newlands community alliance

Bee Keeping Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:32:00 +0000

Dear Interested Current and Future Bee Keepers

I am holding my first workshop next Saturday morning the 3rd September from 9am – 11am. There will be 6 participants give or take one person. There will be some live bees and honey comb to look at in a secure exhibition cabinet and a discussion of bee behaviour and hive management.

The major topics discussed will be:

Establishing a hive,
Understanding the tasks to be carried out in spring,
How to go about robbing and extracting honey and
Swarm control.

The major items that make up a hive and their construction will also be discussed. The equipment a beekeeper needs will be reviewed.

It is intended that during the workshop participants will complete the construction of a frame for a hive (using a wiring device) and also insert beeswax foundation into that frame. The frame and beeswax foundation may be taken home and is included in the workshop cost.

The workshop will be repeated each Saturday for at least 4 weeks so if you cannot make it on the 3rd of September please indicate another Saturday when you would wish to attend.

The cost of the workshop will normally be $35 (inc. GST) but as a bonus for the first workshop the price will be $30 (inc. GST). Payment may be made on the day but booking of your place is essential.

Please let me know as soon as possible, by return email, if you would like to be one of the six participants attending this coming Saturday and secure your place in the workshop.

Please see the attached flyer in pdf format.

Bee Keeping Workshop Flyer

I look forward to your company at what is expected to be an enjoyable and involving two hours.

Faithfully

Robert

Community Meeting - Brunswick Terminal Station Expansion

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 08:00:00 +0000

This post is taken directly from here and has been re-posted as the proposed Brunswick Terminal Station expansion also affects our neighbourhood.

COMMUNITY MEETING - MONDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER

The Merri Creek Residents Group is organising another community meeting for local residents and other interested parties to discuss the proposed Brunswick Terminal Station expansion.

Date: Monday 19th September
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Merri Creek Primary School - Main Hall (enter via Ida Street)
This is a critical meeting for all those concerned about the proposed four-fold expansion of the current site to include a new 66kV terminal station.

Letters have been sent by Council notifying local residents of the application lodged by the power companies - you may have received yours on Friday this week - giving less than the required 2 weeks for objections to be submitted. This may be indicative of yet another series of blunders and insincere 'community consultations' that we saw last time this matter was taken to Council in 2010.

We urge you to come along to the meeting on the 19th, talk to your neighbours about the importance of having their voice heard, and make sure you take this opportunity to help shape our local community. Make no mistake - once this next upgrade goes ahead, there will be others in the years to come making this the largest industrial site in the whole of Moreland. If you don't want this for your neighbourhood, now is the time to stand up!

Upcoming Community Events

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 01:25:00 +0000

Ride to Pool Day
Sunday 23rd January 11-6.
Free event at the pool with great local music; Kids Choir, Jody Galvin, Nick Murphy, Short Order Chefs.
Spread the word this is going to be a wonderful day.

Kids Swimming Lessons at the Coburg Olympic pool
Starting the week of Monday 24th Jan.
Today is the last day to get enrolment forms in.

Clothes Swap
Sunday 6th Feb.
Bring along anything to swap, we're raising funds to buy trees for the park near the basketball stadium.
$5.00 per family.

Friday Night BBQs and Food Swap
Friday night bbqs are still the best way to start the weekend.
Bring along food/drink/kids and turn up whenever suits, normally goes well into the evening.
Don't forget this also the place to swap excess fruit and veg.

Kodak development submissions

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:08:00 +0000

A community meeting was held on February 7th at the Newlands Community Centre regarding the proposed development plan for the old Kodak site on Elizabeth street. Over fifty local people and representatives from the Department of Planning & Community Development attended to discuss the proposed development. The Newlands Community Alliance submission to the department of Planning & Community Development is shown below. Click on the link to read or download the full submission.
NCA Submission Kodak 220210-1

You can also view the submission from Kelvin Thomson MP. Click on the link to read or download the full submission.
100222 Kt Kodak Submission Ac

A submission was also made on behalf of the High School for Coburg group. It can be found here. Submissions formally closed on Monday 22nd February 2010.

NCA community meeting about the proposed development of the former Kodak site

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:51:00 +0000

Newlands Community Alliance hosted a community meeting last Sunday to learn about and discuss the proposed development of the former Kodak site. After Robert Larocca from NCA opened the meeting, Tom and John from Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) presented the development plan.

