Community gardens in Glen Eira

In response to several enquiries one of the potential projects i am currently looking at is the establishment of community gardens or urban orchards in our muncipality.

One very successful example is the gardens at the Uniting Church in Murrumbeena rd that have been estabilshed on previously vacant space surrounding the rear carpark-many groups young and old have gained hours of enjoyment and satisfaction from tending and caring for these lots.

Other great examples of what can be achieved include the gardens in Ringwood and St Kilda- see links bottom right.

This issue had been raised from time to time without much progress- there are wonderful opportunities for gardens such as these to become community focal points which i will continue to explore.

update GESAC/Bailey Reserve carpark extension approved

In a disappointing decision at last night's meeting Councillors voted 5/2 to approve the proposed $450k GESAC(glen eira sports aquatic centre)car park extension into Bailey Reserve Bentleigh resulting in the loss of approx 1400m2(two house blocks)of public open space and the relocation of the present childrens playground.

I spoke of the need for a new Open Space strategy in Glen Eira (see prev post) that would define, value and plan for public open space- and would hopefully prevent ad hoc decisions like this where at the 11th hour and before a facility is even opened a demand is placed on our parkland.

Last year Council purchased two house blocks in Packer Park to improve, expand and complete the park frontage on Oakleigh rd.
Cr Tang correctly identified that this extension would break up Bailey Reserve in two and was at odds with the reasoning behind Council's previous decision in Packer Park.

Open Space vs extra GESAC car parking

At this Tuesday night's meeting Councillors will vote on whether to extend further the new GESAC car park into Bailey Reserve with the relocating of the present playground.

Item 9.10 (under links bottom right) lists two carpark options - the first being a multi-level complex on the present planned carpark - to my mind a trojan horse option.

I have requested details of the amount of public open space that will be lost by the proposed extension-

GESAC is yet to open and its success quantified- nothing has changed since the amount of carparking was determined as an appropriate balance between the new facilty and surrounding open space. At the eleventh hour to make such changes I feel is poor policy and in line with my previous posting on the need for a new Public Open Space strategy in Glen Eira

Council childcare fees to rise steeply

One of the significant price rises as passed in the recent Glen Eira 2011/12 budget was the steep rise in childcare fees as charged for those attending Council's centres.

The primary reason for these increases is the change in staff ratios in Victoria for 0-3 year old children from 1:5 to 1:4 to commence from Jan 2012 and are set out below;

• For 0–3 year olds from $85 to $91 per day (from 1 July to 31 December 2011)
• For 0–3 year olds from $91 to $116 per day (from 1 January to 30 June 2012)
• For 3–5 year olds from $79 to $85 per day.

Council took the view that the full amount should be passed onto families.
I advocated for a lesser amount as I felt other providers wouldn't pass on the full amount but instead absorb some of the cost leaving Council at the higher end of the market and not in a reasonable middle range of fees. This in turn would act as a deterrent to families utilising our excellent childcare service. Setting our fees so early before other providers added to this concern.

I will certainly be requesting a review of the fee situation as soon as a majority of providers have released their 2012 fee structure

New start for Murrumbeena shopping strip

Over the past year as reported in a previous posting the Neerim rd shopping strip in Murrumbeena has sufferred a serious decline in patronage and vitality - This has been primarily because of the vitually non-operating state of the local IGA supermarket due to an ongoing lease dispute.

All business in the area has been affected severely as a walk through on any previously busy afternoon will confirm- Like banks or post-offices,local supermarkets are important features of any shopping strip - Having attended several traders association meetings the concerns were very real at this ongoing issue.

Pleased to confirm that there will be a re-opening of the store with new lease-holders on Monday July 11th and with a few celebrations. Hopefully this will be the start of the revitalisation of the shopping strip