ISSUE 62 FEBRUARY – MARCH 2020 Council declares Climate Emergency Bright n Sandy Food & Wine Festival Graffiti be gone New mural in BaysideInside this issue Cover Ruby, Ashley and Chris from the Wilderness Society Bayside advocated for Council to declare a Climate Emergency. Let’s Talk Bayside is printed using vegetable based inks and a 100% alcohol free printing process. It is manufactured carbon neutral. Monza Recycled contains 99% recycled fibre and is FSC ® Mix Certified. 5 Busting Bayside’s graffiti 8 A climate for action 10 Food waste revolution 11 Guardians of the trees 12 Learning Japanese culture 14 What's on in Bayside How to contact us Online bayside.vic.gov.au Phone (03) 9599 4444 In person 76 Royal Ave, Sandringham Email enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au facebook.com/BaysideCityCouncil twitter.com/BaysideCouncil CUSTOMER SERVICE COMMITMENT We are committed to being easy to deal with, empathetic, effective and trusted. Our website makes it easier to contact us, make an enquiry, request a service or provide feedback at a time that is convenient to you. FEEDBACK AND COMPLAINTS Complaints should be put in writing and can be lodged via Council’s website. You can expect to receive a response within 10 working days. Charman Road closure Charman Road, Cheltenham will be temporarily closed between Blagdon Street and Station Road from 1am Saturday 1 February to Saturday 7 March 2020. The closure is part of the project to remove the level crossing. Please follow signage, seek alternative routes and drive with care. For more information contact the Level Crossing Removal Project. Tel 1800 105 105 Email contact@levelcrossings@vic.gov.au Online levelcrossings.vic.gov.au Bright n Sandy festival EVENT In its 16th year, Bright n Sandy Food & Wine Festival returns as one of Bayside’s best days out. Green Point will come alive with Bayside’s favourite festival, back for its 2020 take on all things food and wine. Visitors can take a culinary journey around the world with some of Bayside’s best food and wine vendors. Take a whirlwind trip to taste some top grade grub from the team at Royale Brothers, paired with a sparkling drop from The Prosecco Van or, washed down with a young and fruity red from the guys at the Wine Larder. There’s something delicious to suit every taste at this year’s event, including some of Bayside’s most popular food and wine stops. Established in 1981, with the same chef and location for 39 years, Bayside’s very own Shalimar Indian Restaurant is Melbourne’s oldest Indian restaurant. This year, the family-run business is returning to cook up a storm at Bright n Sandy. Second generation Shalimar restaurateur, Gagan Deep Singh, is excited to be bringing their signature flavours back to the festival. “This is the 8th time we’ve taken part in Bright n Sandy and we love it,” he said. “The location makes it such a nice day out for locals and we enjoy being part of a great event surrounded by our regulars and familiar faces.” Along with a diverse range of stalls offering great food, wine and beverages, the day also hosts a range of kids’ activities including face painting, craft areas and sustainable make-your-own smoothie bikes. With sensational food, refreshing beverages and the best view in Bayside, slap on some sunscreen and head down to Bright n Sandy to take your tastebuds on a culinary adventure. Visitors can take a culinary journey around the world with some of Bayside’s best food and wine vendors SUN 23 FEB FOODIE FAMILY The Singh family are ready to cook up a storm at this year's Bright n Sandy festival. Bright n Sandy Sunday 23 February, 11am–7pm Green Point, Brighton Entry $2.50 No pets or BYO bayside.vic.gov.au/brightnsandy FUN IN THE SUN Head to Green Point for a fun day out. Let’s Talk Bayside 3Railway Walk MAJOR PROJECT A new mural by 23-year-old international artist, Leans, has brought colour and vibrancy to Brighton’s Railway Walk. This public art project, located along the rear wall of 36 Well Street, is part of Council’s plan to eliminate graffiti while enhancing the streetscape and local amenity. Leans said Bayside’s railway mural, “reflects the nature of Church Street and its surrounds, capturing energy and excitement this area contributes to Bayside.” Council worked in partnership with local residents, Friends of Railway Walk and Church Street traders to finalise the mural design. Leigh Lansdown and Jacqui Lucas formed Friends of Railway Walk and proposed the mural installation to council. “We are extremely grateful for Council’s support and implementation of our idea,” said Mr Lansdown. “We are hoping the beautiful artwork will significantly deter, or even eliminate, random graffiti and make Railway Walk a more amenable place for residents, commuters and tourists.” The Railway Walk mural joins a number of magnificent art walls in Bayside including murals at the shopping villages in Black Rock and Sandringham. Register your pool now SERVICE The State Government has introduced a new mandatory registration scheme to improve the safety of backyard swimming pools. The new scheme was introduced in response to recommendations from the Victorian Coroner to strengthen safety laws after investigating several drowning cases, particularly children, in backyard swimming pools. Homeowners must register their swimming pools and spas with Council by 01 June 2020, and pay a $79 fee. The date by which owners must organise their first inspection and certification of their barrier which will be determined by the age of the pool or spa with older ones to be inspected first and Council will confirm with you what date will be applicable for your situation. The certificate of pool and spa barrier compliance must be lodged with Council, for a fee of $20. Owners are required to have a registered Building Surveyor or Inspector certify