The plan

Minimum of 380 dwellings.
Average lot size in local areas surrounding the Kodak site are 300-500squares therefore the development plan is consistent with this in ‘interface’ areas.
18.5 dwellings per hectare proposed.
Density of this development is lower than comparable ones (Parkville Gardens - Commonwealth Village and Pentridge Village) due to lack of public transport infrastructure.
Treed area on the corner of Elizabeth and Boyne streets has been used informally by community however ‘adverse possession’ can only be pursued when one individual has used and developed a site. There is no provision for this area to be reserved as open space in the development plan..

Following some discussion of the plan, Stephen Northey from NCA outlined community objectives and values as generated by community dinner held 18 months ago. A number of local stakeholders briefy addressed the meeting. These included Anthony from Kelvin Thomson's office, Cate Hall from High School for Coburg, Anne Sgro from Merri and Edgars Creek Parkland Group, Toby Archer - local ward councillor, Colleen Hartland -MP Western Metro region State Government, Anita Morgan from Friends of Edgars Creek.

Talking points included

Open space

Open space provision in the development plan includes a water easement east west acoss the site apporoximately 12 metres in diameter and a bridge across Edgars Creek.
Total site proposed to be open space equals approximately 5%. As Edgars Creek parkland is within 400 metres there is no planning requirement for more public open space on the development site.
A big question was raised relating to the issue of uncertainty of ongoing community access to Merri and Edgars Creek Parkland area. This area is under negotiations between Vicroads and the City of Moreland . The development plan works on the assumption that this space will remain public open space. Which is by no means certain at this stage.
Some houses will face Edgars Creek and others will ‘back-on’ to creek.
Access points to Edgars Creek from development.
The preservation of the unique character of the Edgars Creek reserve.

Planning approval process

DPCD will provide approval for development plan at this level of detail and any subsequent planning/subdivision permits/process’ are dealt with through Moreland city Council
Unless a planning permit is deemed inconsistent with the current development plan, Moreland City Council is not obliged to advertise or invite community comment.

Parking and Traffic

On any lot smaller than 7.2 metres, access is proposed via a laneway at the rear.
Houses on borders of the development site which interface with the existing community are proposed to be on large lots and therefore likely to have parking facilities.
Moreland council responsible for ongoing management of on-street parking.
DPCD indicated they are requesting two peer reviews of existing traffic report assessment document (Moreland Council and Planning Panels Victoria).

Existing infrastructure

Assessment reports completed to date work on the assumption that there are adequate resources for existing community - however this is known to be based on incorrect data even prior to the population rise that will come with the proposed development (as demonstrated by lack of local kindergarten places and issues with secondary education provision in the Coburg area)

Submissions
At the close of the meeting Robert Larocca from NCA briefly outlined submission process. More details and links to all the planning documents can be found on the DPCD website. Submissions can be made until 22nd of February, 2010.

Submissions can be sent by mail to:

State Planning Services
Department of planning and Community Development
GPO Box 500
East Melbourne VIC 3002

or by email stateplanning.services@dpcd.vic.gov.au

Submissions can be as long or as short as you wish. They can address the development plan headings or can be a statement from your heart. Having your say is what is most important.

Letter to the Minister for Planning - Omissions in the community consultation process

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:40:00 +0000

Below is a copy of a letter sent to the Minister for Planning Justin Madden today. It highlights that a significant number of households opposite or potentially affected by the proposed development of the former Kodak site have not been notified of the community consultation process.

The Honourable Justin Madden

Minister for Planning

LEVEL 17

8 NICHOLSON ST

MELBOURNE 3000

CC:

The Honourable Christine Campbell, Member for Pascoe Vale

The Honourable Kelvin Thomson, Member for Wills

The Honourable Robin Scott, Member for Preston

To Mr. Madden,

RE: Community Consultation Process in relation to Redevelopment of the Former Kodak Site, North Coburg

We thank you for extending the deadline to comment on the Kodak development plan to the 22nd February 2010.

I write to you on behalf of the great number of our community that missed out on hearing about the community consultation period in regards to Kodak. We have alerted you or your Departmental representatives on this matter in a number of ways previously:

we sent you a letter two weeks ago
both our federal and state local members alerted you to this issue, and
two DPCD representatives (John and Tom) who kindly attended both public meetings in relation to the Kodak site redevelopment were both told in person.

