Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Big Sprawling Debate
A matter of interest for all residents
MONASH LIVEABILITY COALITION FORUM – PLANNING FOR GROWTH: THE NEW RESIDENTIAL ZONES AND YOU
MONDAY 2nd JUNE 2008
7.30-9.00 pm, Notting Hill Neighbourhood House,
37 Westerfield Drive, Notting Hill
Bob Birrell
Centre of Urban Planning and Population Research
Monash University
‘Population increase in Melbourne and its impact on
Melbourne 2030’
and
A panel discussion on the New Residential Zones
led by
Matthew Guy MP
Shadow minister for Planning
David Gates
Notting Hill resident
and representatives of the Greens and the ALP
Contacts: Marian Quartly on 0403 182 701, or Vince Leveridge on 0413 882 191
MONASH LIVEABILITY COALITION FORUM – PLANNING FOR GROWTH: THE NEW RESIDENTIAL ZONES AND YOU
MONDAY 2nd JUNE 2008
7.30-9.00 pm, Notting Hill Neighbourhood House,
37 Westerfield Drive, Notting Hill
Bob Birrell
Centre of Urban Planning and Population Research
Monash University
‘Population increase in Melbourne and its impact on
Melbourne 2030’
and
A panel discussion on the New Residential Zones
led by
Matthew Guy MP
Shadow minister for Planning
David Gates
Notting Hill resident
and representatives of the Greens and the ALP
Contacts: Marian Quartly on 0403 182 701, or Vince Leveridge on 0413 882 191
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Recent Developments Bring Out Objectors in Notting Hill
Some recent planned and not so planned developments have upset local residents.
More than 30 locals turned out on a cold night last week to consider the latest assault on the grace of the suburb by developers and the merely opportunistic.
Residents in the eastern streets of Notting Hill are concerned that the Monash Council may be about to authorise the activities of businesses that are encroaching into the buffer zone between houses and the industrial area. This is the strip known locally as the “horse paddock”.
It is actually a road reserve owned by VicRoads and set aside for an outlet to the Monash Motorway running down to Westall Road. The reserve has been there for years and the motorway extension may never be built, given the financial woes of VicRoads. Meanwhile businesses on the far side have been using the land as a dump. They have been doing this for years but recently became more brazen.
They appear to be aided in this by Vicroads, which is offering leases through a real estate agent apparently without any requirement that the leaseholder obtain planning approval.
Residents recently alerted the Council to the moves on the reserve, involving the construction of a large workwork, and the erection of hard stands and security fences to store construction equipment and containers. Apparently this was news to Council who asked the infiltrators to cease.
Now they have applied for retrospective permits that will legitimise their land grab.
No one has heard from VicRoads. How is it that a State Government agency can lease land without letting the public know? There are many possible uses the road reserve land could be put to, such as forms of recreational use by the residents, but they are not offered leases.
The other development is still in the proposal stage and seeking planning approval.
It is an extension of the Gateway Motel on Blackburn Road onto several housing blocks along Blackburn to Finch Street, already acquired by the Motel. The current plan is for a three-story residential hotel development on the side of the existing motel with conference rooms, more than 20 units and car parking.
The neighbours are not happy, fearing further congestion in the residential streets, noise and disturbance. In addition the planned building overlooks their homes and gardens, and destroys the current street landscape. Other residents of Notting Hill will find it looming on the western horizon.
The Notting Hill Community Association will put in to council objections to all three of these proposals.
More than 30 locals turned out on a cold night last week to consider the latest assault on the grace of the suburb by developers and the merely opportunistic.
Residents in the eastern streets of Notting Hill are concerned that the Monash Council may be about to authorise the activities of businesses that are encroaching into the buffer zone between houses and the industrial area. This is the strip known locally as the “horse paddock”.
It is actually a road reserve owned by VicRoads and set aside for an outlet to the Monash Motorway running down to Westall Road. The reserve has been there for years and the motorway extension may never be built, given the financial woes of VicRoads. Meanwhile businesses on the far side have been using the land as a dump. They have been doing this for years but recently became more brazen.
