Registration No A0035478L, PO Box 197 Parkville 3052
Contact Paul Leitinger (Convenor) mobile 0401 99 2000
Email: royalparkprotectiongroup@gmail.com

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2015
AND
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting for 2015 of the Royal Park Protection Group Inc.

Saturday October 24^th 2015
At
Flemington Community Centre at Debneys Park.
2.00 pm for 2.15pm  start

GUEST SPEAKER: Rod Quantock OAM

Do join us for this important meeting.

The AGM will be held prior to the talk by our Guest Speaker.

It is intended that the formalities of the AGM take 30-45min.

Take the opportunity to catch up with other members over a cuppa.

Nominations are invited for the Committee of the Royal Park Protection Group Inc.   The positions are: Convenor, Deputy Convenor, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Members. Do consider nominating.

These nominations should be received one week prior to the Annual  General Meeting.  Please return to the PO Box 197, Parkville , 3052

If you would like to stand for a position and require someone to nominate you please let us know. Nomination form is here.

Hope to see you there.

Kelvin Thomson MP – Federal Member for Wills .

There are many great things about Australia, but to my mind the greatest is the proximity we have to the natural world, to our physical surroundings. And for many people living in inner northern Melbourne, Royal Park remains a place where we still have that. It’s always held fond memories for me. I don’t have many fond memories of a fortnight spent in the Royal Childrens Hospital as a kid after I had my appendix removed, but the one consolation was looking down from my hospital window onto Royal Park and watching the bright orange Flame Robins which came in there in winter. Later on my brother and I learned a lot about native plants from the little native garden built around the Burke and Wills Memorial, and later again as a Melbourne University student I sometimes escaped to the native plant garden off Gatehouse Street.
Royal Park has long been, and still is, a very special place.

This afternoon I want to talk to you about Melbourne’s traffic mess – what causes it, and what the solutions are for it, and why the East-West Tunnel is not one of them.

The key cause is population growth, which has exploded this century. Melbourne has been growing at 200 people per day, 1500 per week, 75,000 each year. This brings with it umerous unwelcome consequences – electricity, water and council rates rising much faster than the rate of inflation (and I’ve got copies of a speech explaining how this works down the back for people interested in this issue), the loss of a say in planning decisions for ordinary residents and communities, loss of housing affordability for young people in
particular, and pressure on open space and native wildlife.

But the consequence I want to zero in on this afternoon is traffic congestion. The 2001 Census recorded Melbourne at 3.3 million people. By the end of 2009 we got to 4 million; we are on our way to 7 million by 2050.

This of course leads to more car ownership.

There are now 500,000 more cars on Victorian roads than 10 years ago, with most being purchased by people living on Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer fringe. In 1991, Melbournians owned 1.8 million cars and by 2005, car ownership had jumped by almost 700,000 vehicles to 2.45 million. At the current rate of car possession per household, we will have an extra 1.1 million cars by 2036. Does anyone in this room seriously think moving in Melbourne is going to get anything but harder? 1 million extra cars! We get proposals for still more freeways to deal with all these cars but they don’t solve the problem; they just turn into toll roads that make motoring more expensive. Melbourne has one of the highest ratios of road space to population of any city, with Melbournians taking up more road space and generating more emissions per capita than Londoners. In 2007 there were an average 13.37 million trips a day in Melbourne, with 12 million of those taken by car. This increased car ownership and use in turn generates traffic congestion – Melbourne’s traffic mess.A major problem lurking for our economy is the burgeoning cost of traffic congestion in our major cities. Building new communities and new roads on the urban fringes of Melbourne will lead to more congestion,traffic which will ultimately hurt our economy.

For rest of speach see MELBOURNE’S TRAFFIC MESS

RPPG joined with Protectors of Public Landands Victoria Inc. and Carlton Residents’ Association at theirsnap protest – Say No to East West Link Yes To Doncaster Rail Link next week.