The entire east side of Elizabeth St (houses directly opposite the Kodak site) have heard nothing about the proposed development or the public consultation process. These people reside within the municipality of Darebin rather than the City of Moreland where the actual development site is located. They therefore do not receive our local newspaper (Moreland Leader) and have not seen any of the public notices associated with the public consultation process published in that paper.

Residents of many streets that will be directly affected by increased through traffic were also not directly notified i.e. residents in Jackson Pde, Outlook Rd, Mehegan Ave and Peterson Ave.

In light of this significant omission in the community consultation process I ask you to personally ensure that the residents of Darebin are informed of their right to comment of the plans.

Yours sincerely,

Melissa Alexander

Newlands Community Alliance

Kodak burns again (and a reminder about the meeting tomorrow)

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:02:00 +0000

by Janet Grigg
Last weekend, I was at the pool with my daughter and we saw black smoke billowing across the sky. It seemed close, but indeed it was a bit further away. Almost in our backyard, as it happened. Yes, the old Kodak factory was on fire again. For the second time in six months.

Friends who live opposite Kodak said that it was terrifying, with explosions and flames leaping from the building. Elizabeth Street was blocked off for ages. My partner who was home at the time said that he could hear glass falling and that the backyard was enveloped in thick black smoke. Hours later the house still smelled of smoke.

In a lot of ways, I'm pleased that the Kodak site is going to be developed soon. Hopefully it will mean fewer fires and a safer, more secure neighbourhood. Of course, I'm concerned about the form that development will take and how to have my say. That's why I'm going to the community information session tomorrow from 2.00pm at the Newlands Community Centre. Hope to see you there.

Letter to the Minister for Planning RE: Community Consultation in relation to the proposed Development Plan for the former Kodak site, 173-199 Elizabe

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:50:00 +0000

by Melissa Alexander

A copy of the letter recently sent to the Minister for Planning, The Honourable Justin Madden.

31 January 2010

The Honourable Justin Madden
Minister for Planning
LEVEL 17
8 NICHOLSON ST
MELBOURNE 3000

cc
The Honourable Christine Campbell, Member for Pascoe Vale
The Honourable Kelvin Thomson, Member for Wills
The Honourable Robin Scott, Member for Preston
State Planning Service, Department of Planning and Community Development
Mayor and Councillors, Moreland City Council
Mayor and councillors, Darebin City Council

Dear Mr. Madden

RE: Community Consultation in relation to the proposed Development Plan for the former Kodak site, 173-199 Elizabeth Street, North Coburg (30 November 2009)

I am writing firstly to advise you about a concerning omission in relation letters distributed to local residents advising them about the consultation process associated with the above Development Plan.

Residents living along the east side of Elizabeth Street did not receive the letter and therefore are unaware of the opportunity to make submissions in relation to the draft Development Plan. Essentially, residents of the City of Darebin appear to have been excluded from commenting on the Plan.

These residents will be directly and significantly impacted by the proposed Plan, particularly given the projected increase in traffic volumes, relocation of street lights and the proposed maximum height limits of three storey residential and four storey commercial built form currently proposed along the west side of Elizabeth Street. These residents deserve and an equal opportunity to comment on the proposed Development Plan.

Residents along the east side of Elizabeth Street also do not receive the Moreland Leader and therefore will not have noticed any advertisements relating to the deadlines for submission.

Secondly, the letters that were distributed to local residents in select neighbourhood streets were received on Christmas Eve. As you will be aware, many people take annual vacation over the January period and therefore have not had a ‘fair and reasonable’ opportunity to comment on the Development Plan. This is especially concerning given the large number of young families residing in the Newlands area who rely on existing community facilities and local amenity, such as safe walking access to and from the Newlands Primary School. The proposed Development Plan will have a marked impact on local amenity and access to community facilities and therefore it is appropriate the all residents have a ‘fair and reasonable’ opportunity to provide input into this significant 400 dwelling development located within an existing residential community. Another point to mention in relation to distribution to ‘select’ neighbourhood streets was that streets that will have significantly higher traffic volumes, namely Outlook Rd and Jackson Pde, were also exempt from the distribution of leaflets.