They appear to be aided in this by Vicroads, which is offering leases through a real estate agent apparently without any requirement that the leaseholder obtain planning approval.
Residents recently alerted the Council to the moves on the reserve, involving the construction of a large workwork, and the erection of hard stands and security fences to store construction equipment and containers. Apparently this was news to Council who asked the infiltrators to cease.
Now they have applied for retrospective permits that will legitimise their land grab.
No one has heard from VicRoads. How is it that a State Government agency can lease land without letting the public know? There are many possible uses the road reserve land could be put to, such as forms of recreational use by the residents, but they are not offered leases.
The other development is still in the proposal stage and seeking planning approval.
It is an extension of the Gateway Motel on Blackburn Road onto several housing blocks along Blackburn to Finch Street, already acquired by the Motel. The current plan is for a three-story residential hotel development on the side of the existing motel with conference rooms, more than 20 units and car parking.
The neighbours are not happy, fearing further congestion in the residential streets, noise and disturbance. In addition the planned building overlooks their homes and gardens, and destroys the current street landscape. Other residents of Notting Hill will find it looming on the western horizon.
The Notting Hill Community Association will put in to council objections to all three of these proposals.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Latest News: Monash Council and Primary School Site
Laurel, Melinda,their kids and I attended the meeting last night. Very interesting. Half the councillors got up and said that they supported our position on the primary school site - that a school on the site was the best outcome and that the education department was performing with enormous selfishness and greed - and then they all voted against our position. No that isn't fair; they voted for a compromise which got as much public land for us in one spot as they thought possible, and which preserved as much as possible of the school buildings so that a community school may still buy the site (though at market rates they would need to be a rich community). I attach here the maps showing the reserved land and the land saved for trees. The full report is at Monash Council (click on this link or directly on) http://www.monash.vic.gov.au/reports/papers123.htm
And we have made it very clear that we don't consider ourselves bound by any agreement between the council and the department concerning the secondary school site. We aren't doing too badly. Marian
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Responding to the Council about the Primary School
Statement from the Notting Hill Community Association
The Notting Hill Community Association believes that the best future use for the Monash Primary School site would be as a school – either government or private.
Therefore the Association and its members believe that the Education Department should make every effort to ensure the site is sold to or leased for a school and respond positively to groups interested in re-establishing a school facility on the site.
If the area is to be transferred for continued school use, the Association believes that residents would support the whole area of the school being transferred and no land being retained by council for public access.
The community would seek to have a co-operative arrangement with any new school facility and seek to transfer the extra public access land or space needed by the community, to the site of the Monash Secondary College.
The Association, at no stage, has ever suggested that the areas of the Monash Secondary College used for sport and recreation, should be sold for development and removed from community use, and cannot support plans by Monash Council to do this.
Background
On Tuesday night (11 March) the Monash Council meeting was due to consider the rezoning application made by the Department of Education to have the school rezoned as residential, making the site more valuable for developers, and ensuring that the land would be sold at current very lucrative market prices.
The item was unexpectedly withdrawn from the Council agenda.
The Council has already ruled that any rezoning and development should include the preservation of a number of old growth trees (native to this region) on the eastern boundary and across the east-west axis of the site.
The Council papers reveal that the Council is planning to recommend that a Panel should be appointed by the Minister for Planning to consider the application, and that all submissions before the Council – that is, the request from the Education Department and all submissions already received from residents – should be referred to the Panel.
The Council documents also include an agreement that the Department of Education will be asked to sign.
The agreement included the following principles:-
plus 5% of 17 Duerdin Street (former Monash Secondary School) - an area of 3950 square metres approximately.
2. The Public Open Space is to be located at the North East corner of the site with frontage to Samada Street. This is the most central location for access via the surrounding residential area.
3. All pavement and buildings, located within the area to be set aside as Public Open Space, are to be demolished and removed and the site is to be left in a clean state.
