Minutes of the Kensington Association meeting 7th
February 2005
Apologies:
David & Linda Alliex, Lydia Kaularic, Christine Moffat,
Glenyys Romanes, Jan Wild, Rowan Rafferty.
1. Guests
The Association thanked Melbourne City Councillors Catherine
Ng and Brian Shanahan and MCC Director of Innovation and Sustainability,
Geoff Lawler, for their attendance and contributions to the
meeting
2. Lot A9 Hobsons Road
Lot A9 (the parcel of land bordering the approach to the Stock
Bridge over the Maribyrnong River and bordering riverside
park) has been offered to City of Melbourne by the existing
owners for $840,000.
Potential private use would result in units or houses built
on the area, posing an infringement on the Stock Bridge, further
traffic problems and digging into the levee bank for parking.
Instead, the City of Melbourne is considering purchasing the
land for public open space and parkland. This is subject to
ascertaining the extent of site contamination.
Meanwhile, MCC will look into cleaning up the site.
Association members in attendance expressed strong support
for the proposal for the MCC to purchase of the land for public
space in perpetuity.
3. Bund Wall
It was noted that, despite recent record levels of rain recently,
the Maribyrnong river failed to flood the Flemington Racecourse,
calling into question the need for a bund wall. Water on the
track appeared to be from direct rainfall, not from the river
as was expected.
The MCC intends to approach the Planning Minister to review
the appropriateness of the bund wall. Councillors also undertook
ask questions regarding the failure of the racecourse to flood,
despite the heaviest 24 hour rain in 150 years!
4. Macaulay Road Panel Beaters
The panel-beater businesses on Macaulay Road appear to be
leaving their cars in the local surrounding streets, especially
in the lane parallel to Macaulay Road. Letters are to be written
to MVCC and MCC to discuss the issues of inappropriate parking
and enforcement of parking restrictions to the owners of panel
beating businesses and to achieve a coordinated approach.
5. Maribrynong River clean up working bee
Association members and their families and friends will be
invited to participate in a "clean up the Maribyrnong
River day" along the Hobsons Road side to assist
in removing the 1000's of bottles that have been washed up
on the banks during the recent floods. Date to be set.
[Since the meeting, it appears that Melbourne Water has got
on to the job already, hence this event will now not take
place.]
6. Donation to the tsunami appeal
The Kensington Association has donated $1000.00 to the 4 major
appeal funds to support the Tsunami appeal. Committee proposes
for discussion the possibility of the Association making other
donations from time to time to local or international causes.
Further discussion in later Kensington Association meetings.
7. Kensington Women's Dinner
Every year Kensington women celebrate International Women's
Day by have a dinner using a local venue and suppliers to
assist to support the dinner.
The organizing committee has approached Kensington Association
to make a donation to help support the event. To be considered
by the Committee.
 Click here to view poster (8.64 KB)
8. Gatehouse Street-Smithfield Road intersection traffic issues
Residents report that traffic is illegally entering Gatehouse
Drive directly from the racecourse. VRC, Vic Road and the
Police need to be contacted to enforce the new traffic rules.
Kensington Association to contact Department of Sustainability
and Environment, Police and VRC. to highlight the issue.
MCC councillors agreed to discuss with VRC to review construction
vehicle access arrangements during the racecourse redevelopment.
Traffic also travelling illegally through Riverside Park turning
into Smithfield Road from Hobsons Road. Council to be approached
to re-establish barriers in the park to prevent this practice.
9. Kensington Action Plan
The Kensington Association has written to Councillors of City
of Melbourne identifying priorities for this term of Council.
(A similar letter to City of Moonee Valley is currently being
drafted) The first priority identified is implementation of
the Kensington Precinct Action Plan. The two councils have
set up a joint working group to review implementations plans.
Reports will be provided to subsequent meetings.
10. Neal Street trees
5 Fig and Peppercorn mature trees have been requested to be
removed by the local developer in Kensington Banks last remaining
area of land. The site borders the Stock Route behind the
community vegetable garden. The Association is objecting to
the removal of the trees and will ask the MCC to review the
planning application
11. Priorities for the City of Moonee Valley
The Kensington Association has approached the City of Melbourne
with a list of suggested priorities for the Melbourne section
of Kensington. It intends to make a similar approach to the
City of Moonee Valley. Arising from the December meeting of
the Association members living in the Moonee Valley side of
the suburb were asked to identify issues of concern to be
raised with Council. Some items mentioned were:
- Traffic problems in McCracken and adjoining streets.
- Speeding along McCracken St outside of school hours
- Poor maintenance of parks and play equipment
- Concerns over lack of maintenance for the heritage saleyard
pens area in Lynchs Bridge
- Need to increase cleaning of streets, lanes and footpaths.
- General maintenance and cleaning of the Kensington Station
building and precinct (Council to approach responsible authority)
- The Committee will take the issues forward to the Moonee
Valley Council.
- The next meeting of the Kensington Association will be
held on Monday the 7th of March at Holy Rosary Primary School,
Gower St, Kensington at 7.30 PM
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Click here to view poster