Thirdly, the letters that were distributed were addressed to the ‘owner’ of the property. This has a disempowering impact on people who rent. Residents who rent make an active and valued contribution to our local community. People who rent have a strong knowledge about and reliance on existing community infrastructure. It is both respectful and appropriate to invite comment from renters whose neighbourhood will be significant impacted by the proposed development.

Given the exclusion from the advertised consultation process of residents living on the east side of Elizabeth Street and renters, as well as the inappropriate submission deadline set during a known summer holiday period, we formally request an extension to the submission deadline. We also request that residents on the east side of Elizabeth Street, Outlook Rd and Jackson Pde receive the letter relating to the Development Plan.

We also note that not all residents, particularly the elderly, have access to or skills to use email or internet. A ‘fair and reasonable’ consultation process would not exclude these people from having an input into their local community, including comment of such a significant development.

Given the obvious omissions in the current consultation process, the Newlands Community Alliance is facilitating a community meeting in relation to the proposed Development Plan. This meeting will be held at the Newlands Community Centre on the 7th February 2010 and will provide the local community with an opportunity to both understand and discuss, as a community, the proposed Development.

This meeting will provide an opportunity for all affected residents, regardless of whether they are technology savvy or in immediate residential location to the development site, to be given a ‘fair and reasonable’ opportunity to access, understand and comment on the potential impacts of the proposed Development. We would expect that an extension to the submission deadline would allow this to occur, past the Newlands Community meeting on the 7th of February.

To assist the community to understand the Development Plan, we also invite representatives from the Department of Planning and Community Development to brief the community on the proposed Plan at a community meeting scheduled for 7th February 2010. We would not expect representatives to answer questions from the floor. We do believe, however, that a presentation overview would help residents that are not skilled in reading such a document and therefore cannot understand the potential impact on their local community

We look forward to prompt response to this letter and a revised consultation process. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 0404 043 010 if you would like to discuss any aspects of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Melissa Alexander
Newlands Community Alliance
www.newlandscommunityalliance.org
29 Peterson Ave
Coburg North 3058

Meeting about the development plan for the former Kodak site

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:21:00 +0000

The State Government has released the development plan for the former Kodak site and has asked for our views.

The Newlands Community Alliance is holding a public information session on the proposal:

Sunday 7 February from 2.30-5pm at the

Newlands Community Centre, 20 Murray Rd, North Coburg

At the meeting you will be able to

Look at the plans – answer the key questions...

How will they affect you?
How will they affect Edgars Creek?
What will happen to the trees on the corner of Elizabeth and Boyne St?
What community facilities are planned?
When will it start and finish?
Hear the views of a range of community groups and representatives
Have your say

About the proposal

You can find out more at www.dpcd.vic.gov.au
The development proposes 380 dwellings between 1 and 4 stories high
The demolishment of the administration building
A neighbourhood hub

How to have your say

Make a submission to the Government by 22 February* to stateplanning.services@dpcd.vic.gov.au
Make a submission at the meeting
Attend information session being held by Christine Campbell MP on 1st February 2010 at 7.00pm at the Newlands Neighbourhood House, 20 Murray Road, Coburg

* Christine Campbell has obtained permission from the Minister for the original deadline of 8th of February to be extended to Monday 22nd of February, 2010. So there is still plenty of time for you to have your say!

Kodak redevelopment

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:11:00 +0000

by Melissa Alexander

This is a copy of the letter to Justin Madden, the Victorian Minister for planning, regarding the community consultation process for the redevelopment of the Kodak site.

Thursday November 24, 2009

Justin Madden
Level 17
8 Nicholson St
East Melbourne 3002

Newlands Community Alliance
29 Peterson Ave
Coburg North 3058

Att: Justin Madden

Ref: Kodak redevelopment site – Coburg North

We write to you on behalf of the community in the Newlands estate, as we are plagued with questions from our community in regards to the Kodak site.

We have heard of “targeted consultation with immediate residents and business” but we have not been given any definitive time frames.

We have been asking for re-assurance about the community consultation period for some time now and despite several attempts (with particular reference to unanswered correspondence dated March 2009) we have received no response.

We feel the process should echo that of Pentridge development in respect to open forums, plans on display and opportunities to make submissions.