4. Ownership of the land to be set aside as Public Open Space is to be transferred to Council.
While many aspects of the situation remain unclear, the bottom line in the Council’s recommendations seems to be that:
• At the Primary school almost 4,000 square metres of land for public use would be retained off Samada Street (approaching the size of a hockey fi eld), and trees to the east and in the centre of the development site should be retained by the developer.
• The community would retain nothing from the Monash Secondary Collage for public use.
All comments and suggestions are very welcome, either in the Neighbourhood House letter-box, or by email: nottynews@gmail.com. A full copy of the recommendations and original Council
papers is available at the Neighbourhood House.
The Notting Hill Community Association believes that the best future use for the Monash Primary School site would be as a school – either government or private.
Therefore the Association and its members believe that the Education Department should make every effort to ensure the site is sold to or leased for a school and respond positively to groups interested in re-establishing a school facility on the site.
If the area is to be transferred for continued school use, the Association believes that residents would support the whole area of the school being transferred and no land being retained by council for public access.
The community would seek to have a co-operative arrangement with any new school facility and seek to transfer the extra public access land or space needed by the community, to the site of the Monash Secondary College.
The Association, at no stage, has ever suggested that the areas of the Monash Secondary College used for sport and recreation, should be sold for development and removed from community use, and cannot support plans by Monash Council to do this.
Background
On Tuesday night (11 March) the Monash Council meeting was due to consider the rezoning application made by the Department of Education to have the school rezoned as residential, making the site more valuable for developers, and ensuring that the land would be sold at current very lucrative market prices.
The item was unexpectedly withdrawn from the Council agenda.
The Council has already ruled that any rezoning and development should include the preservation of a number of old growth trees (native to this region) on the eastern boundary and across the east-west axis of the site.
The Council papers reveal that the Council is planning to recommend that a Panel should be appointed by the Minister for Planning to consider the application, and that all submissions before the Council – that is, the request from the Education Department and all submissions already received from residents – should be referred to the Panel.
The Council documents also include an agreement that the Department of Education will be asked to sign.
The agreement included the following principles:-
24 Samada Street
plus 5% of 17 Duerdin Street (former Monash Secondary School) - an area of 3950 square metres approximately.
2. The Public Open Space is to be located at the North East corner of the site with frontage to Samada Street. This is the most central location for access via the surrounding residential area.
3. All pavement and buildings, located within the area to be set aside as Public Open Space, are to be demolished and removed and the site is to be left in a clean state.
4. Ownership of the land to be set aside as Public Open Space is to be transferred to Council.
Duerdin Street
5. The public open space contribution requirement for the whole of the site has been satisfied.
6. No further public open space contribution is to be made for all or any part of the site.
But this did not happen. The Council deferred voting on the rezoning. No reason has been given for the deferment, but it appears that the Department has requested more time to
consider the proposal.
The Council’s comments on its recommendations make interesting reading:
“The Department has advised that the site is to be sold with the existing buildings to retain fl exibility for the future owner. It may be redeveloped for residential purposes however, a number of existing school groups have indicated interest in the site. The future use of the site will be a decision of the future owner. It should be noted that it has been the Department’s decision to rezone the land prior to sale, and not to treat with any of the interested school groups. The primary objective of the process adopted by the Department would appear to be designed to only achieve maximum financial return. Definition of the Public Open Spaceprovision to the north east corner of the site and its impact on the existing buildings does not prohibit the potential use of the site for school purposes or any other permissible use in a R1Z-Residential 1 Zone.”
While many aspects of the situation remain unclear, the bottom line in the Council’s recommendations seems to be that:
• At the Primary school almost 4,000 square metres of land for public use would be retained off Samada Street (approaching the size of a hockey fi eld), and trees to the east and in the centre of the development site should be retained by the developer.
• The community would retain nothing from the Monash Secondary Collage for public use.
All comments and suggestions are very welcome, either in the Neighbourhood House letter-box, or by email: nottynews@gmail.com. A full copy of the recommendations and original Council
papers is available at the Neighbourhood House.
