Tag Archives: Melbourne Council

What Can I Do

Posted on by

Things that you can do
1. Come to rallies and meetings Show Details Current Opportunities for Action
Come to the AGM at Flemington on October 26th
Drop by, come and help
Share your love of Royal Park with others encourage them help save the Royal Park
 2. Wear our badge Show Details It attracts interest and promotes conversation. Most people do not believe that the park will be affected  3. Letterbox part of your neighbourhood Show Details or identify a business that will display copies of our leaflet.
This is an A5 printed leaflet. Let us know how many copies you need  4. Involve your family and friends – the more voices the better
5. Write to politicians Show Details Make Politicians aware that you care
The Royal Park is public land. It belongs to all Victorians. We hold it in trust for future generations.
There is no justification for this road.
There is no mandate for this road.
Write to the Premier, Denis Napthine premier@dpc.vic.gov.au
Minister Mulder, Minister for Public Transport and Roads terence.mulder@parliament.vic.gov.au
Minister Guy Minister for Planning matthew.guy@parliament.vic.gov.au
Your local member
1. Leader of the opposition, Daniel Andrews www.danielandrews.com.au
The Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Local member for Melbourne Adam Bandt
“I am of the view that the EW Link project will not solve traffic and freight transport problems nor fix congestion; will vacuum up $8 billion of State funds which should be spent on public transport, in particular, rail projects; will devastate Royal Park, Travancore Park and the Moonee Ponds Creek; will impact on the Melbourne Zoo, the Royal Children’s Hospital, the State Netball and Hockey Centre and the Urban Camp; will obliterate whole neighbourhoods along its route, affect the amenity of the inner suburbs; and destroy heritage streetscapes”.
 6. Write to the Council Show Details Write to the Melbourne City Councillors
Lord Mayor
lordmayor@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Councillors
Kevin.Louey@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Susan.Riley@melbourne.vic.gov.au
rohan.leppert@melbourne.vic.gov.au
stephen.mayne@melbourne.vic.gov.au
beverley.pinder-mortimer@melbourne.vic.gov.au
arron.wood@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Jackie.Watts@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Cathy.Oke@melbourne.vic.gov.au
 7. Write to the papers Show Details Write to the Papers
The Age
Mail: Letters Editor, PO Box 257, Melbourne, 3001
Fax: (03) 86672414
Email: letters@theage.com.au
Web: theage.com.au/letters/submit
Herald Sun
Mail: Letters to the Editor, Herald Sun, PO Box 14631, Melbourne, 8001
Fax: (03) 9292 2112
Email: hsletters@heraldsun.com.au (no attachments)
Web: heraldsun.com.au/letter
Text talk Text a message to 19772948 (costs 55 cents per 160 characters)
Your local paper
 8. Call talk back radio Show Details Call Talk back radio
Call your favourite station.
ABC 1300222774
Text: 0437774774
3AW: Open Line: 03 96 900 693, Outside Melbourne Open Line: 13133
 9. Sign the “Trains not Tollroads” petition Show Details

trains not tolls

Drill sites give clue to future path of road tunnel

Posted on by

From The Age

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 application for ”preliminary geotechnical drilling” is part of a $15 million business case being prepared for the 18-kilometre tunnel, which tops the Baillieu government’s infrastructure wish-list.

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. Continue reading →

Toilets create stink at Royal Park

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

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/

OUR PARKS FOR HIRE

Posted on by

Toss the Council’s position and to review the comments and add your own
in the discussion about the hire out of our park. It is amazing to see the
money being generated. If there were no such events then money would not
be required for repair and restoration!
Events now held in parks should be held in purpose built venues not in
parkland used for passive recreation e.g. the Big Day Out – a rock concert –
was in Princes Park and after community opposition was moved to
Flemington Racecourse.
RPPG managed to prevent having polo matches in Royal Park which would
have destroyed the hill top used for passive recreation south of the State
Netball and Hockey Centre.
It is important that Royal Park be protected and preserved for passive
recreation for all including our wildlife. Our wonderful park should not be
seen as just paddocks for hire.

From Melbourne Leader

HAVE YOUR SAY: Melbourne Council rakes in park hire revenue

Royal Park in Parkville was Melbourne Council’s most profitable park during 2009/10. Picture: MATT MURPHY from Melbourne Leader

MELBOURNE Council expects to reap more than $1 million in park hire fees this financial year, prompting claims that resident access is being overlooked in favour of financial gain.

The council’s predicted revenue stands in stark contrast to neighbouring Yarra Council, which projects it will make just $81,522 out of park and sports ground hire in 2011/12.

Melbourne Council chief executive Kathy Alexander said parks were hired for purposes including weddings, personal training, sporting activities and major events.

The council collected $924,315 in 2009/10 and about $676,000 in 2010/11. Estimated revenue for 2011/12 is $1,090,864. For event organisers wanting to hire a section of a park, the cost is $1 per sq m.

Ms Alexander said all revenue was used for service provision and a portion of it was reinvested into parks. But Protectors of Public Lands spokeswoman Julianne Bell said it was “appalling” that public space was being tied up for private or commercial use.

“Access to public open space, parks and gardens for passive recreation is a right of all people of Melbourne, and it is particularly important given Melbourne’s growing population,” Mrs Bell said.

“By hiring it out for specific purposes they (the council) are denying people access to parks and gardens. The city council is there to serve the ratepayers – they’re not a money-making operation.”

Mrs Bell said the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, which occupies the southern part of Carlton Gardens for 18 days and makes the council $110,000 in fees, was an example of people losing access to community parks.

Ms Alexander said a review of the fee structure was underway and would be considered by councillors this financial year.

Greens councillor Cathy Oke said the council needed to be careful how often it closed off areas for private use. But she said the fees were appropriate given the cost of managing and rehabilitating parks after events.

For Full Article http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/melbourne-council-rakes-in-park-hire-revenue/