This was the notice:

“As you would know Stage One of construction of the East West Link has commenced with “geological investigation” (ie drilling for soil and rock samples and testing for underground water) along the proposed alignment of the above/under/on ground road way.  Note from comments made by the State Government that the tollway/freeway it is highly likely to be an above ground “aerial roadway” akin to CitiLink along Princes Street and through the inner suburbs with compulsory acquisition of property along the route. It is likely to be open cut through Royal Park.

Please support us at this crucial stage of our campaign. The drilling rig will be installed on the reserve outside the Dan O’Connell Hotel Carlton, north east of  the Canning St/Neill St intersection,Carlton.  The reserve is right on Princes Street behind the wall.  (The reference for this drilling site is EWL-B12-007 on the map from Linking Melbourne Authority. Please advse if you could like a copy of the map sent on email)

Time: 12:15 pm for 12: 30 pm start

Date: Tuesday 21 August 2012

Reason: Continue protest over East West Link and demand the Doncaster Rail Link.

Speakers: Councillors and community representatives

Bring: Green triangles with No Tunnel message or Trains not Tunnel placards or Public Transport Not Road Tunnels placards/banners.”

PPL and RPPG reps  met at 12 noon at the Football Pavilion between Brens Drive and H G Smith Ovals

See Map of drill sites. We visited EWL-B12 – 012 first on the crown of the hill in the grasslands This was an aboriginal corroboree site and are important grasslands and habitat for grasslands parrots and feeding ground for flocks of native birds.  We also checked out EWL-B12-013 and 014.

The group then drove around to Brens Drive park outside the State Netball and Hockey Centre then walked back to meet at Anzac Hall.  We inspected the drilling site next to or opposite Anzac Hall.

See  EWL-B12-007 at the corner of O’Neill Street and Canning Street Carlton on the triangle of land near the Dan O’Connell Hotel Drilling will start there on Monday next.  The Dan O’Connell Hotel only got a note under its door on Thursday afternoon advising of the drilling. .

You do realise that the drill sites indicate the alignment of the EW Link and that the Government wont be able to afford a tunnel so as we were told during the Eddington Review the motorway will be “cut and cover” – cut now cover in 5 years if ever.

Drilling Program Indicates East West Link Route: We discussed at length the test drilling program – Stage 1 of the East West Link – currently underway between Hoddle Street Collingwood at the end of the Eastern Freeway and Alfred Street/Boundary Road, North Melbourne. The plans produced by LMA,  showing the individual test sites, gives a very good indication of the proposed alignment of the East West Link. It extends from the Eastern Freeway, through the inner suburbs and Footscray to the Western Ring Road, some eighteen kilometres in length. . (The full length is now known as the East West Link.  WestLink – once separate – is now known as the “western extension of the East West Link”!) As far as we know there are about 50 test sites in all with about 13 in Royal Park and Princes Park on CoM territory. (LMA had to ask CoM permission but not apparrently on VicRoads land.) It is very interesting to note that test drilling is not proposed west of CityLink at this stage.

Direction of East West Link Changed from Eddington 2008 Plan: Attached is a small version of a a map tabled at the meeting and now on the LMA website. It reveals the East West Link at around Alfred Street and Boundary Road, North Melbourne has, very generally,changed direction. (Under the Eddington Plan it barrelled under North Melbourne and Kensington including HollandPark to the Port) It now goes south along CityLink and turns west through the rail yards and Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market to link up with the tunnel running under Footscray and out to the Western Ring Road. (It is not known where the new “portal” will be this side of the Maribyrnong River.)  It is not clear from the maps if this section is in a tunnel, at grade or elevated. It is important to note that it does not go through Kensington to Holland Park as originally proposed.

