Tag » Port Phillip Conservation Council

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 2nd April 2014

Correspondence

Suggested that MBCL buy the DVD Australian Coasts based on Neil Oliver’s English BBC Coasts program. Oliver actually filmed Beaumaris fossil cliffs and parts of Brighton Beach with Dr Tim Flannery. A Coastal Guide to the nature and history of Port Phillip Bay has been published and may also be worthwhile purchasing.

Meetings Attended

STOP Transport Group continues to highlight issues on the Frankston line in conjunction with the PTUA. Southland Station is to be built between Cheltenham and Highett stations, but in a limited format- no toilets, shelters or parking. Of concern is the advertising on train carriages completely covering windows. This obscures clear vision on trains, trams and buses and adds to the advertising blight around stations and rail lines. A letter has been written to the Metro company currently running the trains about this matter.

Port Phillip Conservation Council

Port Phillip Conservation Council met at Longbeach Centre Chelsea, 28 April. Developments on the coast line around the Bay are threatening Arthur’s Seat, Rosebud, Blairgowrie, Rye, Frankston and Brighton Beach. A chair lift and trail bike track on Arthur’s Sea, a swimming pool on the foreshore at Rosebud, a marina at Blairgowrie, a yacht club with a restaurant and retail premises on the foreshore at Frankston without adequate parking and a bike track on the sand at Brighton beach. Should Hastings Port go ahead there will destruction of the seagrass beds and mangroves as well as pollution from oil spills. Beaumaris Yacht Club is seeking an upper storey on the building when concrete cancer is removed. It is proposed that the building can then accommodate a Marine Research Centre – something similar to what is proposed for the Mordialloc Surf Lifesaving Club when it is rebuilt on the primary dune on Mordialloc foreshore.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 3rd April 2013

Beaumaris Cliff Fossil Site

Great news! MBCL’s application requesting that the Beaumaris Fossil Cliffs and Sea Ledge be listed on the National Heritage List has been accepted. Special thanks to Mark Dreyfus QC MP, for assisting our application by appealing to Tony Burke MP., Minister for Sustainability and Environment for his support. Thanks also to Prof. Tim Flannery and Dr Eric Fitzgerald who supported the MBCL application. Dr Fitzgerald has been undertaking research work at Beaumaris. He informed Judy that a Coasts program similar to that seen on SBS, has been filmed at Beaumaris and will be shown at the end of the year. Judy presented the nomination document at the April PPCC meeting and received acclamation from all- including G. Goode no less! Dr. Fitzgerald will be guest speaker at the May meeting of KCEC at Mordialloc Neighbourhood House.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 5th September 2012

EPA Works Approval Application

EPA has received an application to issue works approval or licences which permit work which will result in a discharge of waste to the environment, or an increase or alteration in existing discharge. Alex Fraser Asphalt Pty Ltd, Dandenong South, is applying for this licence to develop 250,000 tonnes per annum of hot mix asphalt facility.Where will this waste be discharged? Into Dandenong Creek which flows mainly into Patterson River or will some waste enter Mordialloc Creek?

Members Overseas

Members currently touring overseas will soon be returning. Card from the Earls in the UK advises that the English Green Wedges are also under threat. A conservative govt disease?

Waterwatch

Bronwen’s waterwatch partners have abandoned the cause unfortunately. Work may begin soon on another wetland on the north bank of the creek on industrial land above Wells Road bridge. This may cause silt to flow down stream – hopefully not re-silting the dredged areas down stream from Chute Street boat ramp to the mouth of the creek. Dredging work is proceeding on time and on budget. The Mordialloc Creek Committee’s aims are fortunately in line with environment values supporting retention of boating works and maintenance on the Pompeii site rather certain developments proposed for the site in Mordialloc Structure Plan. The Committee would also prefer to see shade trees on the Hazel Pierce Reserve rather than Canary Island Date Palms classed as invasive weeds in the DSE Invasive Weeds document.

MBCL Web Site

Discussion about what should appear on the website bearing in mind that Tom and Tatania will be responsible for adding material and maintaining the site while involved in their own business. It was suggested that suitable material could be collected and every three months passed on to Tom via Lew. Material to be added could be listed in the newsletter.

Council Survey and Election

Survey results have been compiled and a list of existing and potential Councillors who responded have been passed on to the local papers.

