Chelsea – Mordialloc
NOW PUBLISHED WEEKLY TO SERVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
Features inside SENIORS WEEK
PAGES 14–15 CLASSIFIEDS
PAGES 16–17 SPORTS DESK
An independent voice for the community
FREE
Your WEEKLY community newspaper covering Carrum to Mentone For all your advertising and editorial needs, call us on 1300
PAGES 19–20 Wednesday 9 October 2013
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Trees on watch list By Neil Walker THE construction of the Parkdale Family and Children’s Centre has come at a cost to the community over and above the project’s $6 million price tag, with a number of mature native trees having been ripped out from the site on Parkdale Secondary College grounds. Members of the Mordialloc Village Committee were “stunned” to discover the trees had been ripped out before building works were due to commence. Village committee deputy chair Margaret Hunter said council officers had briefed the committee on the children’s hub project but the removal of trees did not appear to be included in original plans. “We are very concerned that these trees were removed because Parkdale Secondary is a former market garden that does still have some significant trees,” Ms Hunter said. “This probably has to be looked at by the school and council as part of the development of the children’s hub.” Councillor Rosemary West thanked village committee members for their concern and said councillors were also unaware the trees were going to be removed. However, Cr West did not blame Parkdale Secondary College for the trees’ removal “since they were only doing what council asked them to do…since council required a cleared site”. Cr West said the retention of the lemon scented gums would have added to the hub’s attraction if the building had been designed around the trees. Parkdale Secondary principal Greg McMahon told The News the school had been working with council on the building plans since 2009. “Unfortunately, the trees removed were right in the footprint of the building itself.”
Carrum Convenience Milk Bar & Fish n’ Chips Spend $15 on Fish n’ Chips RECEIVE A
Mr McMahon said more than 300 trees would be planted as part of the hub project. “It was a short-term loss but will be a long-term gain,” he said. Councillors agreed council officers should write to the school to ask to be notified if any further trees were to be removed during the centre’s construction. The village committee requested council notify the group on a monthly basis about any proposed significant trees removal in the Mordialloc Village Committee area, and this proposal was supported by councillors. Cr Paul Peulich praised the village committee for “doing a good job” in providing community feedback to council. “The village committee has identified a concern and this information will help the village committee to be more effective,” he said. Kingston Council environmental sustainability manager Rachel Hornsby cautioned that the council would not necessarily be pre-advised of the removal of mature trees. “Not every mature tree that is planned to be removed on private property will necessarily require a local law permit or a planning permit and so there will be situations where council officers don’t know about it,” Ms Hornsby said. “But any significant tree if it is on the significant tree register will require a planning permit.” The clearing of trees at Moorabbin Airport on former golf course land by the Moorabbin Airport Corporation in August caused widespread community concern, but this occurred on private property, meaning council had no control over the situation. The tree felling occurred after the previous federal government rejected the corporation’s application to build a shopping centre on the site.
The perfect shoe for your special day
• Bridal • Bridesmai Bridesmaids ids • Mothers of the Bride • Formals • Debutante
Ball winner:
ASPENDALE resident Skye Ferguson was named AFL Auskicker of the Year on grand final day. The 8-year-old is the first girl to win the award and presented a premiership medal to the winning team’s captain. See story Page 5. Picture: Gary Sissons
PENINSULA FIREPLACE CENTRE BEST PRICES ALL YEAR ROUND
103 Railway Parade, Seaford baysideshoewarehouse@gmail.com
(03) 9785 1887 Mon - Fri 9am - 5.30pm Sat 9am - 3.30pm www.baysideshoewarehouse.com.au
FREE 1.25ltr DRINK We also sell fresh sandwiches & rolls, egg & bacon rolls, pies & hotdogs
Phone orders: 8772 2792 63 McLeod Road, Carrum
RASPBERRY & COLA SLUSHIES AVAILABLE We have the right heel size to suit you
U6/42 HARTNETT DRIVE SEAFORD PH: 9770 4011 ZZZ SHQLQVXODÀUHSODFH FRP DX