of Bradshaw Park have not been advised whether their application for funding from DCE has been successful. The spring loading gate is unsatisfactory because the spring is too weak and the gate is too low to keep marauding animals out of the Park.

Mordialloc Foreshore / Kiosk

Council Staff were approached re the extent of the lease granted to the kiosk operators. An area will be set aside for the general public as well as kiosk patrons to sit and drink. This will not be landscaped to suggest to the public that this area is the preserve of the kiosk operator. However Council acceded to the operator’s demands to have an “all round view of the Bay “by writing into the lease that the tea tree in front of the kiosk should be clipped to the height of the promenade wall. MBCL wrote to Richard Frank expressing our concern about desecration of native vegetation on Crown Land.

Mordialloc Creek / Landscaping / Peter Scullin Reserve

Council has prepared a plan for landscaping the Pier Road car park and drive abutting the Scullin reserve. A plan will be presented to the Mordialloc Foreshore Steering Committee which includes two members of the League. The Pier Road plan will once again reduce the number of parking places which Council previously promised the boat owners to increase as overflow parking. Norfolk Island Pines were recommended for the Scullin reserve drive by the Parks & Gardens Supervisor. A sub-committee consisting of Cr Nixon, R. Pearson and D. Digby have presented an alternative plan which will continue the use of vegetation native to the area.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 4th November 1992

Parkdale Foreshore Erosion Control Work

The Parkdale Foreshore has been designated by the Port of Melbourne Authority under its Sand Renourishment Programme as an area for annual maintenance. However, severe storm erosion of one section of the cliffs will require an infill of rocks to prevent further erosion. The City Engineer is still seeking suitable sandstone rocks for this section of the Parkdale cliffs.

Mordialloc Foreshore Development / Kiosk / Landscaping

The restaurateur has demanded the replacement of the proposed timber decking terrace with a brick paved surface for the restaurant/kiosk. The League was contacted by the City Engineer about this matter. We responded as follows:-
“Whilst expressing – concern at further demands made to change the original plans for this structure, MBCL reluctantly accedes to the request to delete the plan for timber decking providing that the brick paved terrace is not suitable for load bearing external walls which could allow for incremental creep at a later date.”

Concern is also expressed at landscaping proposals for the grassed area in front of the Kiosk. These proposals include the removal of tea tree to provide an “all round view of the Bay” and landscaping around seating which could suggest that this section of foreshore belongs to the kiosk. The Council at its 24th August meeting reported that they had agreed to lease the grassed area west of the kiosk to the restaurateur. We have written to the DCE and PPCC about this issue. There was no consultation with the League or RPAC about this matter.

Mordialloc Creek / Horse Paddock Reef Pollution

Glen Agnew reported on his attendance at the General Meeting of the PPCC and his report to local groups about his research on the Horse Paddock Reef. Glen also alerted us to the environmental assessment for the purpose of re-development, of the 202 hectare Dandenong Springvale Sewage site. The study was carried out by Gutteridge Haskins Davies. Significant amounts of Dioxin and Furans were found at the site. This has implications for the state of the Creek and Bayside beaches when the sewage ponds overflow after heavy rain. MBCL has written to GHD asking for a copy of the report.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 6th October 1992

Pollution in Port Phillip Bay

Glen Agnew reported on the continuing sedimentation problems which affect the marine life in the Bay. There is increasing nutrient growth & decreased light levels well below the SSEP standards for Port Phillip Bay. The heavy rainfall this year has intensified the sedimentation problems, as has any development work upstream from the Mordialloc Creek estuary. Road works and building developments increase the sediment loads entering the Bay. It is also probable that increasing sedimentation has affected the Electroma Georgiana shells causing them to be washed up on Mordialloc beach in recent weeks. The putrid stench lasted for two or three weeks.
It was proposed that the League write to Vic Roads and the EPA informing them of the sedimentation problem and seeking advice on preventing this occurring so frequently.
Thanks to Glen for appearing at the AAT hearing on the Keys- borough wetlands. Glen has also spoken to local groups about his work.

Bradshaw Park

R. Pearson reported that a Friends of Bradshaw Park group was inaugurated two years ago. This Friends group was formalised recently with a committee being formed the minutes of which were circulated to all Mordialloc Councillors and Staff. Friends of Bradshaw Park have applied for funds under the Grants to Community Groups for Conservation & Environmental Projects 1992/93. Funding will be used for revegetating an area of the park. The application for funds was made by the MBCL(which is an incorporated body) on behalf of the FBP.