The Collins Report

Tony stressed to watch out for Myrtle Rust which is infecting a wide variety of trees and plants in suburban gardens, parks and countryside. It is thought that the Rust comes initially from nurseries. It is important to report to the Department of Primary Industry and sightings of the pest.

Arctic Sea Ice Melting

The polar cap is shriveling at unforeseen speed according to Professor Steffen (Sunday Age 23 Sept. 2012). “The most radical projection is about 2016 and probably the most conservative projection is about 2030 when the polar cap will be ice free.” Greenland has lost nearly all its ice and some residents are looking forward to mining the previously buried resources. “The speed of events is why scientists are so worried. The only way to stop these thresholds is to cut greenhouse emissions triggering these changes and there are a few signs of that taking place.” It seems most unwise therefore, for the Planning Minister, Matthew Guy to approve development in coastal areas. He believes that no one need worry for 20 years and after that the next generation will have to deal with the outcome!

Coal Seam Gas Mining

The Union of Australian Women (UAW) at their last meeting had a speaker who has recently moved to Gippsland – right in the thick of the CSG battle. Mairi Neale has provided excellent notes of the presentation available for anyone interested in the environmental threat.

New Planning Zones

Anyone wanting to be informed about the Planning Minister’s assault on our suburbs should check the email for a summary compiled by a Green Wegde member from Macedon Ranges. She outlines the impact not only on urban areas but also on the rural zones and farming communities, small towns and villages. Virtually under Guy’s rules anything goes. Third party rights to object no longer exist.

Port Phillip Conservation Council AGM

Scheduled to be held at 7:30pm Monday 22 October at Long Beach Place, Chelsea Community Center. Guest Speaker will be Dr Graeme Pearman Climate Scientist. Dr Pearman was Chief Scientist at Aspendale Atmospheric Center for many years and has spoken and written about climate change for decades. Not to be missed.

Beaumaris Cliffs

The internationally renowned fossil cliffs have been removed from the National Estate Register. The Federal Government closed the Register therefore significant sites now have no legal protection. The Federal Minister for the Environment suggested we appeal to have the cliffs registered on the Victorian Estate Register and included a most complex document to be completed for that purpose. Geoffrey Goode, PPCC, claimed that the Geological Society of Government has only registered one site for inclusion on the Register. In the light of the State Govt’s recent treatment of the environment this attitude is not surprising.

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League Inc.

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 6th October 2010

Forthcoming Events

Melbourne at 8 million. Is that too many? Public Forum Richmond Town Hall 4pm Sunday 7th November . Speakers Andrew Macleod. CEO Committee of Melbourne and Kelvin Thomson, Federal Member for Wills. Panel- Melina Sehr- Stonnington City Councillor, Rupert Mann- Melbourne Heritage Action Group, David O’Brien- Planning Barrister, Mary Drost- Convenor Planning Backlash.

Kelvin Thomson, Federal Member for Wills will be speaking at the Mordialloc Neighbourhood Centre Thursday 11 November at 7.30pm. Topic- Sustainable Population.

Who is eating your food scraps? Compost, worms and Bokashi made easy! At Patterson Lakes Indigenous Nursery Saturday 27th November 10.00-11.30 am or 12.30pm-2.00pm.

The Collins Parks Report

The LUMO Planting day Sunday 5th September at Mordialloc Creek was a huge success with approx. 50 people and 2000 plants to install. This was part of the Living Links project.

J.Yugivich has completed a Habitat Hectare assessment of 5 inland NRAs :- The Grange, Rowan Woodland, Mordialloc Creek, Epsom Grassland, Bradshaw Park.

Planting with schools at Heatherton Park. Expecting 1000 plants and 70 participants.

Upgrading Ben Kavanaugh Reserve with warm season grass to reduce long term watering requirements. A terrific initiative, Parks people!

Film Crude Oil

Film Crude Oil was shown at Kingston Council Chambers as part of a program organized by the Environmental Education officer, Rene. Films are shown each month to council staff but at the suggestion of Cr West members of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Committee were invited to attend. A future without oil is a daunting prospect as there is no viable alternative.

Mordialloc Creek Dredging Roundtable

Roundtable meeting was held Tuesday 26th October. Reps from Melbourne Water, DSE, Parks Victoria, councillors, council officers members of MBCL, Friends of Mordialloc Creek, and members of the creek committee were in attendance. The aim was to seek sufficient funding to remove the silt from the creek up as far as the Chute Street boat ramp. MW does not regard recreational boating as their responsibility with regard to dredging but admits if the silt build up was likely to cause flooding they would be prepared to dredge. Melbourrne Water also admitted when questioned that water flow through the Waterways wetlands is regulated to prevent high flows threatening infrastructure and flooding. Virginia (DSE) claims that council needs to provide a strategic vision so that DSE and other authorities can support the project with funding.