Monday, March 17, 2008
STATE GOVERNMENT WANTS TOP DOLLAR FOR MONASH PRIMARY SCHOOL
The future of the Monash primary School buildings and land remains confused although the Department of Education and State Government appears to want top dollar for the area when sold.
On Tuesday night (11 March) the Monash Council meeting was due to consider the rezoning application made by the Department to have the school rezoned from being an area of public use to a residential zone, making the site more valuable for developers, and ensuring that the land would be sold at current very lucrative market prices.
The Council has already ruled that any rezoning and development should include the preservation of a number of old growth trees (native to this region) on the eastern boundary and across the east-west axis of the site, and this was confirmed in the papers attached to the item withdrawn on Tuesday 11 March.
The Council was planning to recommend that a Panel should be appointed by the Minister for Planning to consider the application, and that all submissions before the Council – that is, the request from the Education Department and all submissions already received from residents – should be referred to the Panel.
The Council documents also included an agreement that the Department of Education was to be asked to sign. The agreement included the following principles:-
24 Samada Street
That any development of the site is to to include a subdivision creating a lot or public open space with an area equivalent to 5% of 24 Samada Street (former Monash Primary School) plus 5% of 17 Duerdin Street (former Monash Secondary School) - an area of 3950 square metres approximately. The Public Open Space is to be located at the North East corner of the
site with frontage to Samada Street. This is the most central location for access via the surrounding residential area.
All pavement and buildings, located within the area to be set aside as Public Open Space, are to be demolished and removed and the site is to be left in a clean state.
Ownership of the land to be set aside as Public Open Space is to be transferred to Council.
Duerdin Street
The public open space contribution requirement for the whole of the site has been satisfied.
No further public open space contribution is to be made for all or any part of the site.
But this did not happen. The application for the rezoning has been withdrawn and the Council deferred voting on its recommendations and the rezoning. No reason has been given for the deferment, but it appears that the Department has requested more time to consider the proposal.
The Council had claimed in support of its recommendations that:
“The Department has advised that the site is to be sold with the existing buildings to retain flexibility for the future owner. It may be redeveloped for residential purposes however, a number of existing school groups have indicated interest in the site. The future use of the site will be a decision of the future owner.
It should be noted that it has been the Department’s decision to rezone the land prior to sale, and not to treat with any of the interested school groups.
The primary objective of the process adopted by the Department would appear to be designed to only achieve maximum financial return.
Definition of the Public Open Space provision to the north east corner of the site and its impact on the existing buildings does not prohibit the potential use of the site for school purposes or any other permissible use in a R1Z-Residential 1 Zone.”
While many aspects of the situation remain unclear, the bottom line in the Council’s recommendations seems to be that:
At the Primary school almost 4,000 square metres of land for public use would be retained off Samada Street (approaching the size of a hockey field), and trees to the east and in the centre of the development site should be retained by the developer.
The community would retain nothing from the Monash Secondary Collage for public use.
The committee of the Notting Hill Community Association are considering a response to these documents, to be taken to the next meeting of Council. All comments and suggestions are very welcome, either in the Neighbourhood House letter-box, or by email to nottynews@gmail.com A full copy of all the recommendations and original Council papers are available at the Neighbourhood House.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Let the Dogs Run Free - Dogs need space too
Monash Council is seeking community input a new Domestic Animal Management Plan.
This follows a recent amendment to the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act, which requires all Victorian Councils to have a formalised approach to domestic animal management planning, namely dogs and cats.
Monash Mayor, Paul Klisaris said that since February 1997, Council has contracted the RSPCA as a partner to provide Animal Management Services to the Municipality but Council is now seeking community input into the development of the new Plan from both pet and non-pet owners.
The Big Deal in this is the Domestic Animal Management Plan
And the significant item in this is to review the existing Leash Free Parks and possible future Leash Free Parks.
Now Notting Hill is a dog friendly place and a lot of dog owners take their dogs to the grounds and sports oval of the closed Monash Secondary College so they can have a run in some open space.
