This is a continuation from previous post and features another of the bogus council answers.
Q4 – In the past year council has laid hundreds of metres of ‘instant grass’ along the concrete path edges. How much did this cost? And how does council now justify the fact that the mulch covers this newly laid grass?
Answer – The total cost of the grass sods along sections of the new pathway trail was approximately $6,000. The sods stabilised the edge of the pathway, making the pathway safe for users of the path. Council arranged the mulching the following year and extended it to the edge of the path for ease of ongoing maintenance. This involved removing some of the sods.
COMMENT: “Ease of ongoing maintenance”?!!!!!! Hardly. Over time mulch settles so that the edges of the pathway gain huge 3 to 4 inch drops – a perfect way to break an ankle, or come off a bicycle. Secondly, this will mean continual replenishing of mulch, the continual weeding, or worse, continual poisoning of these weeds. We already note that in one Record of Assembly Pilling enquired about the poisons so liberally used throughout our parks and their safety.
More importantly, the following photos reveal the truth about what occurred and the deliberately misleading response provided by Council. The hundreds of metres of grass sods planted were largely unnecessary. These photos reveal that after twice bringing in truckloads of earth in order to level out the sides of the path, that the grass had finally taken. The sods were not removed. The mulch was simply spread over the top of the existing sods without any regard for the allegedly $6000 already spent. The photos below showing the same positions in the trail provide clear evidence that:
- Vast areas of “stable” grass was needlessly ripped up at ratepayers’ expense
- Previous green ‘open space’ is now unusable
Ratepayers need to ask themselves whether this is really ‘best value’ for our money and how much faith to place in the responses to public questions.
Glen Eira Debates 
July 30, 2012 at 2:05 PM
I walk the trail often to get to Mckinnon station. The photos don’t do justice to what has taken place here. No rhyme or reason to anything. Some areas are left grassed and others are buried a foot deep under this revolting black mud. Never has there been so much water lying around after even a short burst of rain. It’s a revolting eyesore that must have cost plenty and residents haven’t gained a thing.
July 30, 2012 at 3:34 PM
For a council that is continually screaming about the lack of open space the pictures seem to reveal a total travesty of planning and proper use of resources. Concrete and mulch appear to be councils answer to everything.
I would also make the point that most people who know anything about gardening and mulching would never allow mulch to come into direct contact with tree trunks or any plants because of the danger of burning and bacterial growth. Here the mulch is right up against both new and existing trees. It has been spread incorrectly.
July 30, 2012 at 4:31 PM
My rate notice came in this afternoon. Its highway robbery. I’m getting less and less for my money and keep getting rate increases of over 400 dollars each year for the past 4 or 5 years. That’s just not on especially for the countless pensioners and aged that we’ve got. No way can Newton justify this and those councillors who voted this in should be held responsible. This council is 100% incompetent.
July 30, 2012 at 10:05 PM
mate, someone has to pay the lawyers.
July 30, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Mr Jenkins are you sure your not telling a porky. My understanding is that a $1M property would incur a rate Increase from as low as $20. As for Elster Trail unfortunately this is a very wet area yet one of the nicest walks in the City.Doesn;t this creek become the Elwood Canal.Look at how beautiful our area is compared to Port Phillip.
July 30, 2012 at 6:07 PM
I can assure you Anon the rate increase is not a porky – rates have gone up $400 as well.
As for the trail – it used to a very nice walk but now unfortunately it isn’t as the mulch has spoilt in and between the mulch and the wet (the trail was once a creek) are killing the trees.
July 30, 2012 at 6:31 PM
I don’t know where you live Anon, but good luck to you if you’re only paying $20. The increase in waste charges alone make your statement impossible – and that’s added into the bill by the way.I’ll repeat what I said earlier. This council and its councillors have no idea about keeping rates low or making sure that services are what people want. I’m not willing to let these same bozos get back in and continue with their useless projects and lack of economic planning. They are a disgrace.
July 30, 2012 at 10:31 PM
I live in East Caulfield.
August 2, 2012 at 8:54 AM
i live in East Caulfield as well. Check your property valuation. I think mine has gone down cos my rates dont appear to have gone up as well. I know people will be having a field day blaming the MRC crown land development on falling prices