Bay Trail

Kingston Round the Bay Trail was the subject of a combined Mentone/Mordialloc Village Committee meeting attended by Crs West and Dundas .

Cr Dundas supports a shared bike path on the existing Mentone promenade. Bicycle Victoria and Kingston BUGs object to this proposal rightly claiming that the promenade is too narrow for a shared bike path.A letter from the Department of Transport permits the narrowing of lanes in Beach Road so that intrusion into the foreshore will be minimized .The lanes will be narrowed further where there is significant vegetation. Despite these concessions the bike track was removed from the council meeting agenda because of pressure from certain councillors who

continue to push for the cliff top route. City of Bayside have successfully negotiated with VicRoads for a back of kerb bike track in conformity with their existing track and to protect their foreshore. Difficult to understand the attitude of certain staff especially as support for a back of kerb track was supported at the combined village committee meetings and as a result of KCEC and Janice Munt’s surveys all supporting a back of kerb route. Cr Dundas presented his promenade option at the MBCL meeting and Mentone Village Committee meeting.

Kingston’s Draft Tree Management Program

Kingston’s Draft Tree Management Program contains lists of native and indigenous trees which are drought tolerant and salt wind proof suitable for street tree planting.Tall trees should not be planted under electricity wires and cables since they will be brutally pruned according to the Brumby Government’s bushfire prevention policy. For example two thirds of the top of a mature plane tree would be removed under this policy. There goes the green and leafy suburbs. MBCL preference is for indigenous trees wherever possible – native trees in some situations but no exotics such as palms and Chinese Elms. Pine trees will be removed from The Grange –and replaced with what?

Tree Vandalism at Bonbeach

Once again remnant Banksias have been poisoned in front of dwelling on the foreshore. It is claimed that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute. Certain councillors refused to allow the installation of screens in front of the property similar to screens installed on Mordialloc foreshore when trees were vandalized.

Bradshaw Park Fence

Park Fence is once again on the agenda with a meeting 29th October at the Reserve to assess the result of monitoring carried out by NRA staff to ascertain whether a higher fence should be restored to keep out litter and direct people to the gates for entry. Mesh could be attached to the existing fence as has been done on the fence around the Scullin Reserve.

Port Phillip Conservation Council AGM

Walter attended AGM. Neil Blake, St Kilda EcoCentre was speaker. He reported that the contaminants in the Yarra , not discovered by tests carried out by POMC’s expert witnesses during the Panel Hearings, have now been discovered. Contaminants from factories in the Western suburbs had been flowing into the Yarra for years.

Wetlands for the Industrial Land

Proposed wetland construction in industrial land upstream of Wells Road bridge will commence this summer. Assuming that water flow in the creek is slowed and perhaps reduced by having to flow through the Waterways wetlands, as admitted by MW ,will a second set of wetlands add to the problem of water flow?

Upcoming Meetings

Next Biodiversity and Climate Change Meeting November 29th 7.30

Next Kingston Conservation & Environment Coalition Meeting 11 November at the Mordialloc Neighbourhood Hoause. 7.30pm

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League Inc.

Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 5th September 2007

Thank You to all members for their commitment throughout a stressful year in confronting large and complex issues. Unfortunately the year ahead is likely to present more challenges to the environment locally, regionally and federally but to quote Patrick White we must continue to “protect our parks from the pressure of political concrete.”

Submissions

Completed Metropolitan Planning Audit into M2030. Article in the Age this week describing Delfin’s grab for land to build a “green” town outside the urban growth boundary will test the Planning Minister’s commitment to M2030. Also Submission into the sale and development of public land and open space. A battle royal over Brack’s handling of the Kew cottages land sparked this inquiry.

Waterwatch Program

We are pleased to announce that a cheque for $800 has been received from four councillors’ Ward Funds to enable MBCL to purchase a Chemical Water Quality Testing Kit so that our trained members can commence testing the water quality in Mordialloc Creek upstream of Wells Road bridge. A thank you letter has been sent to councillors.