Notting Hill does not have any formal parks let alone a Leash Free Parks
Local resident M has long been trying since 2003 to have her dog run legally in the school grounds without much response.
If the school grounds are lost to to developers even unauthorised access is blocked in the future there will be no areas to take dogs for a frolic or a run in the open.
Of course from Council's view that all right – you can drive them or walk them to one of the existing Leash Free Parks in the Monash City Council area – that is it way over there on the map over those big arterial roads and motorways. Perhaps you could drive your dog their.
Over to the dog lovers!
This follows a recent amendment to the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act, which requires all Victorian Councils to have a formalised approach to domestic animal management planning, namely dogs and cats.
Monash Mayor, Paul Klisaris said that since February 1997, Council has contracted the RSPCA as a partner to provide Animal Management Services to the Municipality but Council is now seeking community input into the development of the new Plan from both pet and non-pet owners.
The Big Deal in this is the Domestic Animal Management Plan
And the significant item in this is to review the existing Leash Free Parks and possible future Leash Free Parks.
Now Notting Hill is a dog friendly place and a lot of dog owners take their dogs to the grounds and sports oval of the closed Monash Secondary College so they can have a run in some open space.
Notting Hill does not have any formal parks let alone a Leash Free Parks
Local resident M has long been trying since 2003 to have her dog run legally in the school grounds without much response.
If the school grounds are lost to to developers even unauthorised access is blocked in the future there will be no areas to take dogs for a frolic or a run in the open.
Of course from Council's view that all right – you can drive them or walk them to one of the existing Leash Free Parks in the Monash City Council area – that is it way over there on the map over those big arterial roads and motorways. Perhaps you could drive your dog their.
Over to the dog lovers!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Its 2008 and its a New Year
Its 2008 and its a New Year and we are back
Celebrating the Year of the Rat last Sunday in Notting Hill
The Year of the Rat is the beginning of a new cycle
Joy, Prosperity and Luck for all
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Buy now - nice suburb with schools !
For some time residents in Notting Hill have been concerned about the activities of real estate agents and false advertising.Agents are selling houses on the basis of easy access to schools in the neighbourhood.
Here is an example of the spiel from Bingley Street.
Read the text
Friday, November 2, 2007
The Liveability Coaltion Meeting Outcomes
Motion passed unanimously at a Public Meeting on Sunday 28 October, 2007,
at the Good Shepherd Hall, Wheelers Hill, by some 150 residents of the City of Monash.
That this meeting endorses the commitment to liveability expressed by the State Government and the Monash City Council, but regrets that these commitments are not being carried into practice.
This meeting calls on the Monash City Council and the State Government to commit to a policy and practice of
1. matching growth under Melbourne 2030 with a concomitant increase in infrastructure, public open space and facilities
2. reserving adequate space and facilities to meet the needs of local communities (as expressed by those communities) where public land (such as school land) is sold for development
3. requiring every new development project to prepare, as part of the process of planning and consultation, a liveability impact statement assessing the impact of the proposal upon local communities in term of concentration of population, density of housing, traffic congestion, green ambience, open space, public amenities, community health and environmental considerations. This liveability impact statement to go to all affected communities for discussion and response.
Marian Quartly
Chairperson (on behalf of the Monash Liveability Coalition)
"if your car fell out of action for a week or more ...could you meet most of the essentials of your day.."
From a recent talk on ABC Radio National
A recent international urban design conference on the Gold Coast highlighted three major areas of change that our cities and towns are facing.
Firstly, the climate change as a phenomenon is already abundantly clear, whether induced by human actions or is part of a natural cycle.
Secondly, the sources and security of energy which is absolutely vital to the way people live are certainly likely to change. The changes will be triggered either by our endeavours to manage the drivers of climate change, our CO2 emissions; the depletion of supply of liquid hydrocarbon fuels and their consequent higher prices or both.
