PS: By way of contrast we’re adding this titbit of news from the Port Phillip Council Meeting Minutes of 27th November 2012, Page 3. The difference to the way things are done in Glen Eira is, of course, staggering.
“A petition was received from 14 signatories in relation to parking on Bridge Street between Lyons Street to Esplanade East, Port Melbourne.
MOVED BY CRS TOUZEAU/VOSS
That Council:
Receives the petitions and refers it to officers for investigation. A proposal will then be developed for possible new parking restrictions. A subsequent survey/questionnaire will be distributed to properties adjacent to Bridge Street Port Melbourne seeking feedback.The survey will inform any new parking restrictions that may be implemented.
A vote was taken and the motion was carried”
COMMENTS
We find it most refreshing that councillors actually TELL officers what to do! We also find it most refreshing that decisions are made on the spot, not a year later. We also find it most refreshing that transparency and consultation is an integral part of a response. The take home message for our councillors is that where there’s a will , there’s definitely a way!
++++++++++++++++++++++
The minutes of 7th February 2012 recorded this petition from residents:
A petition co-signed by 23 signatories was tabled which read as follows:
“This petition of certain residents of the City of Glen Eira draws to the attention of the Council our wish that there be trees planted on Murray Road, Mckinnon/Ormond. Prioritising tree planting on our street will help realise the Glen Eira Community Plan, Street Tree Strategy and Environmental Sustainability Strategy. We believe that this action will significantly improve the psychological, social and environmental quality of our street. We understand that trees would have to be planted on the road and that there will be some associated loss of car parking space. Your petitioners therefore pray that trees are planted on Murray Road, Mckinnon/Ormond as soon as possible.”
The petition, as per normal was ‘received and noted’ unanimously.
Now, 9 months later at Tuesday night’s council meeting Pilling submitted a request for a report on the planting of street trees in Murray Rd. This was seconded by Esakoff. Pilling said that it’s a narrow street and lacks trees and there was the need to improve the ‘amenity of the street’. Esakoff agreed that ‘the street could certainly do with some greening’. Okotel was ‘pleased’ because this issue was ‘long overdue’ and that concerns of residents ‘are being heard’ and that the report will be the means to ‘ensure that (the issue) ‘will be addressed without further delay”.
We highlight this Request for a Report because it again illustrates the failure of this council and its councillors to institute processes that respond in a timely fashion to resident concerns. We note the following:
- In other councils petitions are not merely ‘noted’ – they are immediately passed on to the relevant department for action. In Glen Eira petitions generally disappear into the ether and unless residents keep the issue up front, they are invariably ignored and forgotten.
- Now we have the farce of waiting for another officer’s report. With NO NOTICE OF MOTION available to councillors, the community is again in the hands of officers who may take months and months to report back and then possibly another major time lag before anything is actually planted.
- The ‘solution’ is very simple it would seem to us. Councillors must ensure that when petitions are tabled they are acted upon, or responded to immediately. It is literally a joke that it takes 9 months, and another officers’ report in order to get anything done in Glen Eira. Not only is this a slap in the face to residents, but it also means more time and expense wasted on unnecessary paper work by officers.
- Further, if councillors were so concerned about ‘greening’ Murray Rd. did the thought ever occur to them that a simple resolution which stated ’30 street trees to be planted in Murray Rd’ might have sufficed? That is of course, if such a motion passed the ‘no surprises’ component of the Meeting Procedures of the Local Law and if it could somehow be squeezed into an agenda set by Newton!
Glen Eira Debates 
November 29, 2012 at 9:59 AM
The Parks & Gardens department should take that on board and surprise everyone and plant before next meeting. Use the crew that were seen last Monday immediately after the downpour, watering some trees in Brady Rd…from the comfort of their truck.
November 29, 2012 at 4:49 PM
The landowners in Murray St are obviously seeking to improve their land value, and good on them. It is a narrow road with little or no nature strip. It was like this when all of them bought their land. The homes are more than one generation apart from some newer units. I doubt that their petition will get them very much at all.
November 29, 2012 at 6:26 PM
Spoken like a true Councillor gang member. As in the movie Flying high, they bought their tickets, they knew what they were in for, I say let the plane crash!