D. Bainbridge gave a report on the work carried out in the Park stressing the importance of protecting the indigenous plants not only in this location but also along the adjoining railway line and Mordialloc creek and foreshore.

Problems associated with work in the park include foxes which destroy wildlife, people who dump garden rubbish in the park and dogs which dig out plants on the foreshore. Maintenance within Bradshaw Park is time consuming leaving little time for more productive work.

Wetlands / Theme Fun Park Keysborough

J. Cuthbertson presented a report on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal hearing at which he represented MBCL and CRAG. MBCL is extremely grateful to Jack for the enormous amount of time and hard work which he devoted to this important issue. The report is included with these minutes.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 4th August 1992

Bradshaw Park

R. Pearson reports that foxes are a problem in the park especially as DCE has presented a Land for Wildlife sign to Bradshaw Park. There are many native species growing on the railway land adjacent to the park. David Digby and David Bainbridge will ask the Met to take care when moving grass in this area. A Friends of Bradshaw Park Committee has been formed.

Parkdale Foreshore

Planting has commenced on the Parkdale Cliffs but the coconut fibre matting has been torn in places and the recent storms have undercut a part of the erosion control work in some sections. Rocks will be used to control erosion when suitable material is found to blend with the sandstone rocks.

Mordialloc Foreshore

The kiosk/restaurant development and shelter to replace the “birdcage” are proceeding. A standing shower is planned for the area near the toilet block.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 2nd June 1992

Bradshaw Park

Following the acceptance of the BIOSIS recommendations by Mordialloc Council, $30,000 has been provided for work in the Park. The Department of Conservation & Environment have given permission for a Land for Wildlife sign to be erected at this Heritage Award winning park.

Parkdale Cliffs

Erosion control work at the Parkdale Cliffs section of the foreshore has been completed although rocks have not yet been integrated into the cliff face as was originally planned.

Mordialloc Foreshore

The old kiosk building has been demolished and approval has been given for work to commence on the new structure. Plans for a shelter to replace the “birdcage”. have been forwarded to the League.
Disused light poles have still not been removed from the foreshore.
S. Calvert-Smith advises that SEC poles will eventually be re-located on the land side of Beach road.
The Nicholson shed is to be given the “treatment” and a lexan window placed in the rear wall. Residents would prefer to have the rear wall removed entirely to deter drinkers from lingering in the building.

Coast & Creek Booklet

A sub-committee spent time revising the text of the booklet which should be available in time for the October meeting of MBCL.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 3rd December 1991

Correspondence

Re Wetlands on North bank of Mordialloc Creek Write to the Town Planner, Springvale re their project for a Country Club/Golf course on the proposed wetlands site. Plans have been forwarded to the League. John Scholes, DV&WPA advises that the wetlands proposal depends on funds being made available from the Open Space Program in order to purchase land which comes on the market.

Bradshaw Park

Gates should be locked at night by security personnel to protect this remaining remnant of native vegetation. An ecological appraisal should be completed by Christmas. Bradshaw Park was awarded a Heritage Award in December, 1988.

Parkdale Foreshore Erosion Control

Water has been lapping at the base of the completed erosion control work. League to ask for sand to be carted to Parkdale Beach by the Port of Melbourne Authority to prevent further erosion.\

Indigenous Plant Audit on the Parkdale Foreshore

R. Pearson organised a plant audit on the Parkdale foreshore in the area to be graded in April. A number of plants were found to be in danger of destruction when work commences. These plants include three bushes of Coast Everlasting near Bay Street. David Bainbridge has supplied an updated list of plants suitable for foreshore planting.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 9th April 1991

Parkdale / Mentone Foreshore

Will there be any supervision or community involvement during the works on this section of the foreshore especially when grading of the cliffs takes place?
The question of the fences along the foreshore is a delicate issue which also require community consultation. A letter to the City Engineer may clarify these issues.
Any restoration work on the Mentone foreshore at Naples Road should ensure that elevated views to Port Phillip Bay are maintained, that the existing shelter be retained until proposed vegetation in Section 5 grows sufficiently to provide shelter. and that the ugly concrete steps be removed as soon as possible.

Mordialloc Creek / Beach Pollution

Concern expressed that regular reports on pollution levels are no longer available to the community since the EPA & MMBW have taken over the monitoring role of the creek water. League to write to the monitoring committee requesting information about the frequency of tests of creek water, and the availability of the results.

Wetlands

In answer to the DVA’s request for suggestions for the proposed development of the wetlands, write to support the concept and urge the planting of species of vegetation indigenous to the locality ie. Malelucas (Swamp paperbark)

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