Thirdly, an increasing number of the Australian population will be the older generation. We are likely to be living longer and there is already a clear trend that our households are predominantly of ones and two's rather than families of three's or more (while ironically occupying more domestic space per person). All this awaits us in the next 10 to 20 years - a very short time in the life of cities.
Cities have had to deal with changing conditions in the past. However, few changes in history have approached them at the rate they are advancing upon us now. Yet, we have chosen to ignore these realities like symptoms of a nasty disease. We have entered a state of denial. We are making furtive and superficial provisions for the changing future such as minor gestures towards public transport, planting some trees to offset carbon emissions and optionally installing a few water tanks. However, this is largely equivalent to taking the foot off the accelerator while our brakeless car hurtles towards the cliff.
Let us be optimistic that the future will offer some redeeming options. But should even an optimist not have a PLAN B? At the moment we are relying on faith alone that somehow everything will turn out right. However, retrofitting cities and towns is usually an immensely expensive and often impossible business. To say that we will fix it when the day comes is an option we will all regret. We need to revise our thinking about cities and towns NOW!
As we face the challenging future, the most fundamental of mindset shifts is to realise that cities and towns are not merely a stock of real estate, built property as a type of asset or capital, all held together with engineering infrastructure and transport arteries. It is all those things but primarily it is the stage setting of life for most of us. It is the background 'scenery' and props against and around which we participate in social and cultural interactions, live out our mortal existence, seek happiness and fulfilment.
We often complain about inconveniences, lack of amenities and opportunities or blame the authorities for creating places and conditions that we would rather not have. The only way we will be able to collectively respond to climate change, energy issues or our new social structures is to realise that WE ourselves are largely the problem as well as the major part of the solution.
As a new measure of urban quality and planning objective, I suggest that every part of a city or town be evaluated thus: if your car fell out of action for a week or more or you were unable to drive for an extended period, could you meet most of the essentials of your daily, weekly or seasonal needs by walking, cycling or using public transport (which includes taxis)? This is not to imply that we should forgo all means of private transport. However, this test would transform the paradigm of scale and thinking about cities and towns.
Our most eminent social researcher Hugh Mackay, writing in 'Advance Australia Where?' says "If we ultimately had to choose between material prosperity and survival, which way do you think we would jump? If we know the answer, why not act now, so we never have to face that choice." That is exactly the type of choice that confronts our towns and cities right now. Unless we adopt a different mind set about them, we will not only be creating an uncomfortable future for ourselves but leaving a difficult legacy for our children and grandchildren. Is that really what we want?
If we are to effectively deal with climate change, energy security and cost as well as demographic adjustments, we need to rethink the way we make, use and live in cities and towns - and we need to do it NOW.
by Jursi Greste
Urban designer with an architectural background and over 50 years of professional experience as a consultant.
A recent international urban design conference on the Gold Coast highlighted three major areas of change that our cities and towns are facing.
Firstly, the climate change as a phenomenon is already abundantly clear, whether induced by human actions or is part of a natural cycle.
Secondly, the sources and security of energy which is absolutely vital to the way people live are certainly likely to change. The changes will be triggered either by our endeavours to manage the drivers of climate change, our CO2 emissions; the depletion of supply of liquid hydrocarbon fuels and their consequent higher prices or both.
Thirdly, an increasing number of the Australian population will be the older generation. We are likely to be living longer and there is already a clear trend that our households are predominantly of ones and two's rather than families of three's or more (while ironically occupying more domestic space per person). All this awaits us in the next 10 to 20 years - a very short time in the life of cities.
Cities have had to deal with changing conditions in the past. However, few changes in history have approached them at the rate they are advancing upon us now. Yet, we have chosen to ignore these realities like symptoms of a nasty disease. We have entered a state of denial. We are making furtive and superficial provisions for the changing future such as minor gestures towards public transport, planting some trees to offset carbon emissions and optionally installing a few water tanks. However, this is largely equivalent to taking the foot off the accelerator while our brakeless car hurtles towards the cliff.