Living Links Program

Aspendale Gardens Residents Association convened a meeting with NRA Team Leader, Melbourne Water and Living Links officers to discuss Yammerbook Nature Reserve being incorporated into the Living Links program by linking the work on the secondary drain with Mordialloc Creek. Nina and Mary attended this meeting.

Round the Bay Bicycle Trail

Council distributed 11,500 glossy brochures including a biased push-polling survey during September. The material presented council’s preferred option only and not the alternative back of kerb route.KCEC responded by letter-boxing 4000 brochures. Nina and Shana designed and placed an advertisement in the Independent to counter council’s half page ad. in both local papers. Stephen e-mailed people and received an immediate response with residents offering to letter box for us. Council held an “information” session at the Mordialloc Lifesaving Club from 4.30pm to 8pm.Members rostered at the door interviewed attendees and found that local residents were furious at the potential loss of the soft walking tracks on the foreshore. KCEC had organized a meeting at 8pm at the Neighbourhood House.It was standing room only again for very angry residents. Council’s survey results confirmed KCEC’s earlier surveys -people wish to retain the informal walking tracks and prefer the back of kerb option for the bike track. Council voted, 24th September, for a granitic track for Stages 1 and 2. Sincere thanks to all members for a splendid team effort in letter boxing, preparing material and devoting time to counter council’s disgraceful, undemocratic and one would have to say, in some cases, ignorance in dealing sensibly with this major threat to the narrow, fragile foreshore and cliff tops and remnant vegetation.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Newsletter – August 2007

Important Submission due in September

A select committee has been formed to conduct an inquiry into the sale or alienation of public land for development Subs due 28th September. Further info from Richard Willis Phone 9 651 8911. Melbourne 2030 Audit. Subs due 5.00pm 24th September Further Info from Minister for Planning Phone 9 637 887uitable development1. Shadow Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy’s Media release states that the Government’s guide for public submissions must follow terms of reference or they may not be considered by the Audit Expert Group.Interesting to note that one of the four members of the audit group is Michael Wright QC who appeared for POMC on the Panel hearing into channel deepening.

Kingston Coastal Management

A submission has been sent from MBCL to BECA consultants for the CMP. While the document still seems to be “Identifying Suitable development areas and opportunities on the coast.. they are not paying enough attention to threats of storm surge and sea level rise due to climate change. The Age, 28-8-07 has excellent articles warning local government that the planning issues are :-” where you build rather than how you build” in vulnerable areas.

Waterwatch Program

Letters have been sent to the four councillors whose wards abut the Mordialloc Creek to seek funding for the equipment required for water quality testing. The funding issue was raised at Mordialloc Village Committee where the council officer attending advised that he would progress the matter. Applications for Community Grants from Melbourne Water & Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment is another avenue to be explored.

Mordialloc Creek Brigde

VicRoads decision under considerable pressure, to allow two lanes over the bridge to operate during peak hours, north in the morning and south at night has relieved traffic congestion. The issue of safety for pedestrians and cyclists on the east side of the bridge where there is no safety barrier planned is still being debated by council and VicRoads. Nina has raised the matter with Kingston Council.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 2nd August 2006

A Sincere Vote of Thanks once again to members for their commitment to the daunting task of trying to combat the cavalier attitude of some local government officials with regard to the environment. For example for the past two years members have spent countless hours researching, debating and surveying residents in an attempt to find the best option for a safe, environmentally friendly route for the Round the Bay bike trail. An invitation to KCEC to make a presentation to councillors September 4 provided a small glimmer of hope!! A trillion thanks to members who door knocked homes for the survey, to Dr Earl and Nina who compiled a statistical report on survey results to E-mail to councillors, to Brian who spent hours preparing a power point presentation and to Stephen for his tremendous contribution in measuring Beach Road lanes to prove that the wide Kingston lanes could accommodate a back of kerb bike track rather than located on the cliff tops.

Yammerbook Nature Reserve

Grand Opening Sunday 10th September at Wells Road close to Mordialloc Creek Bridge. The culmination of years of planning to convert neglected piece of land into an important addition to Kingston’s wetlands/parkland thanks to the determination of AGRA, Melbourne Water and to Nina who has found time in her busy schedule to organise the opening Well done all!

Mordialloc Creek

National Tree Day Planting.. About 40 people planted 800 mixed plants- grasses, groundcover and shrubs beneath the existing tree canopy along old Wells Road opposite the factories. Mordialloc College and Yarrabah held their National Tree Day planting along the creek Friday 28-7-06. At Bonbeach 13 volunteers planted 400 plants on the foreshore but not one tree because of Kingston Council’s policy of not planting trees for five years in that location and indeed along the whole 13 kms of foreshore!

