KANANOOK CREEK ASSOCIATION
Our aim: "to clean, restore and preserve the Kananook Creek and its environment".
Our aim: "to clean, restore and preserve the Kananook Creek and its environment".
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Home History Activities Recent Projects Flora Fauna Recreation Challenges Kananook Kids News Contact Us LinksWORKING BEES
Working Bees will resume in February 2012
YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED!
Come along, lend a hand, and get to know your neighbours whilst helping to care for our wonderful environment!
SUNDAY MORNINGs
9am-12 noon
Southern Team - Ist Sunday Meet at Fiocchi Avenue footbridge
Central Team - 2nd Sunday, Meet at Mc Culloch Ave footbridge
Northern Team -
last Sunday of each month
Meet at Seaford Community Centre
Council Nursery - Every Wednesday from 9am
Newsletters may be downloaded from the library
section of this page
NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2011 - 2012
We were devastated when our wonderful work barge “Friendship” and trailer were stolen from Gould St after being used very successfully for the Creek Spring Clean. We have had great use of the Friendship for over 20 years; it is a terrible, sentimental loss to us. We have reported the theft to police. New Mayor Brian Cunial has generously offered Council assistance to find a replacement.
On Friday 16th December KCA Treasurer, Trevor, witnessed heavy sludge being discharged into the Creek late at night. Paul Davies took samples and photos and reported the incident to the EPA 24 hour hotline. KCA reported similar silt discharges at McCulloch Ave on the same day. The EPA promised to report back following their investigation - suspicions are that these incidents are related to vandalism on the new Frankston Freeway construction site. Essential outcomes should be:
Phone EPA on 1300 372 842 for pollution reporting - 24 hours.
In the first days of December, a ten metre zone of destruction was smashed by Council’s Forest Mulcher through this high floristic value reserve. KCA did not condone this. This was not the sensitive and selective fire fuel reduction we were promised at the Community Information Night. KCA requested Council restore systematic, sensitive and selective fire fuel reduction as agreed. Following urgent discussions, Council has agreed to complete the remaining fire fuel reduction work systematically by hand.
Breakthrough closer on responsibility for desilting & resolving who is in overall charge?
Ever since the takeover of the Dandenong Valley Authority by Melbourne Water over 20 years ago, no one has responsibility for waterway recreation and desilting. A myriad of State Government and Council Departments have some level of responsibility in the Creek Corridor but no one is in overall charge. Council does not want this role and neither does Melbourne Water. The new Liberal government has committed to resolving this. KCA wrote to Premier Baillieu on 3rd August for intervention. Minister of Planning has confirmed Planning and Community Services role in the Frankston City Centre Structure Plan (Beach Street to mouth) and the DSE (Parks Vic) role upstream. This is a much better space to be in and finally (after 20 years) acknowledges the reality of Melbourne Waters much more limited charter.
Desilt the creek, restore moorings and activate the new boulevard
The $9 million investment in constructing Frankston’s Kananook Creek Boulevard has not been activated and the waterway beside it continues to be silted and lifeless. The issue is strategic and urgent. New MP Geoff Shaw and the Liberal Government made a clear “$2.5 million commitment to remove 20 years of silt and bring life back to the waterway”. This will be completed in the first term of Government.
KANANOOK CREEK CORRIDOR REGIONAL PARK -THE PIECES ARE COMING TOGETHERDuring the last 42 years, the restoration has inspired many to get behind the vision and make it all happen. We are now fully aware that when the four physical pieces are brought and bound cohesively together by management and support we will have created a world class Regional Park which we will all be extremely proud of.
Don’t miss the creative movement presentation of this with Meredith Forster and her talented team of dancers at the Celebration Day on 25th March.
The Trail is expected to be completed soon after Christmas - this is a wonderful outcome and a credit to the
great work of Council’s Governance Manager, Michael Craighead over 20 years.
The Master Plan confirmed a Botanic Gardens style treatment (and Arboretum) to restore the badly degraded reserves in Seaford Park between Station Street and Seaford Road. Systematic weed removal work commenced in 2010. KCA volunteers, with assistance from the Natural Reserves Rangers, have manually removed most of the woody weeds between the Seaford Road entrance and the gate at the Seaford Football Club rooms.
This is very slow progress and difficult manual work – weeds like ivy, blackberry and mile a minute vines are growing faster than we can weed. This is where the Forest Mulcher could be of valuable assistance to community volunteers. Melbourne Water has already commenced weed spraying here. We need to accelerate to complete weed clearance by the end of 2012. Council has provided $20,000 for specialist equipment for weed clearance work in the 2011/12 budget. Hopefully the balance of $20k will be provided in the 2013/14 budget.