More Detailed Maps of Drilling Sites: LMA has agreed to provide us with a detailed map showing clearly location of the drilling sites with information on depth etc of sites . This will help clarify the route of the East West Link and enable us to have a clearer idea of the real impact on inner Melbourne. . Note that LMA is undertaking a “Business Case” for the East West Link which will be completed next year or late this year.  There will be no access for the public to the justification for construction of the East West Link as it is regarded as commercial in confidence. So the information about drilling might be the only material to which we will be privy.

Paul Leitinger and Julianne Bell, as our representatives. attended the MCC meeting on July 10^th, 2012 of the Council’s Future Melbourne Committee’s stated position.

They provided submissions opposing the drilling and pointing out the Council

On May 8^th the Council had stated it “was opposed to use of any parkland for the purpose of any roadworks or associated activities”.

The members of the Committee listened to our proposal that a management plan with penalties was required as a minimum and agreed to put in place such a plan with protection measures. We were thanked for the legal opinion and our submission.

IS THIS the path the controversial east-west road tunnel will cut through the inner city?

In an application to Melbourne City Council the Baillieu government is requesting approval for 13 test drilling sites in Royal Park and surrounding suburbs to plan for the multibillion-dollar project.

In an indication of its preferred route for the tunnel, maps show the drill sites run in a direct line from Alexandra Parade under the Melbourne Cemetery and Royal Park.

At the back of the indicative route the drill sites split, suggesting locations for inbound and outbound connections to CityLink in Royal Park and nearby neighbourhoods.

The government says the project will ease traffic congestion on Melbourne’s roads and create an alternative cross-city route for cars and trucks. Since it was first proposed under the previous state government the tunnel has faced heated local opposition over tolls and concerns over its impact on the inner city and parkland.

The project received a boost earlier this month when Opposition Leader Tony Abbott committed $1.5 billion to help build it. It has been reported federal Labor could also commit funding later this year.

The application to Melbourne City Council notes previous comments by state Transport Minister Terry Mulder that ”drilling in a particular area did not necessarily mean that the east-west link would be situated or have an impact on that location”.

A spokeswoman for the state government said yesterday it was committed to the future of the east-west link. She said the tunnel would comprise a new 18-kilometre inner-urban freeway connecting the Eastern Freeway and the Western Ring Road, with key intermediate connections including the Tullamarine Freeway, Port of Melbourne and Geelong Road.

”The government is seeking approval from City of Melbourne to continue its geotechnical drilling program, which is being undertaken to determine the best connection points on a cost-benefit basis,” she said.

According to the application, a 10-centimetre borehole will be drilled at each site to a depth of 50 to 65 metres to test soil and rock conditions. A device will also be inserted to test the water table and the borehole will then be backfilled with sand and capped. Each test drill will take four to five days to complete.

The tunnel project has emerged as one of the major issues in the upcoming by-election for the state seat of Melbourne being fought between Labor and the Greens.

Deputy Labor leader Transport Minister said last night that Ted Baillieu ”can play charades all he likes but the simple facts are he is proposing to drill holes on an unfunded project that is unlikely to ever be built, while road congestion in Melbourne worsens”.

Greens leader Greg Barber said Labor’s opposition to the tunnel was expedient and for the cost of the project Melbourne could have a ”dream public transport system”.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/drill-sites-give-clue-to-future-path-of-road-tunnel-20120708-21pjp.html#ixzz2JztCdABo

“This stretch of water used to be home to a number of species of birds but these have disappeared with the exception of a few ducks. In addition to the water birds,  there were little “bush birds” living in the vegetation on the banks of the pond and used to skim the water picking up insects. But, as far as we know, they are no longer there. See photo of the billabong taken last week.  Also of concern is the condition of the swale running north-south through the Gardens along the line of what once was a creek into the pond. We assume that the swale is now stagnant.    We should be pleased if you can immediately authorise removal of this carpet of red algae and proceed with the rehabilitation of the billabong and swale. This matter is urgent to encourage birds to return to theAustralian Native Garden.”

A positive response was received and the state of the billabong is much improved.

