Justin Madden's response to the petition of 1,543 signatures from Knoxfield

The response is exactly as I anticipated. Justin Madden has interpreted the petition to his own advantage. What we wanted him to do was to impose a moratorium on development in Knoxfield, to save the trees, so the study would in fact have trees to study. At the current rate of tree removal the council report will have no effect on retaining the indigenous canopy trees the Vegetation 3 Overlay is suppose to protect.

Justin Madden stated that it was up to the council to request a moratorium on development in Knoxfield. 1,543 signatures has had no affect on the Minister.

Save Knoxfield - Maintain the fight

I believe we are having an impact on development in Knoxfield, as the rush to develop tied with the economic times has created a downturn in interest. Maybe it's also because we fight every over-development.

We must keep up the fight against double storey townhouses and over-development.

If Planning Applications are posted in your street let us know through our email

saveknoxfield@ozemail.com.au

Together we can over come this challenge.

Next month we have three applications to be heard in VCAT. These are for No 62, 40 and 44 Kathryn Road.

David Chaney at No 30 Kathryn Road will keep you posted with information also on his notice board.

Keep our councillor Andrew Walter informed on your concerns about over-development, increased traffic and removal of valuable indigenous trees.

Ian Simpson

Planning Consultation Meeting - 50 David Street

 Congratulations to the residents of 50 David Street that presented a passionate argument against the over-development of 50 David Street with three double storey townhouses.

Immediate neighbors were incensed that their privacy ought to be invaded by this terrible development. Other issues included:

increased traffic congestion on an already heavily congested minor road,

removal of vegetation,

safety of children,

car parking and rubbish bins,

character of Knoxfield consists of single storey houses with gardens,

visual impact and the affect on wildlife,

increased noise,

salinity caused by impervious surfaces,

density of the development over 60% of site, and the

failure to adhere to Rescodes.

Most people that attended had the opportunity to speak at a well conducted meeting. Thanks must go to the Planning Department on the organization for the meeting tonight.

 

 

 

 

The Value of Trees

This article was published in The Age today Thursday 19^th February 2009. These are issues we need to keep reminding ourselves about. The development of double storey townhouses  in a time of climate change and global warming is ridiculous. Councils need to re-assess the value of trees to the environment especially the Knoxfield environment.

 

Doctor's plea for trees

VICTORIA has lost 12 per cent of its trees during the drought, with up to 50 per cent under threat if it continues, a leading arboriculturist has warned.

Dr Greg Moore, a special guest at a water crisis symposium being held tonight in Melbourne, is concerned the economic, health and environmental values of trees are seriously underestimated.

Trees and urban vegetation have been assets for years and their benefits should not be taken for granted, he said.

A study of trees in South Australia showed they had a value of $200 each in shade and carbon sequestration, Mr Moore said. "If there are 70,000 public trees in Melbourne, that's $14 million worth of value to the city. I'm worried that if we don't understand these benefits it will be at our peril. Suddenly you'll find Melbourne is not the liveable city it was because our trees, green spaces and vegetation have been lost."

He said localised warming due to the increase in paved and dark-coloured surfaces reduced significantly when cities had adequate green belts.

This meant the appropriate use of resources was needed to maintain these assets, such as water, especially in a drought.

Mr Moore said most councils had acted quickly to protect their parks and gardens, even though they faced hostility from residents opposed to such a "waste" of water.

"Melburnians can be wonderfully self-righteous yet the councils have stood their ground. Turf too has had a terrible time and yet it's an effective ecosystem in its own right and good at holding carbon.

"I'm worried about our obsession with water, and it's a justified and reasonable obsession, but sometimes it blinds us to other components in this overall environmental equation. It's glib to the point of dangerous to say we've got problems with water but we're not going to look at these other elements."

While most of Melbourne's trees are shedding their leaves early to survive, other trees are being removed for high-density developments, he said.

"There are pockets dotted around Melbourne where housing density is so great that you can't plant a tree of any substantial size in gardens."

Mr Moore said Sir William Guilfoyle, the second director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, understood that his creation had a functioning role as the lungs of the city.

Many Melburnians, though, consider trees to be ornaments rather than environmental protectors, Mr Moore said.