Pavillion progress at Duncan Mckinnon Reserve

Recently along with other Councillors I was provided with an on-site tour of the construction site of our current major capital project - the new pavillion at Duncan Mckinnon. This is a $9.5 million project that will deliver wonderful new modern facilities to the literally thousands of local children and families who play sport at our busiest recreational facility. There will also be a reconfiguration of the carpark to allow for safer traffic movements.

As one who competed on the track from the mid-seventies to now seeing family members participating in the netball competitions there, it is especially pleasing to see this progress.

The photos above show the construction is well advanced-with completion on track for the end of March next year and I will post regular updates-

Protecting the remaining remant redgums of Glen Eira

At the last Council meeting Cr Sounness called for a report which I was very pleased to support.

11.1 Requests for reports from Officers
(a) Crs Sounness/Lobo

Given the recent loss of two significant mature river red gum trees(Eucalyptus camaldulensis) on Duncan Mackinnon Reserve, I request a report on how Council protects the remnant indigenous tree population on Council managed land.

The report should provide a general overview of how Council manages significant trees in its parks and provide specific detail on the health,form and expected safe useful life of the following mature river red gums trees:

1) 2x at Elster Creek Trail – Bentleigh
2) 1x Booran Road reservoir –Glen Huntly
3) 2x Wattle Grove Reserve – Ormond
4) 1x Greenmeadows Garden – North Caulfield
5) 1x Rosstown Woodland - Carnegie

The report should also detail strategies Council uses to prolong the life of its significant trees and how Council preserves local provenance of its indigenous trees stock when replacing old trees.
The MOTION was put and CARRIED unanimously.

Comment - Along with those listed above and in Boyd Park Murrumbeena,there are very few of these significant species left in our parklands -the loss of the two trees at Duncan Mckinnon in January was unfortunate. Extensive rot in several main branches had raised safety concerns given the close proximty to the jogging track and car park. Will look forward to the outcome of this report especially any means where Council can better protect these trees through preventative measures.

Tree Protection register for Glen Eira

At last weeks meeting councillors voted to introduce for the first time in Glen Eira a significant tree register that will protect the best of our municpalities trees currently unprotected.

The full details,description and criteria for this register is covered in pages of item of meeting minutes below ( page 72-76 item 9.6).
http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/Files/April27-2011-MINUTES.pdf

This has been a long time coming and marks an important step forward. This is a fairly moderate approach. Saying that it was still quite a battle to get this up- as I understand this was the fourth or fifth attempt over many years.

Whilst most owners are certainly very responsible there have been problems with the removal of significant trees in the past with ownership changes- this register will help address this.