NEWS DESK Council prepares plan for Parkdale skyrail
WATER minister Lisa Neville, Dan’s Plants director Danny Selzer, and South East Water acting manager Charlie Littlefair make an announcement at Dan’s Plants in Heatherton. Picture: Supplied
Recycled water project targets Green Wedge sites Continued from page 1 Kingston mayor Steve Staikos said the Dingley Recycled Water Scheme is “a great example of councils working in partnership with the Victorian Government to deliver initiatives that tick off multiple priorities for our community – preserving our environment, preserving and strengthening agriculture in our Green Wedge, fostering our businesses and
taking steps to mitigate the impacts of climate change.” “We have world-class golf courses that attract thousands of visitors per year, productive growing lands that feed and green Melbourne, and treasured open spaces. Our community expects us to protect these assets so they can be enjoyed for years to come,” he said. South East Water will contribute
funding to the project and deliver it. The organisation’s acting managing director Charlie Littlefair said “recycled water projects help build resilience into our water systems, strengthening our entire water supply network and helping more of our customers and the community to harness the benefits of a rain independent source of high-quality water.”
KINGSTON Council has released draft plans for the skyrail precinct in Parkdale. The state government will build rail over road to replace the level crossings at Warrigal Road in Mentone and Parkers Road in Parkdale, building a new Parkdale Station in the process. Council has engaged a consultant firm to prepare a draft framework for the area in the hopes of influencing the Level Crossing Removal Project’s final designs. The draft document reads that council’s “vision” for Parkdale “includes a generous and well integrated public realm that offers high levels of amenity, shade and canopy cover, site-specific plantings that enhance the local biodiversity, and a material palette that speaks to the existing character of Parkdale.” Council wants to see minimised overshadowing on retail areas, the re-use of heritage structures, tree plantings, the retention of existing trees, and streetscape upgrades. While approving the draft plans council also agreed to write to state government MPs to again outline its concerns about the project. Kingston councillors voted to write a letter “reiterating our disappointment that council was not consulted prior to the announcement of the Warrigal Road and Parkers Road level crossing removals, asking for an explanation why the announcement of the proposed level crossing removals at Parkers Road and Warrigal Road was handled so differently to level crossing removals at Balcombe Road, Charman Road and Park Road,” and “asking the government to substantiate the statement on the level crossings website that initial engineering and technical assess-
ments have determined a rail bridge over the road to be the best solution at Warrigal Road and Parkers Road.” Kingston Council will write to all properties between Nepean Highway, Beach Road, Bay Road, George Street, Rogers Street, Lucerne Street and Palermo Street to gather specific feedback on traffic calming, parking, and a potential vehicle crossing point between Como Parade East and West. A survey conducted by council on the project had 1150 responses, with 76 per cent of them saying they supported rail under road instead. Last year LXRP program director Adam Maguire told The News that the addition of more open space was a key reason for the decision to build skyrail in Parkdale. “One of the major benefits of elevated rail is that we can create around two MCGs worth of new open space, which could be used for a new town square, walking and bike paths, playgrounds, recreational facilities, trees, other greenery, landscaping and car parking. This outcome is simply not possible with a rail trench,” he said. (“Rail bridges defended” The News 20/10/2021) The draft framework will now be released for community consultation. The level crossings are expected to be removed by 2025. Brodie Cowburn
Free flu shot offered FREE flu shots are now available statewide. The state government has invited more than 3000 GPs and pharmacies to take part in the $33 million scheme. Health minister Martin Foley said “this will be the first time in two years that we will face a real flu season – we need all Victorians to roll up their sleeves and help protect their loved ones and our health system by getting vaccinated.”
Safety worries put up in lights Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au CHELSEA Soccer Club is worried that the floodlights at its home ground are posing a safety risk after a light burst and left broken glass on the pitch. The soccer club plays out of Edithvale Recreation Reserve, which is maintained by Kingston Council. Last month a floodlight bulb at the ground exploded, sending broken glass down onto the turf below. The club has called on council to take action to make the lights safer. Chelsea Soccer Club secretary Hannah Walder said “since the installation of these lights, they started becoming faulty within a short period of time
and have continually caused us issues with broken bulbs and faulty wiring.” “The club have reported each and every issue to [council] and despite our efforts, the council have adopted a patch and mend approach rather than properly listen to our concerns about the reliability and safety of these lights,” she said. “I expect my children to be able to attend community sports in a safe environment, on council property. This incident surely must be enough to demonstrate just how unsafe these lights are and immediate action must be taken to effectively make these lights safe – not just replacing the bulb.” Kingston Council says that it is investigating the safety of the lights. Council’s general manager infrastructure and open space Samantha Krull
said “after a lighting fault occurred on Thursday evening and it was reported to council, our maintenance team addressed the issue first thing on Friday morning, cleaned up the glass from the field, and an electrical contractor investigated the cause.” “The contractor found it was a glass diffuser that broke within the light fitting. The light was made safe, with the diffuser left off in the interim, and all lights are now working again. Council is continuing to investigate the current setup of the lights to ensure no further faults occur,” she said.
BROKEN glass on the pitch at Edithvale Recreation Reserve. Picture: Supplied
Smile Squad is on its way The Victorian Government is making it easier for our kids to get the dental care they need. Find out more at smilesquad.vic.gov.au
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
1 June 2022
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