Paintball Facility Aspendale Gardens

As a result of a mediation meeting which AGRA and Barry Ross attended (on MBCL’s behalf) the site has been modified because Melbourne Water required the proponents to build bridges over Smythes Drain which runs through the property. The facility will now be located to the north between Smythe’s Drain and the levee bank of Mordialloc Creek. Stephen Hains withdrew his objection so apparently doesn’t consider that it will devalue his expensive Waterways development.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 1st June 2005

Congratulations to Councillor Rosemary West, former Age and Leader journalist, who on 27th June was awarded honorary membership by the Australian Journalists Association! Quite a coup for Kingston Council to have a councillor on board with the wealth of skills and experience which Rosemary has!
We trust that David E. is making great progress in his current battle with ill-health.

Correspondence

Bill has prepared several papers dealing with State wide issues which also impact on local councils. Paper No.1 dealt with M2030 policy on housing and the need for improved public transport if M2030 is to succeed as envisaged. At present the Brack’s Government seems to be ‘improving’ public transport with buses. Paper No 2 to the Independent deploring Council’s lack of a substantial environmental policy, and Paper No.3 is a Submission to the Victorian Environment Assessment Council River Red Gum Forests Investigation. We are grateful to Bill for the research and effort in producing detailed documents of this calibre. We need now to persuade Kingston Council that our mature trees are also worthy of preservation rather dispensable items to make way for views or developments.

Mordialloc Creek Water Quality

A copy of Stephen Hains letter was sent to Melbourne Water in the hope that a decision may be taken to monitor water quality as it enters and leaves the wetlands at Waterways. However we have been referred to another MW contact for further discussion. In the mean time the EPA have conducted a survey of toxic sites around Melbourne. Hobson’s Bay has the most contaminated sites with 14 and Kingston comes second with 8. Priority sites are those where pollution presents an unacceptable risk to health and groundwater. Interestingly “owners are forced to pay for a clean up or to stop groundwater pollution.” How will this affect the Alex Fraser concrete crushing activities in a former sand quarry full of contaminated groundwater?? And are these eight contaminated sites in Kingston adding to the poor water quality in Mordialloc Creek?

Keysborough Golf Club

Keysborough Golf Club in the Green Wedge is still bubbling along. This is Watson’s development. Golf course, clubhouse, pro-shop, restaurant, function centre, maintenance building, together with 394 dwellings. Objections have been lodged.

Bike Path Saga Continues

MBCL was represented on a Mordialloc Village community bus tour of the foreshore 18th June. CEO, Strategic Planner and Mayor, and an elderly councillor who claimed he had never seen the Bayside bike path but never-the-less didn’t want a shared path on the verge of Beach Road. Response from other committee members was disappointing. The feeling is that the Mayor etc, don’t want any discussion or debate. The attitude is one of defensiveness and claiming concern for vegetation removal but not wanting any discussion about the council’s policy of foreshore management which will see removal of understorey and ‘pruning’. The proposed meeting with the DSE has not yet eventuated though DSE people have met with Belinda Ainley and possibly others to spin their idea of veg. management. Stephen’s survey finds people wish to retain the sandy walking cliff top path.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 4th May 2005

Correspondence

Letters received from Mara re drawing attention to traffic danger in White Street, Mordialloc especially to children attempting to cross the road to access local schools. Semi-trailers exiting the Parkdale Plaza into Melrose Street will increase the traffic hazard.
Letter to be sent to Stephen Hains seeking his assistance in having the wetlands monitored to assess their effectiveness in improving the water quality of Mordialloc Creek since Melbourne Water reports that the water quality in the Creek and Patterson River continues to be rated as Very Poor. Hain’s response will be discussed at June meeting.

Concrete Crushing Facilities Clarinda

As a result of Bill and Mary approaching the Leader articles have appeared in the Moorabbin Dandenong and Mordialloc Chelsea Leaders explaining the possible impact on ground and surface water from the contaminants contained in demolition material leaching from the stormwater ponds and groundwater in the sand quarries. The water in the ponds is to be used to prevent dust causing health problems in the surrounding residential, market gardens and schools abutting the facilities.