November 29, 2012 at 7:36 PM
Quoting Paul Keating again, In the race of life always back self interest.
Got it in bucket loads here in Murray St
November 29, 2012 at 9:42 PM
There are two comments above that I certainly don’t agree with. If a community wishes to improve their streetscape and amenity then they should be encouraged and supported. That *is* Council policy after all, believe it or not (probably not, based on Council decisions spanning the last 10 years). Despite the bizarre posturing from the representatives of the 3 major political parties in our Council, we have policies governing amenity, trees, open space, and neighbourhood character. Its just that the bureacracy hasn’t done the necessary work to translate the policies into action. I’m biased—I think that is sufficient grounds for us to seek a new management team, but we limp along regardless.
Anyway, if you read GEPS, particular the Municipal Strategic Statement including the section on Housing and Residential Development (s21) and the accompanying policies in s22, you’ll get an idea of the huge gap between Council’s rhetoric and reality. In the case of Murray Road I can see that trees are unevenly distributed along its length, and the most problematic area has the narrowest footpaths. That represents challenges about the vegetation that can be planted, probably needing to be fairly well established trees to lift their foliage above the eye level of motorists. Some sections are not located in a “Housing Diversity” area, and therefore under one of the conflicting policies is outside where street tree planting is to be given “priority”. Other policies talk about “involving the community in streetscape and other improvement works to enhance residential amenity and suburban character”. There are supposed to be “suburb” plans for tree planting. A search of Council’s website failed to find the reference document “Glen Eira Street Tree Strategy”, so maybe we don’t have one anymore.
One problem with encouraging trees in one area is that it highlights the lack of trees elsewhere. Even when its a Condition of a Planning Permit, Council has failed Housing Diversity areas, yet explicitly acknowledges the problems associated with lack of landscaping and permeability in these areas. That’s one reason why it was outrageous for Crs Magee and Sounness (neither representing Rosstown Ward) to talk about 1056 Dandenong Rd as being supported by both SPPF and LPPF. If they don’t like the policies encouraging a softening of development then they should advocate for their removal.
November 30, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Be reasonable to cost the project then raise a levy or special rate from all the residents. Special rates are used to enhance the Elsternwick shopping strip why not the same treatment for a group of residents that are seeking to improve their amenity and their land value. They have no hope. To spend up to $1 million (it is a pretty long street) on one street when we have cracking footpaths and plenty of drains that need fixing woukld be stupid.
November 30, 2012 at 6:27 PM
I disagree that special rates are appropriate here. For a start, street trees are something that Council has provided through much of the municipality. Its something it prides itself on, and helps to maintain the illusion of being leafy and green. Then there’s the administrative costs of special arrangements. I have no confidence in the ability of our Council to manage anything at low cost. That was the principal reason given for abandoning DCPO–that the overheads in Glen Eira exceeded the revenue. Admittedly no evidence was provided to support this contention, and the then-Councillors didn’t ask for any evidence or explore ways to lower the overheads.
From what I can see, its not the entirety of Murray Rd that needs trees. Some sections are denuded but regardless, I’d focus on the areas where the local community are prepared to take ownership and assist with the planting and subsequent care of trees. They need permission and a plan that covers what species where. Its not even clear that they’re asking for anything for free—they may well be quite prepared to pay for the trees. They shouldn’t have to pay for Council overheads though. Its ridiculous if we don’t even have the plans and strategies listed in GEPS to improve our environment. If ever we do go down the slippery slope of “user pays” then there are much bigger ticket items to focus on, around GESAC, pavillions, drainage, traffic congestion, parking, and a plethora of Council services. Developers don’t even cover the costs of their applications for Planning Permits—we subsidize them, pay for VCAT hearings to find out why they don’t have to comply with rescode and planning policies, then pay again to install the infrastructure to underpin their profits. A handful of immature trees is *not* something to refuse a community out of spite or jealousy.
November 30, 2012 at 8:00 PM
There is an expectation that the channel and curb will be modified and the width of the road be reduced to accomodate the new trees. This will cost plenty. There are a number of similar streets like this one throughout the city. This is why it will not happen. A few shorter streets have gotten away with it but nothing like Murray St.