Glen Eira Debates

January 5, 2012

28 Responses to “A Decade Of Neglect”

1. GE resident Says:

   
   January 5, 2012 at 7:07 PM

   Are these pictures from various parks around Glen Eira? Although the trees have been neglected, my fear is that by raising this issue, the response will be to simply cut them down, rather than to try to save them. We don’t want that.
   1. gleneira Says:

      
      January 5, 2012 at 7:20 PM

      Dear GE Resident,

      the photos are from 3 separate parks within Glen Eira. The cutting down of trees is already a reality. We have commented before on the fact that Glen Eira’s so called “Street Tree Policy” remains almost totally silent on park trees. We also maintain that our most valuable asset in Glen Eira isn’t GESAC and the countless pavilions, but our trees – probably worth billions. Park trees (unless a branch has fallen and there is an obvious safety issue) do not appear to get a look in.

      We have taken literally hundreds of photos. Our “expeditions” reveal that at least 1 in every 3 park tree is in desperate need of pruning and the removal of deadwood and correct canopy treatment. We also suspect that the current (unwritten) policy is that it is cheaper to chop down a tree in an hour, rather than spend 2 hours ensuring that it will survive and thrive. Whilst the drought has undoubtedly done much damage, the last 18 months have seen sufficient rainfall to engender much growth, so drought cannot be currently blamed for the state of many of our trees.
2. Colin Says:

   
   January 5, 2012 at 7:43 PM

   Council planted a young tree just around the corner from us about a month ago. It is now dead! Six other trees planted about 18 months ago are also dead. There’s no point in wasting money planting stuff if council isn’t going to tend these saplings properly and regularly. I’m just wondering if the thinking is that once it’s in the ground then the job is done and forget about it. This doesn’t work judging on what’s happened to these trees.

   The other thing that really annoys me is that when trees are removed, the mulch is just left lying there in the parks. How about removing the mulch and letting the grass grow back, or at least planting another tree to replace the one lost. Parks are turning into mulch heaps instead of green open space.
3. Anonymous Says:

   
   January 5, 2012 at 7:49 PM

   I found this on the internet and want to say that I have never, ever seen any of the following being done to any tree in the neighbourhood –

   Dead Wooding- This is simply getting the deadwood out of your trees. It is important to get the deadwood out because when your trees grow if they don’t shed the deadwood then it begins to grow around the deadwood stunting the trees growth and it also provides insects’ access to the center of your trees. Insects such as carpenter ants and termites can harm your trees. They burrow in the wood weakening the tree over time and can cause major damage. Deadwood in trees can also cause disease and further decay so it is important to rid your trees of the deadwood so it does not spread to the whole tree or other trees nearby. This trimming practice prevents you from picking up shedding limbs every time the wind blows and keeps you and your family safe while under or near the trees.

   Shaping- Shaping is mainly to slightly reduce the size of your trees and should be done in a specific way that does not leave immediate or long term damage for your trees. Shaping is only for specific types of trees. Some trees do not need shaping they may need a different kind of trimming.

   Crown Reduction- This type of service is mistaken with topping a tree. Crown Reduction is very different from topping. Topping is not recommended even though some companies still do this. Topping actually does a disservice to your trees. It causes major damage and stress on your trees and a potential future hazard. (If it lives after topped?) When the new sprouts grow out they are weak at the point the tree was topped causing a dangerous situation. When those sprouts grow back and get to be larger limbs, they are still weak at that point and break and fall off in high wind, storms, etc… We recommend a Crown Reduction (the safe alternative to topping).

