KCA News Summer 2021The KCA summer newsletter is now available to download here. It includes a membership renewal form for 2022.
KCA News Summer 2021
Text from the newsletter can be read below.
Final Reserves Working Bee for 2021 is tomorrow, Sunday 5th December
Meet at the Fiocchi Ave Footbridge picnic area.
Registration is at 9 am and we finish at 11 am for a cuppa and some pre – Christmas fellowship. Contact Minio Rossetto on 0414 816 912 for more information. All welcome.
Farewell Phil Carter (our Past President) and best wishes to the Carter family.
Phil has accepted a new position and a new direction which takes him and his family to Brisbane. Best wishes to Phil and family and a huge thank you for an outstanding job over the last three years and stepping into the President’s role when we really needed a steady hand. We are all greatly indebted.
Eels of Dandenong Creek
Our dear friend Dr Jill Orr Young shared a recent video of the eels of Dandenong Creek.
Kananook Creek also was known for its fine eel population –“I thought of the KCA when I watched this short film from the First Friends of Dandenong Creek (Facebook site).”
KCA objection to planned development at 176-178 Nepean Highway
Plans for a fast-food takeaway and petrol station on the corner of Seaford Road and Nepean highway have been submitted to Council – similar to those rejected several years ago.
We consider this to be a most unsuitable development for many reasons:
- Traffication at that corner shared with Safeways is already a nightmare
- Potential for spillage into the creek
- Light pollution
- Takeaway rubbish issues in the creek and nearby natural reserves
Storm damage
Recent Spring storm damage leaves a huge clean up mess for our Kananook Creek Natural Reserves rangers and volunteers. It will be several weeks to remove the debris.
KANANOOK CREEK INDIGENOUS BOTANIC GARDENS – detailed design still not public
The detailed design for construction is delayed – we are hoping this will not impact on 30 June 30 2022 planned completion dates. KCA as a key community stakeholder has been involved in the Project Review Group (PRG #8 held recently) and have contributed our experience and knowledge to the Final Design -but this document is yet to emerge. The focus is on creating a magical space in the heart and soul of Seaford which will inspire pride in the community and encourage future learning and engagement with our amazing natural assets.
Déjà vu! The Olivers Hill proposal for the Coast Guard is back in consideration-no we are not joking!
We all thought the “Marina Wars “were over. So, there was genuine shock in August when we learned of that Olivers Hill, deemed unsafe for use by the Coast Guard, has again been proposed to house the Coast Guard – but this time without reference to any breakwater -figure this one out-are we all to seriously believe this?
The exposed site at Olivers Hill has only a two-laned launching ramp which is only available in “fair weather”.
It is possibly the worst place on the bay for a safe boat ramp for many reasons of which our Council is well familiar.
Within a protected Kananook Creek, the eight lane ramps are designed for “all weather “launch and retrieval. Kananook Creek is a designated harbour and receives funding to regularly dredge the entrance.
The continued investment uncertainty affects Kananook Creek. Much needed improvements for all other legitimate Creek stakeholders, continue to be held hostage to the ambition of the Coast Guard at Olivers Hill.
When will our Council accept the reality of our more environmentally aware world, accept all the mass of evidence presented to it and move on from yesterday’s obsessions?
REVITALISATION OF FRANKSTON CITY CENTRE and the future for the Kananook Creek Precinct
KCA were invited to attend a Frankston City Centre Planning workshop earlier this year to “help inform the forthcoming Revitalisation Action Plan and emerging Structure Plan”.
The Kananook Creek precinct, connecting the city centre with our foreshore was, pre–South East Water, a high priority tor revitalization and we would like to see this focus maintained.
We also maintain that having no height limits in the CAD is not sign of good planning and disadvantages both developers and residents alike.
The State government has extended special planning protection to the Yarra but not to Kananook – a wall of blocks high rise developments across the bay frontage is not sensitive to the creek environment and lowers values further inland.
IMPACT OF COVID 19 Pandemic on community volunteer work.
Like most community volunteer groups, KCA has been significantly impacted by nearly two years of lockdowns-particularly with restrictions for working bees and meetings. Thanks to vaccination we are able to get back in business and start the journey of recovery on our many initiatives that were effectively shut down.
THE COMMUNITY KEEPERS OF THE KANANOOK CREEK CORRIDOR
– WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Kananook Creek is not just an arterial drain and its certainly more than a just a fiscal liability for our Council. In order to realise the great community potential of this special recreational and environmental asset, KCA needs to sustain its high membership and participation in its many activities- advocacy, research and work in the field (both in the waterway and in the reserve).This team based community work can be very rewarding in effecting better outcomes for both the creek corridor community, Greater Frankston and the many neighbouring communities in Metropolitan Melbourne which enjoy its amenity. Please contact our volunteer recruiting on 0414446749 to find out how you might be able to help us right now.
MARK THE DATE: Kananook Creek Corridor Community Day Sunday 13th March 2022
This popular family event is back again in 2022 on the lawns by the banks of the Creek in Frankston’s City Centre. Watch this space for more details
2022 MEMBERSHIP is now due
The KCA Membership renewal form for the year to 31 December 2022 is available here.
Thank you to those that have already renewed their membership.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all from all at the KCA Committee and volunteer supporters