Bicycle Path

Council’s plan to formalise the sandy tracks on the cliff top at Mentone into a 4 metre wide shared bike path is meeting with alarm by walkers interviewed. A similar informal sandy track around the Bayside section of foreshore to Rickett’s Point is an example of the importance of retaining the Mentone cliff top path free of fast moving bicyles. As Bill said trying to mix people on one path with speeding cyclists doesn’t work. With the removal of foreshore vegetation for the 4 metre wide track, combined with Council’s outrageous changes to foreshore ‘management’,- removal of vegetation to provide views for priveleged Beach Road residents, the sandy track will be hotter in summer, more open to winds in winter, and lack the natural walking surface. MBCL’s preferred option for a bike path to serve as a commuter path, on the verge of Beach Road.extends the successful Bayside bike path. Unfortunately Vic Roads doesn’t favour a designated safe bike path on Beach Road.

Council’s Foreshore Management Policy

Letters have been sent to DSE Manager Coasts re the proposal to limit future planting on Kingston’s 13kms of foreshore to 2 metres to allow foreshore residents “their views” despite the fact that there is no legal entitlement to views. Letters have also been sent to politicians. The surveys carried out by the council consultant: have been biased by the selection of interviewees – those living only on the foreshore or Beach Road. Council plans in the next stage to interview builders and developers about foreshore vegetation!!! What next? Real estate agents?? A meeting with, and reference to, a former council employee’s species list, Mordialloc Flora, and the Botanicus 2000, study found 54 significant species on the cliff tops 16 of which are found only in this section of the foreshore. 21 of these species are regionally significant.

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Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League – Minutes – 7th July 2004

Important Forthcoming Events!!

August 10 Mordialloc Village Committee Meeting at Doyles 6.30pm. to hear a presentation of the long awaited Mordialloc Structure Plan which is proposing four storey apartment developments on several environmentally significant sites abutting the creek and in central Mordialloc. The public is welcome at this meeting.

KRAMMED AGM August 25 7.30pm at Mordialloc Neighbourhood House. It is hoped to have a Guest Speaker from Boroondara Residents Action Group (BRAG) fighting to defend Camberwell from inappropriate development. Please try and attend these meetings because our residential amenity is under extreme threat.
Also under threat are the rights of third parties (us) to object to developments in Activity Centres.

Another busy year for MBCL members who not only attend an ever increasing number of meetings dealing with environment matters but still find time for hands on revegetation work in natural resource area parks Mordialloc Creek banks and foreshore. Well done, all!

In addition to other pressing issues, the Channel deepening proposal for the Bay is of concern to our members not only because of potential damage to the marine ecosystem and habitat but also the impact which even a “imperceptible” rise in tide levels may have on the most vulnerable eastern side of the Bay already suffering from some of worst erosion for years caused by gale force winds. Submissions are due August before 5pm Monday 16th August 2004.

Next Meeting of the Blue Wedge Coalition August 4, 2004, 7.30pm at St Andrews Uniting Church cnr High & Bay Streets, Frankston

Mordialloc Creek Water Quality

Water quality is still an issue with a recommendation that stormwater should be monitored at the entrance of Waterways wetlands and again as it re-enters Mordialloc Main to check whether the wetlands are in fact actually improving water quality. Settlement, Dunlops and Heatherton Drain are the other major contributors to creek pollution. Council has begun to check industrial areas through which the drains flow, and to install litter traps. Concern expressed in some quarters about the phragmites growth in the creek. As a result a letter explaining the value of the common reed in improving water quality, slowing flood flows and providing habitat was sent to that committee.

Bay Trail Bicycle Path Charman Road to Mordialloc

Penny reported on the meeting to discuss principles for the establishment of the bike path along Beach Road Mentone to Mordialloc. Unfortunately Kingston is third or fourth on the funding list so the path may not eventuate for some time

Tennis Court Car Park and Peter Scullin Reserve Revamp

Work is proceeding in the creation of a carpark on the former tennis court. Part of the existing parking leading off Pier Road is to be closed and retuned to park land. Some concern as to how the linkage can be accomplished without removing vegetation, especially the under storey which provides a wind break for the Scullin Reserve. MBCL members have met with Sophie to discuss this problem.
The proposed reorganization of the creek car park plans has been subjected to intense scrutiny by Brian and Nina as there appears to be an increase in car park spaces above the no net gain criteria which we thought applied to all car parks on the foreshore. This matter is still to be sorted. Nina pointed out the need for a pedestrian crossing from the Pier to the kiosk for safety reasons.

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