There can be no doubt about it – green grass is taboo in Glen Eira – unless it’s a sporting oval! Otherwise it is becoming the concrete and mulch capital of the world! The latest atrocity concerns the Elster Creek Trail that we have commented upon previously. Readers will remember the Keystone incompetence such as:

  • Building concrete pathways on private land
  • Creating flood plains
  • Spending tens of thousands in ripping up hundreds of metres of grass and replacing it with ‘instant’ turf

Now we have the following:

  • Removal of perfectly sound wooden logs that function as barriers to entrances (and provide seating) and replacing these with low, environmentally unfriendly, (and ugly) concrete plinthing
  • The complete spreading of mulch everywhere so that not a blade of grass (including the thousands spent on the recent instant grass) is allowed to survive
  • Mulch that literally stinks to high heaven
  • Mulch that rests along private entrances as well as fence lines
  • Mulch that is up against tree trunks
  • Planting of countless gums less than 1.5m apart
  • Planting of gums where roots will undoubtedly be water logged
  • Ripping out flame trees planted less than 2 years ago to ensure a ‘straight line’ of 8 gums

We can only conjecture at the sheer waste, not to mention inconvenience to residents,  that all this has cost. Given that this council is classified as ‘high risk’; that we are facing a ‘cash crisis’; that GESAC will continue to be a burden for at least the next decade, and that other major projects have been delayed and delayed (Duncan McKinnon; Booran Rd Reservoir) we cannot fathom the sheer profligacy of this administration. Yes, it’s great that new trees are planted. But how many will be nurtured, pruned regularly and actually survive? Yes, it’s great that trees are mulched – but does that mean that all grass has to be sacrificed instead of simply mulching near the base and circumference? Elster Creek Trail, from a pleasant, green and unobtrusive landscape has been turned into a stinking, concrete and mulch swamp! We invite councillors to come along and take a whiff – but please bring your face masks!

In time of course, the mulch will settle creating 3 to 4 inch drops off the path edges and thus creating a real risk to pedestrians and cyclists. Solution? More mulch! And when it rains, how much mulch will be swept into the drains as has already happened on a regular bases?

The photos below do not capture the current status. Most of the mulch has now been spread – so it is ‘goodbye grass’ and ‘hello stinking mulchville’!

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