NEWS DESK
Plastic ban plan is ‘in the bag’
Bay Trail section finally ticked off
SHOPPERS are being urged to bin plastic bags for the month of July to reduce pollution across bayside beaches and parks. Plastic Free July calls on people to refuse to use single-use plastic bags when shopping for a month to hopefully get into the habit of taking reusable bags to carry goods and groceries. The littering of plastic bags is an environmental hazard and potential killer of animals who can choke on the bags. The Greens are lobbying the state government to bring Victoria into line with other states such as South Australia and the Northern Territory in “banning” plastic bags at shops. “Our oceans and beaches are increasingly being choked by plastic rubbish,” Upper House South Eastern Metropolitan region Greens MP Nina Springle said. “It’s a blight on our recreational spaces and a stress on our waste management system. Much of it makes its way into the ocean where it’s devastating marine life around the world. “We can’t continue picking up trash forever. We have to stop plastic pollution at source.” A petition calling on the state government to support a plastic ban can be signed at plasticfreesea.com.au online. The bill, if passed, would ban single-use plastic bags, cosmetic microbes and “unnecessary plastic packaging” across Victoria.
THE Mentone to Mordialloc stage of the Bay Trail has been given the goahead by Kingston councillors. Councillors voted at June’s public council meeting last week to approve plans for the shared cycle and walking path after community feedback on the project. Kingston mayor Cr David Eden said there is “strong community agreement that the path should be built but differing views on how it should be implemented”. More than 540 submissions were received from the public by Kingston Council and six petitions with 2417 signatures were received by council. Road safety, traffic congestion, car parking, road cyclist safety, vegetation quality and the cost of altering the road alongside concerns about the community consultation process were flagged in submissions. Council confirmed changes to the Bay Trail section include: *preserving car parking in the area to lose four spaces overall to a total of 900 “compared with an earlier plan that would have resulted in a loss of up to 105 car parks overall” *providing nine extra indented car parking spaces near Parkdale Yacht Club *an extra 175 square metres of vegetation to increase on-road parking by 75 spaces to the south of Mentone Life Saving Club *narrowing the Bay Trail by 10cm in a small 50m section to protect the most significant vegetation on this section of the Kingston foreshore
Final straw: Frankston Beach Patrol volunteers such as John Billing picked up 92 plastic straws in just one hour along Frankston beach last month. Picture: Fifi Welsh
*no change to lane width/car parking in the southern section of Mordialloc Creek to Rennison St near the Mordialloc Life Saving Club “We’ve listened and made changes to provide a practical solution that strikes a balance between motorists, road cyclists, path users and the environment,” Cr Eden said. “This solution is a balanced compromise supported by Bicycle Network Victoria, meets or exceeds VicRoads standards, provides plenty of car parking and protects the most environmentally significant areas of vegetation.” There will be no change to the existing number of traffic lanes on Beach Rd.
Blooming roses KEEN gardeners can have a blooming lovely time at Kingston Council’s annual rose pruning event. A free rose pruning demonstration, art show and barbecue will be held on Sunday 16 July at Keith Styles Reserve, 47-79 Mentone Parade, Mentone. The Rose Society of Victoria will host the rose pruning demonstration from 11am and council’s gardeners will give tips on sprays, fertilising, general care and planting bare-root roses. The Mentone Mordialloc Art Group will present an Art in the Park show and Cheltenham Rotary Club will cook up barbecue food. No need to RSVP, just head along to Mentone’s Keith Styles Reserve with BYO secateurs.
FAMILY DAY! You are invited to come and enjoy a family fun day of free activities hosted by local retailers! 111 Cranbourne Road, Frankston
FRIDAY 14TH JULY 11AM - 2PM
FREE CHILDRENS ENTERTAINMENT FREE FACE PAINTING FREE PETTING ZOO FREE CRAZY HAIR SALON FREE KIDS CRAFT ACTIVITIES
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
5 July 2017
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