Once the weeds are cleared, the Community would like to pay tribute to Seaford environmental pioneer, Allan Sisson. Allan continues to inspire all of our restoration work. The tribute would be the arboretum proposed for the site.
Waterways Alliance, on behalf of Melbourne Water, has commenced Kananook Creek and Eel Race Drain improvement works. The project between Mornington Peninsula Freeway and Mile Bridge involves 6.4 kilometres of weed control and revegetation planting to improve the environmental health of the creek and create a better habitat for native birds, frogs and fish. This project will target invasive plants growing along the creek and drain including Prickly Pear, Boxthorn and Blackberry. Some of the weed spraying will be completed from a boat in suitable conditions allowing us to access hard to reach areas.
Replacement planting with over 1,500 locally sourced native trees and shrubs will take place in mid-2012. The Alliance will maintain the project area for three years following planting.
The first annual joint inspections have been completed and results are being collated by Council. This will identify priority issues for action, some of which will require Council assistance.
Jetty Permits - Michael Craighead has been assigned to sort this bureaucratic mess out. There is agreement in principle between the three authorities to achieve a one stop shop with Frankston Council receiving delegated powers to administer permits. A landowner meeting is scheduled for March. Inspection aims and results can be discussed with landowners.
In mid 2010 Council announced a review of the 2005 Frankston Structure Plan. The completion of the review was expected to take at least a year. The review is not yet to the community consultation stage.
The current Frankston Structure Plan places a high priority on reconnecting the Town Centre with its greatest natural asset - the Waterfront and established the desirable design outcomes for the Kananook Creek Precinct.
KCA PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLEContact our Treasurer Trevor Nock at selvert@bigpond.com
With generous assistance from Chisholm Institute, the very informative Kananook Creek Corridor booklet is available in full colour. This is a must have for Creek lovers.
Freddie Leong’s Underwater Wonders of the Mornington Peninsula is a coffee table must and a fantastic gift ($9 per book is donated to KCA by the author).
Stories of Kananook Creek is a fascinating collection of stories and recollections by John A. Douglas. Stories of Kananook Creek has been reprinted by popular demand.
The Kananook Creek Canoe Club continues to meet at Broughton Avenue at 11am on the second Saturday of each month. Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, www.kccc.org.au has contact information. Members have completed extended paddles on Port Phillip Bay as well as several white water trips. Thanks to the Club Committee for their assistance in procuring a purpose built canoe trailer thus allowing the Club to travel wherever there is water. For more information ring Tony Coventry President KCCC on 0414-700-902
The group aim is “a moderate level walk which allows walkers to appreciate the natural environment and one another’s company”.
Walk start time is now fixed at 9.30 am every Thursday all year round. Contact Brian Beardwood for further details - Tel 0401273536 Email - dorothydix1@hotmail.com
John Messfeldt, Natural Reserves Ranger Frankston City Council — Natural Reserves
Phone: 9784 1918 Mobile: 0418 361 465 Email: John.Messfeldt@frankston.vic.gov.au
Over the summer break our webmaster will be overhauling our website to reflect the evolved focus of our activities and provide access to valuable documents, photos and videos.
RESERVES WORKING BEES – DATESMinio, 97839948 is now ably supported by Paul Davies 0413404535
1. Southern Team - First Sunday of the month. Meet at Fiocchi Avenue footbridge. Call Minio for further details. Next dates are:
2. Central Team - Second Sunday of the month. Meet at McCulloch Ave footbridge - call Minio.
3. Northern Team - Last Sunday of each month
4. Council Nursery-Every Wednesday from 9am
Note for your diary - Sunday 4th March 2012 at McCulloch Ave Seaford
Don’t miss this fabulous Seaford community day out on the village green – live music, exhibitions, guided walks, canoe rides and the Kananook Cup Duck race.
KCA’s financial year starts January 2012 so, why not take this early opportunity to renew your membership now and you will be all set for a further twelve months!
LIBRARY
NEWSLETTERS
DOCUMENTS, REPORTS & SUBMISSIONS
Kananook Creek Restoration Flowchart
KCA Landowner Use Manual (includes information on jetties, edge treatments)
Priority Development Panel - Proposed Frankston Boat Harbour -
Written Submission
Kananook Creek Corridor Management Plan -
Issues And Actions Paper - February 2008
Kananook Creek Corridor Restoration
Management Plan Objectives - (minor changes)
An Environmental Effects Assessment
Port Phillip Coastal Trail(as prepared by Allan Sisson 1998)
VIDEOS (YouTube)
With thanks to
Michael Mavracic, filmmaker
Celebration Day 2011, Clean Up Day
Virtual Canoe Tour of the Creek