On behalf of Council I’m very pleased to announce that $7.1 million in tenders for Mordialloc-based projects have been announced. The projects are very important for the local community and will have a significant impact on the users of these facilities.

The projects are Stage 2 of dredging at Mordialloc Creek, sheet pile installations at Lambert Island and Mordialloc Shopping Centre streetscape works.

Firstly, the $5.56 million tender for Stage 2 of the Mordialloc Creek dredging project was awarded to Thiess Services. Stage 2 of this project will involve dredging from the mouth of Mordialloc Creek to the Governor Road Boat Ramp. The health of the creek will be improved as a result of the dredging and most importantly, the boating community will get better access to the creek. Dredging is expected to begin after Easter and it will be completed this year.

In addition, the $732,600 tender for sheet pile installation on the northern wall of Lambert Island was awarded to Bridge & Civil Pty Ltd. The works will be undertaken in parallel with the dredging program and will be completed in August this year. The modern design life of a sheet pile wall is now about 50 years because it uses vertical, interlocking steel sheets with block capping.

Last but by no means least, the $815,147 tender for streetscape works at Mordialloc Shopping Centre was awarded to CDN Constructors Pty Ltd. The project will do wonders for the look and feel of the shopping centre. Works to be undertaken include replacing footpaths and street furniture, landscaping, upgrading the stormwater drainage pipe and pit, constructed indented parking bays and installing street lights and traffic signs.

I would particularly like to acknowledge the role of the local community in working with Council and the State Government to promote the need for these works.

Council has had a busy start to the year and I’m very pleased to make three announcements to the community:

Sand renourishment at Mentone and Aspendale beaches

Kingston Council has received funding and supporting from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) for sand renourishment works at Mentone and Aspendale beaches. The work is being undertaken as part of the Protection of the Port Phillip Beaches and Foreshore Program, in partnership with Council and DSE.
Mentone beach will receive sand relocated from Mordialloc beach to Mentone, through works similar to those done in 2006.
Aspendale beach will receive additional sand imported from an external source yet to be confirmed. The new renourishment works will take place south of the renourishment works undertaken in 2009.
There will be community information meetings in the coming months and regular updates posted on Council’s website at www.kingston.vic.gov.au

Clarinda Library to re-open

After a $620,000 refurbishment, Clarinda Library is officially opening from 12noon on Friday 17 February 2012.
The Clarinda community can be proud of the excellent refurbishment which has provided 112 sqm additional space, with a reworking of the multipurpose room to offer versatile and flexible community space, a newspaper reading area, more seated spaces, and a dedicated children’s area.
Clarinda Library is at 58A Viney Street, Clarinda and is open from 10am-8pm Monday-Tuesday, 1-8pm Wednesdays, 10am-6pm Thursday-Friday, 10am-3pm Saturdays and 2pm-5pm Sunday.
More details are available at http://library.kingston.vic.gov.au

Reg Marlow Reserve now open

The playground at Reg Marlow Reserve is now open for children and families to enjoy following  a three month renovation.
Expanded and redeveloping the reserve has been very significant; given Reg Marlow Reserve is one of only three play spaces in the local area.
Equipment from the old playground was reused and new play activities were created for all ages, including a toddler play area with cubby houses, stepping stones, and a bird’s nest swing.
The works were funded by Council and were designed to ensure the park and playground will be integrated with the new neighbouring residential development.

Kingston City Council would like to extend its best wishes to everyone for a safe and happy festive season.

With the festive season upon us, many are winding down and planning to spend more time with family and friends. Emergency services, however, are preparing for one of the busiest times of the year.

As a fire fighter with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade for almost 35 years, I’ve witnessed many unfortunate and preventable road tragedies on Christmas day. These tragedies forever change the meaning of Christmas for the families, friends and loved ones of the people involved.

Over the next few weeks, there will be significantly more cars on the roads. So this Christmas, I want to ask people to think twice before they get behind the wheel of a car and drive safely.

Let’s make this a Christmas for everyone to remember for the right reasons.

Christmas is a time for sharing and extending the hand of friendship to those less fortunate, especially people who are isolated or elderly and may have no family in the local area.

The best present anyone could give this year is a donation of your time or money to people in need. There are many wonderful charities and community groups in Kingston who could use a hand to help people who can’t afford to eat or buy gifts for their children at Christmas. Even a small donation can make a big difference to those who would otherwise have nothing.

2011 was a year of achievement for Council with the ongoing development of the Green Wedge Management Plan, completion of the first stage of dredging at Mordialloc Creek, a decision made on a shared bay trail from Mentone to Parkdale, the adoption of Structure Plans for Mentone, Moorabbin and Cheltenham and so much more.

2011 has been a challenging but exciting year at Kingston and on behalf of Council, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

It is with great pleasure that Council is soon presenting plans for an exciting new building for Carrum Surf Life Saving Club.

We would like to invite the community to see the designs at one of two information sessions on Tuesday 6 December and Friday 9 December 2011.

The building has a sustainable design that reduces environmental impacts and assimilates with the coastal environment.

Following a significant storm in January 2010, the former Carrum Surf Life Saving Club building sustained serious damage and was closed for safety reasons. Since then, the Carrum Surf Life Saving Club has been operating from temporary accommodation at Carrum Sailing Club.

The new building will provide excellent facilities for the Club as well as serving broader community needs.

Council is contributing $660,000 toward the new building in addition to $200,000 already allocated in the 2012-13 capital works budget for new public toilets in the same location.

The remainder of the $1.6 million project will be funded by Carrum Surf Life Saving Club and a $500,000 contribution from the State Government through Life Saving Victoria.