Julianne Bell and Protectors of Public Lands members at the planned toilet site. PIC: MATT MURPHY

A PARKLAND protection group is kicking up a stink over Melbourne Council plans to install a $200,000 public toilet in Royal Park, saying it would kill heritage trees.

The council is set to start work on the aluminium toilet building in Gatehouse St, near the corner with Park Drive, next month.

But Protectors of Public Lands is fighting to have the toilet moved, saying the proposed site would kill two historic pepper trees and spoil a major entrance to the park.

“It is an extreme act of vandalism,” spokeswoman Julianne Bell told the Leader last week.

Ms Bell also warned public toilets could attract illegal and anti-social behaviour, which she said had led to the partial closure of a public toilet at nearby Western Oval.

But council spokesman Sam Bishop denied there would be any tree damage and said the plan had been supported in public consultation that ended on April 10.

“The public toilet will be installed next to the path at the edge of the park to ensure the safety and convenience of park visitors and local residents,” Mr Bishop said.

Cr Cathy Oke said the council had done a significant amount of work with tree expert

From Melbourne Leader see article http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/toilets-create-bit-of-a-royal-park-stink/

A TUNNEL from the Eastern Freeway to the Tullamarine Freeway will be considered by the Baillieu government as part of an infrastructure plan ordered by Treasurer Kim Wells, following widespread criticism that Victoria is not planning major projects.

Mr Wells has ordered his department to urgently get to work on an infrastructure plan for Victoria after being warned the state is at risk of losing billions of dollars of investment and thousands of skilled workers to New South Wales and Queensland.

The Age believes the government will reconsider a range of transport projects flagged by the previous government, including an east-west road tunnel from the Eastern Freeway to the Tullamarine Freeway, a metro rail tunnel from Footscray to St Kilda Road, and a ”missing link” connection between the Metropolitan Ring Road and the Eastern Freeway.

Infrastructure Australia chief Sir Rod Eddington is believed to have recently told the Baillieu government to consider following the NSW government’s lead, which has announced a new body headed by former premier Nick Greiner called Infrastructure NSW to aggressively pursue major projects.

It is unclear when the major new plan will be released or how it will be funded, but the department is working with the Department of Transport and other agencies to develop it.

“My view is that we need to make this body as efficient as possible and at the moment I’m satisfied that the Department of Treasury and Finance are the right people to be pulling it together,” Mr Wells told The Age.

”We have spoken to nearly every single very large contractor in this state but the message is very clear: this is about targeting the investment in tough economic times to make sure that we are able to boost productivity.”

The decision represents a belated acknowledgement by the government that Victoria is in danger of losing its reputation as an innovative state when it comes to procuring major projects.

The Age has spoken to senior Melbourne business figures who are worried about the lack of action, warning they are now looking to NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Asia because of the long lead times associated with major projects.

“People are nervous about what happens next,” a Melbourne-based business figure closely involved with high-profile major projects told The Age.

“Six months, 12 months, 18 months, I don’t know. It’s a pain in the arse sitting here waiting for a whole lot of work that we were doing before and we don’t know whether it is going ahead or not going ahead.”

Mr Wells said he was determined to make rigorous decisions to avoid mistakes of the former Brumby government. But he refused to be drawn on when or if the plan would be released.

“When I talk to the contractors in Melbourne, they are looking for certainty,” he said.

“The issue of the pipeline is an important part of addressing their concerns and we believe this will be an incredibly positive step forward for the state and to give certainty to those large contractors.”Business and transport lobby groups are also getting tetchy.

RACV general manager Brian Negus said Melbourne needed a long-term transport plan to address the ”frustration” being felt by road and public transport users. Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Mark Stone said he understood the government’s immediate priority was implementing election promises, but a long-term blueprint for Victoria was needed.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/wells-plans-to-fix-projects-dilemma-20110626-1gltm.html#ixzz2JzrvwCHY