We ask that you respond to us in writing about this process because we feel quite sure there are time frames in place that everyone is working to.

Our community is very active in assisting improvement of the environment and services in the area and our organisation would like to feel it can affectively facilitate a successful dialogue with the relevant authorities and developers to create shared ownership of great expected outcomes.

Yours faithfully

Melissa Alexander
Newlands Community Alliance

Cc: Christine Campbell and Kelvin Thompson

Darebin - Moreland Bus Service Review

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:03:00 +0000

by Melissa Alexander

This is a copy of the letter sent in response to the call for submissions to the Banyule/Darebin/Moreland Bus review.

Banyule/Darebin/Moreland Bus Service Review
PO Box 2797
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

To whom it may concern,
We thank you for the opportunity to comment on our much loved 526 bus. At a general level the bus is a much valued community asset and it helps people in our local area get around. Without it we would face a significant walk to get to a useful service.
We do however have a few suggestions to improve the service.
Increase the frequency - The service currently runs on a 30 min frequency, whilst the train it connects to runs on a 20 min frequency. They should be aligned and co-ordinated as half the time the bus arrives in Coburg and you face a 17 minute wait, other times you need to sprint across Bell Street to get to the train.
Increase hours of operation - The service should run later in the evening, till at least 9pm and on Sundays. That would better align with commitments by the State Government on span of operation.
More connections - The service currently really only connects Newlands with Coburg, connecting with the no.19 tram and Upfield Train. It should be a connection between the Reservoir train station and Coburg train station. If it did that users would also have the opportunity to go to the 19 and 112 tram.
We hope you are able to implement these changes.
Yours sincerely

Mel Alexander
Newlands Community Alliance

cc Christine Campbell, Moreland City Council

Spring Equinox

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:59:00 +0000

by Janet Grigg

Last Sunday we celebrated the Spring Equinox down by the Merri Creek. The creek was full of rushing water, the grass was long and lush. There was also a fair bit of onion weed, but that's the city for you. There was eating and drinking, hanging out, children playing and climbing the cliff. And some very serious cape action.

Unfortunately our social calender (plus my laziness) has been such that we didn't make it to the cape making workshop, but I'm thinking that we should plan some outfits for the summer solstice celebration. And some lanterns or torches for zooming about after dark and making our way back to the bridge and home again.

Clothes swap

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:08:00 +0000

by Janet Grigg
Last Sunday we had a clothes swap in the park. It was organised as a fundraiser to buy some equipment for our drygoods co-op and it was so much fun. It was simple too. The deal was that you arrived with your bag of things to swap; clothes (kid's, men's, women's), books, toys, shoes, some bric a brac. Basically anything good enough to give to the opshop. You paid five dollars per family and you were in. There was also a table with slices of cake, tea and coffee for a gold coin donation. We all started looking at everything as it arrived, of course, but put everything back in the pile. Once everyone was there, we stood around, poised and waited for the word. Then we fossicked. Oh it was good! The only danger was that if you took something off to try something on, it was liable to disappear! And Helke nearly lost her new ugg boots. Oops. But those issues got sorted pretty quickly and it all turned out OK.

We got rid of heaps and heaps of stuff and it was a good feeling that our neighbours got a chance to pick over it before it went to the oppy. Afterwards, a woman from a local opshop came with a van and took the remaining stuff away. It was a winner all round.
I think we're going to do it four times a year now, just before the season changes perhaps. Indeed, I heard that it may be the easiest fundraiser ever

Winter Solstice

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:03:00 +0000

by Janet Grigg

Last night we celebrated winter solstice by the Merri Creek. I made a picnic dinner using ingredients from our weekly organic vegie box. We're now part of a vegie co-op, a new co-op that's being formed with the help of another local co-op that's already been running for several years. On Thursday we picked up our first box and I have to say, I have never tasted apples so good. Or had so many pears to eat. The mushrooms are superb and the broccoli was also surprisingly good, with none of that supermarket sulphur taste. Anyway, most of the members of the co-op were there last night. Along with friends and neighbours, people from various groups around the community. This estate has a human connectedness that I've never experienced in a place before. I couldn't have imagined that I'd live somewhere like this and it continues to surprise me. I totally love it.