More information about the design of the Carrum Surf Life Saving Club building will be available at:

• Evening information session from 6-8pm Tuesday 6 December at Patterson Lakes Community Centre, 54-70 Thompson Road, Patterson Lakes
• Morning information session from 7.15-8.45am Friday 9 December at Carrum Railway Station, Nepean Highway, CarrumTop of FormBottom of Form

For more information, please email CommunityBuildingsInformation@Kingston.vic.gov.au  or call 1300 653 356.

Further details about the Carrum Surf Life Saving Club building and other projects are available at www.kingston.vic.gov.au/link/communitybuildings

We’re very proud at Kingston to have been registered as a Fair Trade Workplace.

Fair Trade is an ethical certification system that provides a better deal for farmers and producers in developing countries by paying a fair price for their produce and thereby facilitating investment in their communities and improving working conditions.

The City of Kingston has joined a growing number of councils, including the City of Yarra and Whitehorse City Council, to be registered by the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand.

As part of our commitment, Council will be promoting Fair Trade products, holding events during Fair Trade fortnight, creating a Fair Trade collaborative committee and building toward establishing Kingston as a Fair Trade Town.

We encourage everyone to support to the Fair Trade movement. A small decision for you to buy Fair Trade can make a big difference to the lives of people and communities in need.

More than six million people, including farmers and their families, across 58 developing countries worldwide benefit from the Fair Trade system, which designates a stable price for products, provides long-term contracts, requires environmental sustainability, and invests in building roads, schools and hospitals in developing areas.

A range of products, including coffee, tea, chocolate, rice, and sugar, are already on sale at cafes and retailers within the City of Kingston and as Fair Trade certified products become more readily available in Australia, this will help to promote and increase the use of products in the City.

Residents interested in joining Council’s Fair Trade committee are encouraged to email community@kingston.vic.gov.au or call 1300 653 356.

I am very pleased to put forward, on behalf of my fellow Councillors, the Draft Mordialloc Creek Masterplan which outlines a vision for the Mordialloc Creek area over the next 20 to 30 years and identifies future projects to achieve this vision.

Council is keen to hear your views of the  Masterplan and how this important part of Kingston should be managed and planned for future generations. The draft plan, released for comment on Monday 3 October through to 11 November, is a result of extensive consultation with the community since 2009, following a $250,000 grant from the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

The Masterplan specifically focuses on the land surrounding the creek including Peter Scullin Reserve, Hazel Pierce Reserve, Pompei’s Landing, Attenborough Park, George Woods Reserve and Lambert’s Island.

It does not include the actual creek itself, or the dredging (which is a separate initiative).

This is a great opportunity for the community to have their say on how this area surrounding the creek could be utilised, what infrastructure is needed and possible enhancements to parklands and open spaces.

Once consultation is completed, the feedback will be considered and integrated into the final Masterplan. There are a number of ways to have your say, including attending a special ‘drop-in’ session on the 18 October from 4-8pm. For more details about providing feedback and to view a copy of the Masterplan click here.

Another exciting consultation also happening at the moment is the draft Active Youth Spaces Strategy. Over the past year over 400 residents and stakeholders gave us their ideas and opinions about Kingston’s 6 existing skate/bmx/scooter facilities and what can be done at those sites, including better seating and viewing areas and more variety to cater for a range of skill levels.

So did we get it right? Now is your chance to confirm that we have correctly heard what you said and have your say. You can view a copy of the Strategy at http://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/page/page.asp?page_Id=3038, at Customer Service Centres and libraries or by visiting www.kingstonhaveyoursay.com.au/activeyouthspaces where you can ‘have your say’. This is your final chance to be a part of the official discussion about your spaces!

After months of research and consultation, the Draft Kingston Green Wedge Plan is available for feedback.

We are very keen to know what the community thinks about the proposed actions in the draft plan, which has been developed by independent consultants.
The draft plan, released for comment on 19 September through to 11 November, responds to key issues facing the future of the Green Wedge including finding sustainable land uses, providing for active recreation facilities and delivering the Chain of Parks Project.

This is an opportunity for the community to suggest the types of activities and uses they believe have a place in the long term development of Kingston’s part of the green wedge and how we can implement and manage the impact of any proposed changes.

Council will consider all submissions before determining the content of the Final Plan.
Why don’t you have a look at the draft plan at Council Customer Service Centres and libraries and at http://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/page/page.asp?Page_id=2820#kgwhys
All submissions on the Draft Kingston Green Wedge Plan must be provided by 11 November 2011.

October is also Community Safety Month, which we celebrate through activities that promote a safer and stronger community.
Council is running events with fire brigades, the police, the SES and others including free driving seminar for seniors on 13 October and a graffiti clean-up day in Highett on 29 October.
It’s also the perfect opportunity to ensure your home, holiday house or business are prepared for the summer and fire season. Why not get started on cleaning up any fuel around the property and make sure you keep your lawns mowed.
For more information on Community Safety Month, visit http://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/Files/Seniors_Festival_Program_2011.pdf

The Kingston Seniors Festival kicks off on October 1 with a Grand Final BBQ at the Carrum Seniors Club.
The festival, which runs through October, boasts about 200 free or low-cost events – from Bollywood dancing and yoga classes to concerts, driver education and health groups
It’s never too late to take the plunge and try something new. I didn’t get into Pilates until a couple of years ago and I now go every week. It’s been great finding a completely new activity that I love.
I really encourage people to expand their horizons and discover some different community groups and activities in Kingston. It’s also an opportunity to find new and rewarding ways of helping others through voluntary work.
Don’t let retirement or older age be an excuse to sit back and take it easy. Instead, use the festival to discover new interests and make new friends.
Festival Program booklets are available at Kingston Customer Service Centres and libraries and at http://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/Files/Seniors_Festival_Program_2011.pdf