NEWS DESK Pavilion plans approved Rail bridges defended
A SECTION of the Endeavour Cove precinct and an old flyer advertising the area (inset). Picture: Gary Sissons
Councils warned to ‘take note’ of Kingston conduct Continued from page 1 “Council’s own review and the Ombudsman both found no evidence of corruption, although we acknowledge that unfortunately a number of planning mistakes have been made over time. For the past 18 months we have been strengthening our planning controls and are taking action to modernise planning rules at Endeavour Cove,” Mr Tamlin said. “We hope that the Ombudsman report, council’s own independent investigation and the many improvements underway will help reassure the community that there is no truth to rumours circulating in the area and that council is working to rebuild community trust in the planning process.” Kingston Council’s internal review into planning matters at the Cove site was finished last year (“Mistakes made at Cove site”, The News, 8/4/2020). It
also conducted a probity review earlier this year. In a statement, Kingston Council said that it is commencing background work for a proposed planning scheme amendment at the Cove site, with community consultation to begin soon. It also says that it is working through matters at VCAT including the endorsement of development plans at 54 Pier One Drive and 115A McLeod Road. “Following concerns raised by councillors and the community over previous planning decisions to approve development plans at 54 Pier One Drive and 115A McLeod Road, council is in the midst of proceedings before VCAT to represent our position. This matter is scheduled to be heard by VCAT over a two-day hearing on 10 and 11 March 2022,” council said. Among the allegations investigated by the Ombudsman were that a former
council planner “dined with the developer at up market restaurants, without declaring the developer’s hospitality.” The Ombudsman wrote that “the senior planner is no longer employed at the council. Kingston Council has committed to implementing the recommendations of its two reviews, which should address the systemic issues identified in my investigation.” “Whether they address the perceptions of corruption and conflict will ultimately depend on the behaviour of individuals, and on strong, ethical leadership. Development may always be a contentious issue for councils and their communities, but with transparency and good governance it should not be seen to undermine public trust. Councils everywhere would do well to take note.”
DESIGNS for an updated pavilion at GR Bricker Reserve in Moorabbin have been approved. Council received $3 million from the state government three years ago to develop the facility, Another $1.5 million of ratepayer funding has been allocated to the project as well. The ground is home to the Moorabbin Little Athletics Club, Omega Cricket Club, the Racing Rugby Club and the Moorabbin Dog Obedience Club. Kingston councillor Hadi Saab said “council have endeavoured to make sure all tenants, as well as the local community, have been able to have their say on the concept plans for the pavilion redevelopment. We have listened to the feedback and used it to make adjustments to both the pavilion design and the wider Master Plan implementation works.” “We still have some work to do make sure our final designs capture the needs, and address any concerns, of the clubs and the community. For example, we will be engaging an acoustic consultant to help identify opportunities for noise reduction from the pavilion and dog run, we’re shifting the social room to the front of the building further away from residential properties and we’re making sure the sports lighting doesn’t spill into residential properties,” he said. The plans include a brand new pavilion and a dedicated indoor/outdoor space for dog club activities.
THE creation of more open space has been cited by the Level Crossing Removal Project team as one of the reasons behind divisive plans to build a rail bridge in Mentone and Parkdale. The state government plans to remove the level crossings at Warrigal Road, Mentone and Parkers Road, Parkdale by building a rail bridge over the road. The plans were slammed by Kingston Council last week, who wrote to the LXRP urging it to consider rail under road instead. LXRP program director Adam Maguire said that the addition of more open space was a big reason behind the decision to build rail over road. “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. “We’re removing two dangerous and congested level crossings at Parkdale and Mentone and our technical and engineering assessments have determined that elevated rail is the best design solution for this location. We answered many questions submitted by residents during our five recent online community information sessions and we’ll continue to engage with residents and traders during the planning, design and delivery stages to help shape the new open space and station precinct with more community consultation to take place later this year.” The two level crossings are expected to be removed by 2025. Brodie Cowburn
GALLERY TALK Last week MPRG was nominated at the Australian Museums and Galleries Association, Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards 2021 in the Audience and Engagement category for the online content the Gallery produced across the past 18 months. This is a great achievement to receive industry recognition for the important work the Gallery team does in making art and creativity accessible to our community. MPRG continues to remain closed to the public. Our planned Spring Festival of Drawing program of exhibitions will be extended through Summer until 13 March 2022. This will give visitors the opportunity to experience five amazing new exhibitions, including our new Airlock lightbox, and our unique Wall Drawing project featuring eleven contemporary Australian artists making work directly onto the walls of the Gallery. In line with Victoria’s roadmap, we hope to be in a position to re-open to the public in November. Visit the MPRG website to see our Walks Through with Locals series of videos (filmed prior to lockdown). We invited local Mornington Peninsula residents to walk through the gallery and talk about what they thought or felt when looking
at artworks in the MPRG collection. Dot is a resident of Peninsula Grange Aged Care and a member of MPRG’s Art & Imagination group. In a heart-warming video, she takes a walk through the gallery with her carer Natalie, and they discuss what they think about two works in the MPRG collection, by artists Suzanne Archer and Barbara Grosman. You can also see a video with Jenny and Patsie who met at the Mornington Probus club and Rachel and Karen who discover the works of Katherine Hattam and Dorothy Braund. You can also find out more about our upcoming programs and activities and check out our free kids’ creative activities, listen to a podcast or two with an MPRGexhibited artist, or get involved and do a linocut workshop with renowned printmaker David Frazer, which has had over 17,000 views.
MPRG Gallery Director Danny Lacy
mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au Civic Reserve, Dunns Road, Mornington Ph 5950 1580 Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
20 October 2021
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