Consultation - What, Why and How?

Management of Tree Protection on Private Property Policy - draft available for comment

Bayside City Council is seeking residents’ views on the draft Management of Tree Protection on Private Property Policy.

While the general purpose of the draft policy remains the same as that of the current policy, the following is a summary of the changes that are more significant.  These changes have been made both as part of the general review, and in response to Council’s Notice of Motion 161.

• The current policy includes a mix of policy and detailed guidelines.  The guideline component has been separated from, but is referred to in, the draft policy.
• Inclusion of the Quantified Tree Risk Assessment criteria (QTRA) as the basis of assessment of applications for removal of trees when safety is the reason for tree removal.
• Inclusion of provisions allowing the assessors of applications to consider an appropriate balance between the sometimes competing considerations relating to extension to or replacement of single family dwellings, damage to structures or perceived danger to occupants; and the retention and replacement of the tree canopy.
• Also in the draft policy is the inclusion of a mechanism for fast track and significantly lower fee permits for pruning where the pruning is to be undertaken by a qualified arborist in accordance with the relevant Australian Standard.

A copy of the draft policy is available here.

Acceptance of written submissions close on Friday 31 October 2008.  Submissions should be addressed to Draft Management of Tree Protection on Private Property Policy, Bayside City Council, 76 Royal Avenue, Sandringham 3191.

For more information, please contact Acting Team Leader Investigations, Terry Bourke on (03) 9599 4444.

Draft Open Space Strategy 2007 - 2017

The Bayside Open Space Strategy (2007) aims to provide a well connected open space system that is flexible enough to meet the changing needs of our community.

The focus of this strategy is Council-managed open space. This includes parks, community areas, and foreshore reserves. This does not include other areas managed by Council (roads and lanes, roundabouts, shopping strips). Nor does it include areas managed by other authorities (railways, roads) or private owners (private golf courses, shopping centres).

Population projections for Bayside over the life of the strategy indicate a slight rate of growth over all age cohorts until 2021. Compared to other metropolitan municipalities, Bayside’s population can be described as stable.

An analysis of open space provision has been done for the municipality. This is compared to a number of other metropolitan municipalities.

Open space is stratified and development standards established based on that stratification.

A detailed analysis of provision by hierarchy is done for each of the nine suburbs that comprise the municipality. That analysis indicates some gaps in open space provision at a 500m-catchment level. At the broader level that is shown on the map overleaf.

Opportunities for implementation
It is anticipated that this Strategy will be implemented over a ten-year period (2007 to 2017), subject to the availability of funds at the time.

1. Preparation of appropriate plans for all parks

• Prepare masterplans for Regional Parks, Neighbourhood 3 Parks, Bushlands and Conservation areas over the life of this Strategy.

• Prepare profile plans for all other open space.

• Ensure all open space is developed to the agreed standards for hierarchy and function.

• Review maintenance levels and service levels based on established standards for hierarchy and function.

• Ensure asset management and renewal priorities maintain open space to agreed levels.

2. Integration of open space with existing linkages and networks

• Integrate linkages between open space and Nepean Highway, railway reserves, Beach Road, the road and footpath network.

3. Seeking partnerships with other agencies

• Enter into partnerships to achieve linkages and create local open space in areas that are currently inaccessible to the public. Other agencies might include with VicRoads, VicTrack, Department of Education, private landowners, private schools, and public schools. This might be achieved through management agreements involving privately owned lands.

4. Provision of the basis for an open space contribution scheme, and guiding the use of these contributions

• Seek open space contribution:
  · Where open space supply is considered deficient
  · Where open space service levels are considered deficient
  · To provide linkages to other networks.

• Consider swapping land that provides more valuable land for open space than some land that Council currently owns.

There are some areas with deficiencies in open space that arise because of either insufficient quantity of open space (Black Rock and Highett) or inadequate distribution of open space (Beaumaris, Black Rock, Brighton, Brighton East, Hampton East and Highett).

All areas of the City of Bayside have been identified for improved linkages and connections to other open space destinations, the regional open space network or key community services and facilities. This improvement in infrastructure will be required to meet the increasing demands that rising participation in walking and cycling place on providers of open space.

To achieve the opportunities for implementation requires resources. To complement the existing source of resources through Council’s rate base, it is considered that a contribution scheme is warranted.

This Open Space Strategy 2007 builds a business case for the need for a developer contribution scheme.

To realise such a scheme may require further analysis of open space distribution at the path network level, and profile plans across the municipality to determine the gaps in service delivery based on the now-established standards.

Public consultation
Submissions and feedback on the draft Open Space Strategy are encouraged and will be received by Council until Friday 5 December 2008. Comments may either be emailed to:

masterplan@bayside.vic.gov.au

or posted to:

Bayside City Council
Parks Department
PO Box 27
Sandringham VIC 3191

Copies of the draft Open Space Strategy 2007-2017 are available here.

Hard copies of the draft Open Space Strategy 2007-2017 are also available at the Bayside City Council Corporate Centre and at all Council libraries.  Alternatively, copies of the draft Open Space Strategy 2007-2017 are available on CD by request, please contact Parks Administration Officer, Marian Nicholls on 9599 4668.

Should you have any further queries regarding the draft Open Space Strategy 2007-2017, please contact Council’s Environment Research Officer, Amy Hough on 9599 4444.

Please keep checking back here for further opportunities to have your say about the issues that affect you.... 

What is Consultation?

Consultation is a process that both informs and involves the community and stakeholders.  It provides Council with an opportunity to hear what members of the community are thinking on a particular issue.  Consultation ensures that those affected by a Council decision have a genuine opportunity to be informed of, and provide input into, the decision-making process.

Why should I participate?

Council would like to encourage active participation in consultation to promote a sense of ownership and empowerment within Bayside.  You can use your personal experience and knowledge to assist Council in developing local solutions to local problems and issues.  You can influence decisions that affect your life.

How do I participate?

There are a variety of ways to provide your opinion/feedback to Council.  These include:

• Surveys
• Responding to 'comments invited'
• Making a 'formal submission'
• Attending a Focus Group
• Participating in a consultative workshop
• Being part of a community group
• Becoming a member of a working group/committee
• Via the internet