Draft budget and SRP 2013/14 - funds for increased public open space and Carnegie Pool

Last night Council's draft budget for 13/14 and the Strategic Resource Plan SRP (which allocated funds over a decade)were released.

There were many important highlights including from the draft budget

GESAC's popularity means that the sports and aquatic centre is budgeted to cover all its costs this financial year.This includes all the loan repayments and interest which is approx $3m per annum.

Duncan Mckinnon pavillion - $2.5m to complete
Centenary Park pavillion - $1.3m to begin with and $2m the following year to complete

Environmental Sustainability - $1.415m
- completion of energy saving streetlight changeover reducing Council's greenhouse emmissions
by upto 14%- $300k
- community energy audits for residents - $250k
- bicycle strategy- $100k less than other years mainly because most actions now complete
- solar panel trial on council properties incl pavillions - $115k
- drought tolerant grasses on sports grounds that greatly reduce water consumption - $600k

-from the draft SRP
- Booran Rd Reservoir converting to open space -$9.5m over two years from 2015-17
- Carnegie Pool -$5m for upgrading the facility over two years from 2017-19
- Public Open Space strategy -rolling funding increasing from $4m per year in 2017 upto $10.5m in 2023 to fund this strategy

From 1st July 2013 all Public Open Space contributions from new developments will be allocated to the aquisition or improvement of new not pre-existing open space.

Many of these items especially around Public Open Space herald very significant changes for the municipality.

Full details on Council website - view under links - Public submissions very welcome.

Federal Election 2013 - Rose Read Greens Candidate for Goldstein

Recently Rose Read was preselected as the the Greens Candidate for Goldstein in the upcoming Federal Election on September 14th.

Rose was a great candidate for Tucker ward in the recent Council elections and came close to being elected, coming a close fourth. She has extensive experience and understanding of our local communities and will be an excellent candidate as outlined in the details below.

Her expertise and input on Council's environment committee has been invaluable and I wish her all the best for the campaign-

Rose Read – Candidate for Goldstein
Mobile: 0409 132 338
Email: rose.read@vic.greens.org.au

Rose Read is an active community member and resident of Bentleigh. She is a representative on Council’s Environment Committee and works with local government and businesses across Melbourne to improve energy efficiency. She is also an experienced manager of services for children and families. Ms Read said ‘I love living in Bentleigh, where I raised my family and know the community well’. ‘We need a lively, engaged and healthy community for everyone,’ she said. She is standing as a Greens candidate for Council because she wants ‘to see a council that listens and works with community members to improve planning for people and the environment’. She is committed to ‘expanding childcare and kindergartens in the area; actively involving residents in neighbourhood planning and services; providing more open space, adventurous playgrounds and events for all ages; and ensuring better access to activities and services for older residents’.

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.

New school pedestrian crossing for Murrumbeena

Over the past few weeks it has been very pleasing to witness many parents and school children using the new crossing on Murrumbeena rd at the Dandenong rd intersection to access several local primary schools.

In reponse to concerns raised late last year about the lack of a safe crossing I met with a group of parents before Xmas on this issue- At the February council meeting Crs unamiously endorsed a proposal to fund this new crossing and provide a safer pathway for those families living on the western side of M/beena rd and thus encourage more to walk.

Whilst full credit goes to the parent group for raising this issue, I would like to see our Council play a more pro-active role in eliminating any pedestrian 'black holes' like this one. The walking strategy being developed this year will provide a good opportunity for improvements to be made.

Carnegie Pool - securing the pool's future

One of the issues that was highlighted amongst many candidates including myself during the recent Council elections was the urgent need to upgrade the aging Carnegie pool.

In 2010 I initiated a motion in the chamber to address this. The amended motion passed at that time noted the significance of this issue but adopted a wait and see approach till after GESAC had opened and attendance figures could be viewed.

The attendance figures at Carnegie so far this summer have been quite high showing no decrease even though GESAC has been open for almost one year.

There have been some intial discussions on this issue; it has been very encouraging that overwhelmingly this new Councillor group is keen to upgrade and improve this important community facility,with timing and funding yet to be determined>.

Campaigning in Glen Eira

The next six or so weeks will be very busy as the time draws closer to the October 27th election date.

I will primarily be using facebook to communicate campaign activities,issues,views over this time.

Follow me by searching facebook on Neil Pilling Glen Eira 2012

Must say great to see some warmer spring weather after many chilly morns doing leafleting and stalls throughout August. So far with Wilmars Mickelson,fellow Greens Candidate for Rosstown, we have done six stalls and delivered in the order of 13k leaflets.

We will continue to be very active- full details will be provided of upcoming campaign events- drop by and say hello!

This Saturday 22nd September

930-12noon Koornang rd Carnegie

(near main pedestrian crossing)