MBCL SUBMISSION TO

CITY OF KINGSTON OPEN SPACE STRATEGY

Date: 12 December 1997

BACKGROUND

The Mordialloc Beaumaris Conservation League was founded in 1969 in response to the threat of a potentially disastrous commercial development on the historic and archeologically significant Beaumaris Cliffs.

Since 1969 the League has been actively involved in plans for projects and revegetation of the foreshore within the (former) City of Mordialloc. We have also, since 1975 attempted to highlight the ongoing problems of pollution in the vast catchment of the Mordialloc Creek. A myriad of drains flow into the creek and enter Port Phillip Bay to the detriment of this important recreational and tourist asset.

SCOPE OF SUBMISSION

This submission will concentrate on :

(a) Our vision for the foreshore and creek open space from Charman Road, Mentone up to and including Mordialloc Creek Reserve.

(b) The importance of continuing community group consultation and involvement in coast and Bay management.

SUMMARY

1. DESPITE THE RHETORIC ABOUT INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN PLANNING THERE APPEARS TO BE A MUCH REDUCED ROLE FOR THE PUBLIC IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS

2. THERE IS AN OVER EMPHASIS ON COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON PORT PHILLIP BAY FORESHORE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE SENSITIVE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT AND OPEN SPACE.

3. LEGISLATION CHANGES TO CROWN LAND ON THE FORESHORE, ‘FAST TRACKING’ AND AS OF RIGHT PERMISSION FOR DEVELOPMENTS ARE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

OUR VISION FOR THE BAY/COAST WITHIN THE CITY OF KINGSTON

The Bay is a recreational focus for the population of greater Melbourne but is a finite resource. Increasing pressure for commercial and residential development on the narrow coastal strip within the City of Kingston means that there will be increased pressure on this finite resource.

ENVISIONED STRATEGIES FOR MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION

Increasing pressure for commercial and higher density residential development along the l3kms of the City of Kingston's narrow coastal strip could mean the loss to the community of an already limited open space resource. This applies especially to the section of foreshore from Charman Road, Mentone up to and including Mordialloc Creek Reserve.

City of Mordialloc : Analysis of open space (October 1992) states that : "Mordialloc relies heavily on the open space provided by the foreshore and Mordialloc Creek Reserve". Also according to the Metropolitan Open Space Plan 1988, the City of Mordialloc falls within the category with the least public open space per 100 people.

Whilst acknowledging that, with the amalgamation of councils, it could be claimed that the City of Kingston is better served now with parkland, these areas of parkland (most as yet undeveloped) are not easily accessible to the non-car owning public.

The Victorian Code for Residential Development outlines the importance of planning open space in residential developments when it states in its objectives:

01. "To ensure that public open space of appropriate quality and quantity is provided to contribute to meeting the recreational and social needs of the community in convenient locations.

Performance Criteria PC2

• provide for large local parks usually of 1 ha minimum, for active and passive use, within 500m safe walking distance of all dwellings
• provide small local parks within 150m to 300m safe walking distance of all dwellings
• take advantage of, and protect natural and cultural features

ACCESSIBILITY

As stated previously, residents in the Bayside suburbs of Mentone, Parkdale and Mordialloc rely heavily on the foreshore open space for recreation, both passive and active. A loss or reduction of this resource would impact greatly on the non-car owning public.

For example the Sandbelt Open Space Project: May 1994 (Melbourne Parks & Waterways) states that:

"Public transport is inadequate because levels of service are not good on several routes and are very poor at weekends. Several stop mid-afternoon on Saturdays. The only service on Sundays is an hourly service along Warrigal Road. No public transport services Braeside Park’s southern entrance on Governor Road. A bicycle trail to the park from Mordialloc Main Drain is yet to materialise".

For Kingston residents in the northern section of the coastal strip, particularly those living in Mordialloc, the loss of their foreshore open space due to commercial developments in the activity node, would be completely unacceptable in view of the distance needed to be travelled to access open space/ parkland.

If dual occupancy and unit developments continue as a result of proposed higher residential density in the urban village concept, then open space/ parkland must be retained (and increased when land becomes available) within safe walking distance for easy resident access.

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE ANALYSIS

The Sandbelt Open Space Project May 1994 reports the following findings:-

• People in lower income groups tend to have less level of participation in activities that cost more.
• facilities which are most used are those which can be used on a casual basis, are free, have good access and appeal to a broad age range. These invariably include major parks, beaches and other natural features.
• there continues to be an increase in passive activities which involve the whole family (e.g. outdoor and nature activities, bushwalking cycling)
• passive users want high quality environments with a minimum of external influences. They use parks mainly for nature appreciation.
• local demand for informal use accounts for the majority of informal users of any ‘broad acre’ passive parklands which are developed. Most users of this form of parkland come from a limited catchment area usually defined in terms of travelling time. 80% of users will come from within a catchment boundary defined by 10-15 minutes travelling time from the parkland.

Smaller backyards mean that greater demand will be placed on public reserves such as Braeside Park which will need careful management to ensure that the public recreation function is not realised at the expense of the parks conservation objectives.

Ministerial direction to all planning authorities on the form and content of planning schemes states:

14.02-2 Environmentally sensitive areas with significant recreational value, e.g. Port Phillip Bay and foreshore should be protected from development which would diminish their environmental, conservation and recreational values. Planning decisions should assist the creation of linked open space systems and the protection of important open landscapes and vegetation. New sports and recreational facilities which are not water related or require a waterside location will not be permitted on coastal reserves.

We believe that the designated activity node at Mordialloc pier is now fully developed with one restaurant, one hotel/restaurant across the creek, three kiosks, three boat hiring facilities and ten buildings architecturally unrelated. Any ‘new developments’ at the creek mouth of a built nature, no matter how ‘sensitively’ designed, would reduce the already limited public open space on the foreshore available to the local community and visitors.

BICYCLE TRAIL

We support the development of bicycle trails which link the excellent Long Beach Trail with Patterson River/Dandenong and eventually Springvale, and access to Braeside Park with an extension of the bicycle path along the Mordialloc Main Drain to Springvale Road.

The extension of the Bay Trail from Charman Road, Mentone to Mordialloc Creek along the verge of Beach Road rather than through the sensitive foreshore area will link the City of Bayside path thus creating an important commuter link for the community.

Author: M. Rimington, Secretary, MBCL.

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