that their pool or spa safety barrier is compliant every four years after the initial compliance certificate. Council will write to pool and spa owners to provide further information on the registration process in Bayside. For more information on the new regulations, visit vba.vic.gov.au/ consumers/swimming-pools GRAFFITI BE GONE Friends of Railway Walk, Leigh, Jacqui and Sandy. SAFETY FIRST All residential pools need to be registered. Key dates Register your pool or spa with Council by 01 June 2020 Lodge certificate of pool and spa barrier compliance: Pool built before on or before 30 June 1994 by 1 June 2021 Pool built from 1 July 1994 to 30 April 2010 by 1 June 2022 Pool built from 1 May 2010 to 31 May 2020 1 June 2023 TRANSFORMED The art mural at Railway Walk 4 Let’s Talk BaysideBusting Bayside’s graffiti SERVICE Unsightly graffiti on private properties around Bayside is being removed by Neighbourhood Watch as part of a unique trial program supported by Council. Neighbourhood Watch 3193 is extending its pilot Graffiti Buster program beyond Beaumaris to include private properties and businesses in high graffiti areas in Sandringham, Little Highett Village and Pennydale. Graffiti Buster coordinator, Geoff Bransbury is also looking for more volunteers to join the army of Graffiti Busters already cleaning up Bayside. “Graffiti Busters is a proven concept that is very organised with rules and disciplines that help train and support our volunteers,” he said. “We meet regularly and target specific areas, cleaning up or re-painting if required.” One obstacle Graffiti Busters has overcome with Council support is getting permission from owners of the private property. Council has provided graffiti cleaning kits and bulk cleaning liquids, and will assist Neighbourhood Watch to contact residents in eligible areas to encourage them to opt in to the trial. “We are very pleased that Council has stepped in to support our program so we can continue doing what we do best – remove the graffiti,” Mr Bransbury said. Bayside Mayor Cr Clarke Martin said the program was a fantastic solution to help owners of private properties clean up graffiti. “Council cannot just go on to private property and start cleaning up, making this program, which is free for residents and business owners who opt in, a great way to keep Bayside free from graffiti,” he said. Once the trial is finished, Council will assess its success and consider extending it to other areas in Bayside. Council continues to remove tags or graffiti from Council-owned property and also provides free graffiti removal kits to businesses and residents in the Bayside area. For information visit nhw3193.com.au/graffiti-busters or email nhw3193@gmail.com Graffiti Busters is a proven concept that is very organised with rules and disciplines that help train and support our volunteers NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Ken, Geoff and Duncan are helping residents get rid of graffiti. CLEAN UP Graffiti Busters are ready to go. Who you gonna call? Let’s Talk Bayside 5Clear vision, big ideas HAVE YOUR SAY A panel of 30 randomly selected Bayside residents will come together in March to analyse and consider feedback gathered from the community to create a draft Bayside 2050 Community Vision. The Bayside 2050 Community Panel will consider priorities and big ideas gathered from the community in November and December last year. Understanding what is important will help Council and the community respond to environmental, social, technological and infrastructure challenges and more. This will provide Council with a clear direction on the community’s values, priorities and vision for the next 30 years. TOP PRIORITY In a survey conducted in late 2019, more than 230 residents shared their top priorities for Bayside in the future. Equal top billing on the list of priorities was protecting the biodiversity of the local area (flora, fauna, clean air and water), minimising waste and increased reuse/recycling. More than 71% of survey respondents ranked these as the equal top issues. Other high priority issues include combatting heat and drought with more vegetation and tree cover, investing in sustainable transport infrastructure (walking, cycling and public transport) and preserving our neighbourhoods (reducing congestion, noise, development). BIG IDEAS Over 580 big ideas for Bayside were shared with the Bayside 2050 Community Vision team, with some fantastic big and far-reaching suggestions. Reccurring themes covered by the big ideas include combating climate change, sustainability and environment, housing and development, open space and getting around (transport, parking). In a survey conducted in late 2019, more than 230 residents shared their top priorities for Bayside in the future NATURE FIRST Bayside residents want our beaches preserved. BIG IDEAS Nash and Cooper shared their ideas. Resident's top priorities 6 Let’s Talk Bayside Protecting the biodiversity of the local area Minimising waste and increased reuse/recycling Combatting heat and drought with more vegetation and tree cover Investing in sustainable transport infrastructure and preserving our neighbourhoods Preserving our neighbourhoods Preventing beach erosion and storm damage to the foreshore Providing facilities for walking, cycling and play Reducing energy use and shifting to sustainable sources Provide welcoming open spaces and meeting places Libraries and facilities for lifelong learning and education This upgrade means so much to the clubs, who can now grow their membership and the wider community New pavilion, new name MAJOR PROJECT Elsternwick Park’s new sports pavilion at Oval 2 was unveiled in December, marking the 8th in Council’s plan to upgrade all 27 pavilions by 2025. The $2.97 million redevelopment provides outstanding modern facilities for long-standing