Let us be optimistic that the future will offer some redeeming options. But should even an optimist not have a PLAN B? At the moment we are relying on faith alone that somehow everything will turn out right. However, retrofitting cities and towns is usually an immensely expensive and often impossible business. To say that we will fix it when the day comes is an option we will all regret. We need to revise our thinking about cities and towns NOW!
As we face the challenging future, the most fundamental of mindset shifts is to realise that cities and towns are not merely a stock of real estate, built property as a type of asset or capital, all held together with engineering infrastructure and transport arteries. It is all those things but primarily it is the stage setting of life for most of us. It is the background 'scenery' and props against and around which we participate in social and cultural interactions, live out our mortal existence, seek happiness and fulfilment.
We often complain about inconveniences, lack of amenities and opportunities or blame the authorities for creating places and conditions that we would rather not have. The only way we will be able to collectively respond to climate change, energy issues or our new social structures is to realise that WE ourselves are largely the problem as well as the major part of the solution.
As a new measure of urban quality and planning objective, I suggest that every part of a city or town be evaluated thus: if your car fell out of action for a week or more or you were unable to drive for an extended period, could you meet most of the essentials of your daily, weekly or seasonal needs by walking, cycling or using public transport (which includes taxis)? This is not to imply that we should forgo all means of private transport. However, this test would transform the paradigm of scale and thinking about cities and towns.
Our most eminent social researcher Hugh Mackay, writing in 'Advance Australia Where?' says "If we ultimately had to choose between material prosperity and survival, which way do you think we would jump? If we know the answer, why not act now, so we never have to face that choice." That is exactly the type of choice that confronts our towns and cities right now. Unless we adopt a different mind set about them, we will not only be creating an uncomfortable future for ourselves but leaving a difficult legacy for our children and grandchildren. Is that really what we want?
If we are to effectively deal with climate change, energy security and cost as well as demographic adjustments, we need to rethink the way we make, use and live in cities and towns - and we need to do it NOW.
by Jursi Greste
Urban designer with an architectural background and over 50 years of professional experience as a consultant.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
The Liveability Meeting on Sunday Oct 28th
MONASH LIVEABILITY COALITION
Representing Community Groups in the area of Monash Council
The Monash Liveability Coalition is supported by Monash groups and residents including the Notting Hill Community Association, Brandon Park Residents Action Group, and Wheelers Hill Residents Action Group
MEDIA RELEASE
7 Oct 2007
CHANGE IN MONASH – NEW LIVEABILITY COALITION WANTS TO INFORM RESIDENTS
KEEPING MONASH LIVEABLE - SPACES AND PLACES FOR PEOPLE
Residents groups, community associations, theatre and sporting groups from various suburbs affected by the lack of public space within the City of Monash are to come together to draw urgent attention to the ongoing threats currently to future liveability in the Monash area.
The groups have combined under the banner of the Monash Liveability Coalition to explore the future liveability of their areas at a public meeting at 3.30 pm on Sunday 28th October at the Good Shepherd Curch Hall on Academy Avenue at Wheelers Hill (located behind the Brandon Park Shopping Centre).
The meeting will run from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm on the Sunday afternoon.
Coordinator for the meeting, Vincent Leveridge, said the meeting was to allow local residents and groups to be informed on the latest information and research findings on change in the area.
Experts and researchers on planning and development in Melbourne will address the meeting on how these changes are damaging liveability in Monash.
“This will focus on the effect of planning and development outcomes on public land sales, increasing housing and population density, employment centres, and more crowded transport and how this will impact on health and liveability for residents,” he said.
“The Monash area is losing what little public land it has very quickly. This includes the sell off of the area’s schools for medium and high density housing, loss of open recreational space and overwhelming increases in employment related traffic into Monash.
“The meeting will be of interest to those who want to keep Monash liveable and ensure that there are spaces and places for people in the changing urban landscape,” he said.
The meeting will hear from Dr Bob Birrell. Dr Birrell is the Director of the Centre for Population and Urban Research and Reader in Sociology at Monash University. He is well known for his work on planning and development in the suburbs of Melbourne, the size of increasing population densities, and its effects.