We dressed warmly, even though it didn't end up being all that cold. It was exciting crossing the foot bridge and walking up along the creek, pulling our shopping trolley that G found in the hard rubbish, with a rucksack on it filled with blankets and food. We set up our blanket, chatted and mingled while Grace ran around with the other kids. Somehow, in between all the excitement we ate a bit of dinner. Then everyone came into a circle, more or less, and we lit candles and lamps. Dave made a low key speech, including an acknowledgment of the traditional owners of the land and something about the intention to gather here to celebrate the summer solstice and the spring and autumn equinoxes and then lead the group on a walk up the hill. Apart from a few minor issues about candles going out and some kids having torches coveted by other kids, it was a beautiful lovely thing to do. We stood at the top of the cliff and saw the fire. Back at the quarry we had some cake and more running around, and then sat around the fire talking until a few spots of rain convinced us that it might be a good time to leave.

Letter to Justin Madden, Minister of Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:42:00 +0000

Justin Madden MLCMinister for Planning
Level 17, 8 Nicholson St
Melbourne 3000

11/05/09

Dear Minister

The Newlands Community Alliance was formed over a year ago to communicate and represent the values and aspirations of the Newlands Community. The Newlands area has a unique heritage, natural and built environment and a diverse, active and cohesive community.

The recent announcement in relation to the redevelopment of the former Kodak site at 173 Elizabeth Street will have a significant impact on the community that we represent. As an overarching community-based group that seeks to encourage and facilitate community connectedness, we intend to provide submissions on the rezoning and redevelopment of Kodak. We are keen to see the redevelopment of the former Kodak sites as an opportunity to enhance the ‘lived’ values inherent in the area.

The 20 hectare development site directly abuts our community. This includes the Newlands Estate, which currently has a heritage overlay as part of the Moreland Planning Scheme, and the Edgars Creek bushland reserve, which is also subject to an Environmental Significance Overlay. The redevelopment of the site for residential and commercial purposes will also impact on existing civic facilities and community services. For these reasons we have a keen interest in the redevelopment of the site and its integration with the existing neighbourhood.

Previously, the community participated actively in some initial consultation with Moreland City Council regarding the redevelopment of the site. As a community we provided a constructive contribution to development of Council objectives for site. This included a site tour with Urbex (the developer) and Council officers. We understood that these objectives would provide guidelines for the eventual Development Plan for the site. These objectives responded well to the heritage, environmental and civic values held within the existing community.

Since that time, we have heard very little in relation to the redevelopment. Last year we wrote to Urbex, sought to meet with them and have had no reply. We saw your media release of 1 May announcing that the State Governement have become the responsible Planning Authority for “173 Elizabeth St, Coburg (former Kodak site)”. This media release indicated that “Construction will begin immediately for this development that will provide for 759 direct and indirect jobs. The 20 hectare site will be rezoned for residential and business use. A development plan will be prepared to address affordable housing, environmental sustainability and traffic management”.

We expect the site to be developed but also expect, as stakeholders, the chance to comment on the Development Plan prior to it being agreed to. The process for the rezoning and redevelopment of the site was clear when Council was the planning authority. Since the recent announcement, this process is now unclear.

Given our interest in the site, its redevelopment and the impact on the surrounding community we would appreciate a meeting with you to explain community expectations for the development and discuss issues relating to its impact.

We would also like to find out what processes are in place to commence the development and how and when we will be able to review plans, ask questions and provide comment.

I can be contacted on [ insert Mel's phone number ], we look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

Mel Alexander

Cc. Christine Campbell MLA
Kelvin Thomson MP

Newlands Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:57:00 +0000

by Stephen Northey
The Newlands Estate, built by the Housing Commission of Victoria between 1943 and 1953, is the dominant residential feature in the Newlands area. It is of State significance as one of the first large scale estates developed by the Housing Commission and is listed as heritage precinct HO124 in the Moreland planning scheme.

According to its heritage assessment, the Newlands Estate is one of the most intact and extensive estates based on the low to medium density housing promoted by the British and American garden suburb and new town theorists during the mid-1900s.

The 65 hectare estate is characterised by meandering, curvilinear streets that follow the contours of the hilly topography to the east of Merri and Edgars Creeks, with a mix of two and three storey walk up flats, duplexes and detached houses. All housing types are of uniform design and use a limited range of materials, including red and clinker brick, terracotta roof tiles, corrugated asbestos cement sheeting and timber framed windows.