   Weight Reduction- This does just what it says, it reduces the weight on each major branch to greatly reduce the risk of your trees splitting in half or big branches breaking. Weight Reduction is a service that prevents major storm damage from occurring. It does not guarantee that your tree will be tornado- wind proof, but when performed it does provide you with more security during high winds or storms than if nothing was done at all.
   1. anon Says:

      
      January 5, 2012 at 9:41 PM

      Thank you for your excellent contribution. What a positive blog you have provided.
4. Anonymous Says:

   
   January 5, 2012 at 9:39 PM

   What a pity that the priorities of this administration lie in spending millions on concreting parks rather than spending some of this money on nurturing and saving our trees. When existing paths are ripped up to install yellow concrete then there’s something drastically wrong with planning and responsible financial management.
5. Anonymous Says:

   
   January 5, 2012 at 10:04 PM

   So you pick a few trees in Caulfield and Alnutt Park and draw conclusions which are just rediculous. Why not show some of the new plantings such as Princess Park. Our parks are fabulous. On Wednesday my partner and I walked through Packer, Mallanbool and twice round Duncan McKinnon.You should tell the truth not distort it.
   1. Anonymous Says:

      
      January 5, 2012 at 10:37 PM

      The parks are not fabulous. They have been slowly morphing into the same type of environment right across the city. No discernable difference from one park to the next, all with the same design approach, no recognition of the particular park, its particular natural assets. I’m getting very bored with this ‘corporate’ approach to parks in Glen Eira
6. Anonymous Says:

   
   January 5, 2012 at 10:15 PM

   Melbourne city council latest Draft Urban Forest Strategy 2012-2032 states that they expect to lose 27% of it current tree population on public land in the next 10 years and 44% within the next 20 years for a number of reasons, climate change being a important diver to that loss. Melbourne is planning accordingly with an ambitious tree replacement strategy.

   Glen Eira is a sad sorry hopeless anti-tree council, doing the bare minimal on enviro matters. With no plan, no reasoning other than aiding the removal as many trees as possible from our parkland and replacing them with buildings and concrete, and Newtons up and coming flavoured plastic grass.

   When you have fogged off as much public open space as possible, built carparks in a lot of what’s left. Let sporting clubs land grab huge areas in Murrumbeena Park, Joyce Park and others.

   Glen Eira need to have a whole new appraisal from top down on it’s priorities. Tree decline in Glen Eira is a issue that need addressing. Since public open is minus minimal in Glen Eira, and most of that space is reserve for sport, hence no trees on it, or anywhere near it. Private open space and its trees are vanishing quickly. You might think there would be a wake up call at the town hall.

   My prediction the next few years under Newton will see no action on tree decline, more trees vanishing for infrastructure in or parks. And sporting clubs continuing to walking away with the candy.

   Thing are going to get hotter, and Glen Eira’s plan is to meet that challenge with with declining vegetation and declining shade. Ample tree cover can reduce the ambient surrounding temperature by 4 degrees on hot days.

   What would you like to see more trees in Glen Eira or more air conditioners rattling away throughout summer, just adding more heat.

   I personally will be voting out the councillors that do not understand or care about our environment, which is all but one Councillor in Rosstown Ward, all of the councillors in Camden and all in Tucker Ward. This maybe the reason our parks look as sad as they do.

   All, but one of our Councillors, just do not give a damn, when it come to protecting our environment.
   1. Anonymous Says:

      
      January 5, 2012 at 11:07 PM

      Sorry but I think Cr Forge is actually in Camden ward not Tucker. She has been active in a street tree policy and protecting some of Glen Eiras greatest assets. The gang and Pilling are too busy propping up high rise developments and forgetting about local residents. Not sure about Magee and Penhalluriack and 100% unsure about Lobo. We currently have an administration building a concrete wall around every park, albeit a 200mm high wall. I don’t understand the point but it is unnecessary and ugly. As ugly as the gulag fence around Caulfield racecourse, another public park left to rot.
7. D.Evans Says:

   
   January 5, 2012 at 11:05 PM

   I agree with many of the comments that have gone up. The mentality that wants to “brand” every single park as identical is not only lunacy, but environmentally negligent. We now have park after park with ugly grey concrete plinthing, orange pathways that lead nowhere and which have often replaced bitumen or gravel, and the final insult is the creation of stalag type gates with concrete entrances for tractors. If our parks have survived for decades without such gates and concrete, then I see this as nothing but further wastage of ratepayers’ funds as well as degarding open space. Many of these paths are cracked, discoloured, and stained. They are an eyesore. It is astounding that when you visit a park like Dendy, or even the botanical gardens, these places see nothing wrong with innocuous gravel paths that belnd into the surrounds. The argument that mothers with prams and the elderly need concrete is nonsense.