Professor Kevin O’Connor from Urban Planning at Melbourne University will speak on urban planning issues stemming from rapid population and employment growth. This includes the new patterns of employment and industry that are emerging in the suburbs, particularly in Monash.
Our health is also being damaged by the rush to build without thought of the longer term consequences such as obesity and illness.
Rachel Carlisle from the Heart Foundation will speak on the importance of physical and environmental design on promoting health.
Mr Leveridge said that it was part of residents’ plans to bring their concerns about the harmful effects of developmental change on the lives of Monash residents to a wider audience under the umbrella of keeping Monash liveable.
“While many groups and individuals in Monash are concerned about loss of public space and increasing density they rarely get the opportunity to hear about the larger picture of urban change and its effects. The meeting will provide information on the latest research about how development is changing the suburbs and alert people what can be lost.”
“We see the meeting as means of informing people of the common concerns that neighbourhoods share across Monash”, said the spokesman for the Monash Liveability Coalition.
Representing Community Groups in the area of Monash Council
The Monash Liveability Coalition is supported by Monash groups and residents including the Notting Hill Community Association, Brandon Park Residents Action Group, and Wheelers Hill Residents Action Group
MEDIA RELEASE
7 Oct 2007
CHANGE IN MONASH – NEW LIVEABILITY COALITION WANTS TO INFORM RESIDENTS
KEEPING MONASH LIVEABLE - SPACES AND PLACES FOR PEOPLE
Residents groups, community associations, theatre and sporting groups from various suburbs affected by the lack of public space within the City of Monash are to come together to draw urgent attention to the ongoing threats currently to future liveability in the Monash area.
The groups have combined under the banner of the Monash Liveability Coalition to explore the future liveability of their areas at a public meeting at 3.30 pm on Sunday 28th October at the Good Shepherd Curch Hall on Academy Avenue at Wheelers Hill (located behind the Brandon Park Shopping Centre).
The meeting will run from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm on the Sunday afternoon.
Coordinator for the meeting, Vincent Leveridge, said the meeting was to allow local residents and groups to be informed on the latest information and research findings on change in the area.
Experts and researchers on planning and development in Melbourne will address the meeting on how these changes are damaging liveability in Monash.
“This will focus on the effect of planning and development outcomes on public land sales, increasing housing and population density, employment centres, and more crowded transport and how this will impact on health and liveability for residents,” he said.
“The Monash area is losing what little public land it has very quickly. This includes the sell off of the area’s schools for medium and high density housing, loss of open recreational space and overwhelming increases in employment related traffic into Monash.
“The meeting will be of interest to those who want to keep Monash liveable and ensure that there are spaces and places for people in the changing urban landscape,” he said.
The meeting will hear from Dr Bob Birrell. Dr Birrell is the Director of the Centre for Population and Urban Research and Reader in Sociology at Monash University. He is well known for his work on planning and development in the suburbs of Melbourne, the size of increasing population densities, and its effects.
Professor Kevin O’Connor from Urban Planning at Melbourne University will speak on urban planning issues stemming from rapid population and employment growth. This includes the new patterns of employment and industry that are emerging in the suburbs, particularly in Monash.
Our health is also being damaged by the rush to build without thought of the longer term consequences such as obesity and illness.
Rachel Carlisle from the Heart Foundation will speak on the importance of physical and environmental design on promoting health.
Mr Leveridge said that it was part of residents’ plans to bring their concerns about the harmful effects of developmental change on the lives of Monash residents to a wider audience under the umbrella of keeping Monash liveable.
“While many groups and individuals in Monash are concerned about loss of public space and increasing density they rarely get the opportunity to hear about the larger picture of urban change and its effects. The meeting will provide information on the latest research about how development is changing the suburbs and alert people what can be lost.”
“We see the meeting as means of informing people of the common concerns that neighbourhoods share across Monash”, said the spokesman for the Monash Liveability Coalition.
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