co-tenants, Elsternwick Cricket Club (ECC) and Elsternwick Amateur Football Club (EAFC). Other upgrades included resurfacing the oval, installing ground lighting and cricket nets, and a new name – Holmes- Todd Oval, in recognition of two respected clubmen Barry Todd (ECC) and Graham Holmes (EAFC). Bayside Mayor Cr Clarke Martin said the new pavilion symbolised all that is fantastic about the sporting community in Bayside. “The new designed pavilion will be a major local community asset, servicing Elsternwick and surrounding communities,” he said. “This upgrade means so much to the clubs, who can now grow their membership, and the wider community will benefit as we make sporting facilities accessible for all.” Council’s $52 million investment in sporting pavilion upgrades ensure facilities and inclusive and compliant. Like all new pavilions in Bayside, Elsternwick Park now has female change room facilities to encourage more women and girls to participate in sport. It also has environmentally sensitive design elements like solar panels to help reduce energy consumption, water tanks collecting roof rainwater, water saving tapware and the latest in LED lighting technology. The pavilion’s striking design, led by Centrum Architects, is a reference to the German meaning of Elsternwick which means Magpie Village. The building cleverly derives its form from the magpie’s nest structure while the colour and diagonal elements are inspired by EAFC’s jersey. Other major pavilion upgrades in 2019 were completed at Chisholm Reserve and William Street Reserve. This year’s schedule includes a new pavilion for A.W Oliver Reserve in Hampton East. PAVILION UPGRADE The completed sports pavilion. GAME ON Elsternwick Cricket Club is ready for the new season. Let’s Talk Bayside 7CLIMATE EMERGENCY Pictured: Mayor Cr Clarke Martin and President of Bayside Climate Crisis Action Group, David Rothfield. 8 Let’s Talk Bayside A climate for action ENVIRONMENT Bayside City Council has joined local governments in Australia and all over the world in declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and is taking action to reverse trends that could affect our environment, economy and society.The term ‘Climate Emergency’ describes the urgent need for action to protect vital ecosystems being destroyed as global average temperatures, atmospheric greenhouse gases, and ocean acidity reach dangerous levels. Council will now develop a Climate Emergency Action Plan with community involvement, to address and prioritise action on global warming. More than 2000 residents signed a petition for Council to declare a Climate Emergency, with a number of community environmental groups advocating for Council to address climate change. The Bayside Climate Crisis Action Group, (BCCAG) and The Wilderness Society Bayside are just some of the community groups who will work with Council. BCCAG President, David Rothfield said he and group members were pleased with Council’s decision. “It’s a cause for celebration and a big relief that the urgent nature of the climate situation is being recognised. Before you can deal with a crisis, you have to recognise a crisis is happening,” Mr Rothfield said. DID YOU KNOW? A 2018 report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts severe economic, social and environmental impacts if global temperatures continue to rise at current rates. Without significant effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052. Globally, we could be just 12 years away from a climate change catastrophe. Locally, these predictions have been echoed by the CSIRO, with new modelling showing impacts across Melbourne such as increased temperatures, more intense rainfall events, rising sea levels, more hot days and, as parts of Australia has recently experienced, extreme fire weather for longer periods. COUNCIL TAKES ACTION Bayside Mayor Clarke Martin said declaring a Climate Emergency was another step forward for Council, which is already taking action. “Bayside is a coastal municipality and with 17km of shoreline vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm surges, we are already experiencing first- hand the effects of climate change,” Cr Martin said. “We are currently developing a plan for projects and programs with residents, businesses and other organisations to accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions and embed community resilience to climate change. “We have made significant progress already in reducing our carbon footprint by signing the state Government’s TAKE2 pledge program and aligning to the Victorian Government's zero net emissions by 2050 commitment.” For more information or to share your ideas for our Climate Emergency Action Plan visit bayside.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay BCCAG will form a network of community groups to support Bayside Council’s next steps including The Wilderness Society Bayside (pictured right) - a new environmental group of young people in Bayside passionate about climate change. Council has been working towards being carbon neutral by 2020 by: Avoiding greenhouse gas emissions through Council activities and processes Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through improved energy efficiency in Council buildings and other assets and reducing greenhouse gas intensive fuels Switching from fossil fuel-based energy generation to renewable energy by installing solar panels and procuring electricity from renewable energy sources for Council buildings and public lighting. Offsetting residual greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing carbon offsets as the final step to reach carbon neutrality. HIGH RISK Bayside’s 17km of foreshore is at high risk of rising tides. NEW VOICES Ashley, Ruby and Chris from The Wilderness Society Bayside. CARBON NEUTRALITY Let’s Talk Bayside 9Next >