   It’s no wonder that our trees are so poorly maintained when all funding goes into concrete, steel, and the superficial.
   1. Anonymous Says:

      
      January 20, 2012 at 11:18 AM

      After they installed the paths at Lord Reserve I had a chat to a regular park user who is in a wheel chair. He hated the path, saying that we need more green space, not less. He refused to use the path and happily wheeled over the grass!
   2. pinkymonero Says:

      
      January 20, 2012 at 11:36 AM

      After they installed the paths at Lord Reserve I had a chat to a regular park user who is in a wheel chair. He hated the path, saying that we need more green space, not less. He refused to use the path and happily wheeled over the grass!
8. John C. Says:

   
   January 5, 2012 at 11:16 PM

   Agree with you Mr Evans from Mr Citizen. Rather than build a simple gravel path along the racecourse side of Queens Avenue as proposed by Councillor Frank Penhallik, a $15,000 plus fence has been built trying (very unsuccessfully) to block people from walking along. This mob is like a one eyed, gelded rain deer. No FN I-deer!
   1. Smart Aleck Says:

      
      January 5, 2012 at 11:32 PM

      Betcha if the golden boys (Lipshutz, Hyams) had suggested this gravel path then it would be done. The only reason it’s not is that Penhalluriack wanted it. And to hell with the cost – it ain’t their money!
9. Anonymous Says:

   
   January 6, 2012 at 8:32 AM

   The concrete plinths are a safe guard against hoons in stolen cars, driving into the parks and doing burn-outs on the grass, or even worse burning the cars.

   Forge on the street tree policy, phew … that was a disappointing 18th century Anglo centric view of the world, “Back to the future” The street tree policy was nothing more that a shonky third class document, that we have come to expect from council. Everything other councils do successfully with streets trees was deemed impossible and out rightly dismissed. It turned out to be a complete mish-mash of largely unsuitable trees, it was bushiness as usual, rubber stamped by a few councillor out of their depth and hoodwinked by lazy bureaucrats. Giving Forge any credit for the street tree policy is hanging the albatross around her neck, instead of where it belongs, around the necks of the irresponsible bureaucrats.
10. public spirit friend Says:

    
    January 6, 2012 at 8:47 AM

    Visited the Childrens Garden in the Botanic Gardens, which is a tram ride and walk past the Shrine of Rememberance and a beautiful fountain. We must have one in Glen Eira… it is truly amazing and a site worth isiting. It certainly does one good to see so many people relaxed as they picnic and supervise their happy children. It is only about a hectare in size but had many hundred visitors young and old. Some adults did not have accompanying children and there were more people ther than any of Glen Eira’s Parks … wonder why?
    Funny, Princes Park is mentioned as one of the best and is haveing yet more money spent!!!!!!
    The attempted closure of the running track on the east side of the Racecourse Reserve is an absolute disgrace.. added to the fence cost will be the further wastland, worth how many millions, which the increasing population of Caulfield East, about to treble approximately, is made to feel uncomfortable to use this natural facility. Instead people are co-oerced into walking on the west side of Queens Ave in the 40 degree heat exposed to the wun. How unhealthy is that????
    1. Anonymous Says:

       
       January 6, 2012 at 4:01 PM

       This is all about showing who runs Council – Newton or Councillors such as Penhalluriack. Once again Lipshutz fails to represent the residents in his Camden electorate but I guess he is too busy representing all Glen Eira through his imcompetent running of the GESAC project!
11. Anonymous Says:

    
    January 6, 2012 at 9:39 AM

    I guess stupidity comes with the territory. Concrete paths are anti-slip,any weather use, low maintanance and great for kids activities and wheel chairs. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. I just walked through the national forest in Noosa which leads into Hastings St and the paths are also new concreta replacing gravel.
    1. pinkymonero Says:

       
       January 20, 2012 at 11:44 AM

       See my comment above about a wheel chair user at lord reserve! I made the assumption that concrete would be best for him. It’s enlightening when you actually talk to those who you make assumptions about.
12. Autonomy Says:

    
    January 6, 2012 at 5:51 PM

    There was a time when landscaping, garden design, planting of flowers et al were an essential part of the beautification of our municipality. Now, it’s more about mowing and edgeing on the pretext of cost saving.

    Funny how council can spend over $100,000 buying motorised pitch rollers but can’t afford the upkeep on a few garden beds.

    Parks and Gardens is one of the many departments where the head has been there for yonks without his job being tested in the market place. Which is the way Newton likes it.
13. Anonymous Says:

    
    January 6, 2012 at 9:51 PM

    We support 16% that play sport, the rest of you, can go and get stuffed.

    A Newton
14. Anonymous Says:

    
    January 7, 2012 at 7:15 AM

    Hi, I am Mr Bright and I take my children to the park to play on the concrete.
    Get a life, concrete your backyard and stay home.
15. GE resident Says:

    
    January 7, 2012 at 11:22 AM

    This whole discussion literally depresses me. Time and time again I see flawed policy documents (the tree policy, community engagement etc etc) that do lip service to consultation, and are totally lacking in any innovative or progressive ideas, and excessively risk averse. It is so obvious to me that a much greater priority needs to be given to public open spaces, and to beautification of those spaces through appropriate landscaping and trees – and to listening to people who know those spaces and have ideas. Yet, a quick flick through the Leader or the Age shows how other councils, notably Port Philip, are brimming with great ideas and initiatives. (just a few examples: urban forest policy in Port Philip; “pop up” street malls in Yarraville village; Abbotsford convent and Collingwood Children’s farm; Phoenix Park in Stonnington, Oakleigh mall in Monash).

    Whenever I have contacted council with issues or ideas or raised public questions at council meetings – my impression is that they take the approach of “how can we respond to this annoying query so that we can get rid of it”, rather than taking any genuine interest.
    1. gleneira Says:

       
       January 7, 2012 at 11:53 AM

       Readers may be interested in the following from the Melbourne City Council’s “urban forest” initiative – http://melbourneurbanforest.com.au/
16. Anonymous Says:

    
    January 7, 2012 at 12:02 PM

    It gets stacks worse. How about chopping out half of fijoa trees when they’re in flower? But what really beats even this is the planting of new trees in November/December. Parks and Gardens desperately needs renaming to Destroy and Devastate. What they don’t know about flora and fauna could fill the Library of Congress twice over.
    1. pinkymonero Says:

       
       January 20, 2012 at 11:49 AM

       Yes! Another prime example was when they planted a stack of new plants in the bushland area a few years back at Packer Park, then other council workers or contractors smothered them with mulch. It was sad (with a tinge of amusement) to see the mostly unsuccessful attempts to uncover the plants afterwards.
17. Anonymous Says:

    
    January 7, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    Yes a new head of Parks & Gardens would be a great start, they are as old fashioned as penny down there, and blind to what’s needed. All to busy taking care of the sports grounds to worry about normal parks.

    With glen Eira having the lowest amount of public open space we must be getting off really cheap with the open space up-keep to compare with all other councils, and still we have 3rd rate parks. Glen Eira low rate council Newton boasts, that has to be a big reason why. You all have cars, piss-off and use other councils parks and facilities, not only will that save us money, they are better to. Parasites incorporated that’s us in GE.

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