External porches, fences and garages are also uniform in design, as are the species originally planted along streets and in private gardens. Low timber-railed fences, Privet hedges, melaleucas and callistemon are common features in the streetscapes.

One of the strongest elements in the original design of the estate was the sense of community focus. A shopping centre (strategically located at the centre of the overall development but now demolished) and the primary school provided meeting places for the young families newly arrived on the estate. Abundant open space reserves, particularly along the two Creeks, and rounded-off street corridors contribute to the estates ‘garden suburb’ character.

The sense of community envisaged in the original design continues to have an impact on the residents of Newlands today. The uniformity of housing contributes to a sense of shared identity; the confluence of the two Creeks connect and bring people together; the parks and civic facilities provide places for residents to meet; and a new influx of young families to the area are renewing the focus around the historically significant Newlands Primary School.

Newlands natural environment

noreply@blogger.com (Newlands Community Alliance) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:59:00 +0000

by Stephen Northey
The Newlands area is bounded and connected by two Creeks: the Merri Creek to the west and Edgars Creek which flows north-south through the middle of Newlands, joining Merri Creek just north of the Murray and Outlook Road intersection. The confluence of Edgars and Merri Creeksis an important symbolic meeting place for the Newlands Community.

The Victorian Resource Atlas (a project funded by the State Government of Victoria) identifies five particular features of these Creeks in the Newlands area that have particular geomorphological significance.

The Edgars Creek Waterfall and geological structure accessible from Boyne Street and Ronald Street, North Coburg comprises an outcrop of Silurian (Melbourne Formation) sandstone and mudstone overlain by alluvial deposits of Edgars Creek. A small waterfall is formed where Edgars Creek flows across the edge of one of these irregular shaped stone beds. Apparently, there are few comparable sites in the Metropolitan Melbourne where this particular process of waterfall formation and exposure of Melbourne Formation is easily viewable. For this reason, the site has regional significance.

The Creek channel and adjacent floodplain and terrace between Outlook Drive and Ronald Street, North Coburg are also significant. Here a broad terrace and confined floodplain is crossed by the meandering channel of Edgars Creek forming a natural “goose-neck” pattern. The floodplain was once part of a much larger alluvial system extending towards Elizabeth Street, which also included a lakebed formed in the Pleistocene period. Bones of extinct marsupials were reportedly found in the clays of this lake deposit, before it became covered with urban and industrial development.

In places the present creek course has cut a path up to 2 metres below the level of the original lava flow and deposited sediment. The creek channel itself is a dynamic feature. The Creek bank is continually being undercut by the stream, making the layering process of sedimentary deposits visible. This is a natural process. Apparently, the Edgars Creek floodplain in Newlands is the only area along the urbanised sections Merri and Edgars Creeks where this process can be observed.

The 8 metre high Cliff of Melbourne Formation on north boundary of the former Kodak site is another impressive geological feature, where the sedimentary layering process the occurred over 400 million years ago during the Silurian period can be seen. Here, Edgars Creek is forced to change direction and flow along the line of the cliff, undercutting the rock in the process.
Upstream of the cliff, the Edgars Creek flows through a thin cover of weathered basalt veneered with alluvium. On the Right bank of creek south of Broadhurst Avenue and adjacent to Ameily Crescent, Reservoir an irregular layer of nodular rocks containing dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate) is found above the alluvial deposit. Dolomite is often associated with freshwater limestone formation. The harder rock nodules may have been used by indigenous peoples for tool making.

Further downstream, around the confluence of Merri and Edgars Creek, the Lava flow structures in De Chene Reserve accessible from Connolly Avenue and the Merri Path mark the edge of a tongue of lava that once filled the former valley of Merri Creek and backed up a short distance into Edgars Creek. This ancient lava flow blocked Edgars Creek and resulted in the formation of a lake upstream. Edgars Creek has since then cut into this sediment and eroded a wide floodplain near the junction of Merri Creek.

The reserve system around Edgars Creek and Merri Creeks also provides important habitat for native fauna. According to the Department of Sustainability and Environment (2006) Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, this area provides habitat for over 48 different fauna species, including the threatened Nankeen Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus, Great Egret Ardea alba and Hardhead Aythya australis.