Elster Creek - indigenous flora guide

The Glen Eira Environment Group recently launched a website detailing indigenous flora in the Elster Creek catchment area-see links bottom right.

This group has done great work over many years in our municipality - their members were instrumental in the creating and protecting of Boyd Park Murrumbeena and have advocated strongly for Council to pursue improved biodiversity policies that recognise and enhance indigenous species.

The website is a wealth of information and I particularily enjoyed the historical archival photos. It is also pleasing that this project was made possible via a community grant recently. With an upcoming community forum on biodiversity scheduled for early 2012 the launch of this site is quite timely.

Gambling/Pokies reform - time for Council to take a position

There has been a lot in the news recently about poker machine reform in response to the wide range of problems experienced by many in our community - Yesterday I wrote to fellow Councillors highlighting this. It is very significant issue that needs tighter controls.

The statistics are quite incredible - see article in links under gambling reform
Many Councils are passing motions like in Manningham (see below).

I would like to see Glen Eira also pass a similar resolution supporting reform.

The main arguement being played out seems to be not whether reforms are needed but how you do it, the most debated being the pre-committment reform which involves technology changes and the cost that goes with it.

In my view limiting the amounts that can be gambled on the machines is a better more cost-effective way to go. At present in any of our pubs/clubs there are rows of machines where you can bet upto $5 everytime one pushes the spin button which can mean every few secs. It is a very different world/scenerio to having a few bets say on yesterday's Caulfeld Cup!

I understand that for some Crs. this will be new territory and the usual 'chesnut' that its a State issue that we shouldn't be involved in will be put up or thats in some way a curtailing of 'individual rights'.

My response would be that we advocate and take a position on many State issues that affect and protect our community from grade separation to planning. This is an important social issue that we should be at least advocating for reform on.

Without a notice of motion provision (the ability for Crs to place a motion on the Council agenda), it will be quite challenging to have this issue debated and voted on!

Passed 8-1 at the Manningham council meeting held on June 28, 2011
That Council:
A. Endorses the Productivity Commission recommendation for a maximum bet limit on poker machines of $1 per ‘button push'.

B. Notes the Productivity Commission recommendation for a full pre-commitment scheme for electronic gaming machines in all States and
Territories as a "strong, practicable and ultimately cost-effective option for harm minimisation".

C. Endorses the preferred option of the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform to impose a maximum $1 bet per button push, $120 hourly loss limit and maximum prize of $500.

D. For electronic gaming machines regarded as "high intensity" and not subjected to the limits described in C, Council supports the imposition of a full pre-commitment system so gamblers can set maximum loss limits.

E. Communicate Council's position to pokies venues in Manningham, the Prime Minister, the Premier of Victoria, relevant Federal and State
Ministers, local members of parliament, ALGA, MAV and VLGA.

Funding for Ewaste and Public Recycling approved

Council voted last Tuesday to fund(approx $110k) three Ewaste collection days this financial year.This is very good news for residents and the environment alike.

After last years very successful collection days held in each ward, where record levels of uptake for Melbourne were recorded (29 tonnes at the town hall day- see prev posts), I felt it was always important to continue to provide this service.

There is an increasingly amount of EWaste incl TVS and computers in our community that was being placed out for hard rubbish disposal- ending up in landfill.

With Federal stewardship guidelines till several years away this was a very good decision.

Also for the first time recycling bins will be provided for in our major shopping strips. This program funded at $75k will be rolled out over the next six months.

Both of these fundings had been recommended by the Environment Advisory Committee which certainly does benefit from having the expertise of four external community members.

As I said in the chamber on Tuesday night in advocating for this funding, feel its important that Council does provide leadership on issues like this.

Caulfield Park - update

At tonight's (tues) Council meeting i am pleased to report that Councillors voted for the following motion to end the proposal to run a commercial cafe at the conservatory in Caulfield Park.

9.3 Alternative Reccomendation
a/ that Council recognises the heritage value of the Caulfield Park Conservatory.

b/ that Council determines not to proceed with an Expression of Interest campaign for the Caulfield Park Conservatory

c/ that Council considers funds in the 2012/13 budget for the repair and full restoration of the Caulfield Park Conservatory

moved Pilling seconded Pennalluriack

Caulfield Park -commercialise or not?

On this Tuesday night's council meeting agenda there is an interesting item
regarding Caulfield Park and the envisaged use of the conservatory in the western section of the park as a commercially run cafe with seating for upto eighty people. See item 9.3 in Oct 11th agenda in links bottom right.

Like a range of other issues in our parks this has been an ongoing saga for a number of years now.

This has all come about primarily because of the need to repair and protect the facility as generally agreed by everyone - park users and Council alike.

What is not agreed is how to pay for these repairs- previous estimates by Council have been in the $150k range. That's what in my mind this is all about - seeing if Council can get someone else to pay for these repairs.

I feel this sets a poor precendent on how we manage our public parks- Council should just bite the bullet and repair the facility- The money spent on the whole cafe EOI process would be better spent directly on the conservatory.

Traffic congestion around our schools-more support for cycling and walking required

All our schools are under pressure from ever increasing traffic congestion especially around the school grounds during the busy morning and afternoon peak periods. With higher enrolement numbers at most school this issue is one I feel Council needs to address in a more thorough and less piece-meal way.This congestion has lead to many concerns raised about safety and ways to improve how this is managed

Over recent months I have advocated on behalf of concerned parents at both Ormond and Mckinnon primary schools for traffic improvement measures to be identified and implemented- Currently at MPS a second supervised crossing is being installed with works soon to start on a new footpath in Walnut st where presently there is only a worn grass/dirt path that becomes quite muddy in winter.

Our relatively new Sustainable Transport Stategy(see links)recognise this issue and seeks to begin to take action.
The Walking Strategy component lists the following actions-
- audit two schools annually and prioritise any improvements for safety
- monitor school crossings to optimise Vicroad funding
- support initiatives which promote (not fund!)the values of walking such as the Walking Bus Program, Walk Safely to School day and Walk to work day
- promote walking as part of school cirriculum

However in future years I would expect the strategy to be improved upon and be more pro-active across a greater number of schools in providing for and promoting walking and cycling as the preferred means for transport to our schools. This will increase amenity and safety for all parents, students and residents in these areas.

Other councils like Booroondara as I understand have designated sustainable transport officer roles who are consistantly working with schools to deliver these outcomes.

Cargo Bikes - library program - NSW

Recently this initiative was brought to my attention by a local resident- Cargo bikes are 'heavy duty' bikes capable of comfortably carrying extra loads. They come in a vast array of modern styles and design.

One of the reasons commonly sighted for keeping the second car or not cycling is how to do such tasks as the weekly shop. These bikes address that issue and are increasingly popular through-out Europe. In the links section , bottom right, there is a link to a Cargo Bike Library program currently being run by the City of Sydney.
This program allows residents for a small charge access to these bikes and has been running since 2010.

The program makes very interesting reading and certainly has great merit which i am keen to explore further.The benefits are multiple including reducing traffic congestion around our shopping strips, reducing emissions and increasing fitness and general health in the community.