Frankston Beach Association Inc. Preserving the beach for all to use

Winter 2016 Newsletter

Contents: AGM

FBA ACTIVITIES

COASTAL MGMT PLAN

MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC

STATEMENT

OLIVERS HILL BOAT

RAMPS

FORESHORE ACTIVITIES

MEMBERSHIP

CSIRO

VALE FRANK HART

FBA Committee: Pat Bentley Johan de Bree Joan Cavanagh Bob Graham Kath Hassell Joan Kerr Russell Kerr Helen Priestley Eve Welch

Contact Details:

FBA Secretary Frankston South LPO PO Box 5092 Frankston South, Vic 3199

Tel: 9783 1391 or email to fbainc2006@hotmail.com.

FBA web site: www.fbainc.org.au For enquiries about voluntary work on the foreshore or in the nursery, please contact Johan on 0418 374 981.

Reg. No. A0031686R ABN 68 874 762 644

Frankston Beach Association Aims to: Preserve and improve the natural features of the Frankston foreshore, having regard for appropriate and sustainable development, and to support the provision of recreational facilities that are consistent with recognized coastal management principles.

You are cordially invited to the

Annual General Meeting

of the

Frankston Beach Association

Sunday 28th August 2016 at 11.00am at the Frankston Life Saving Club

Guest Speaker: Dr Kathleen McInnes

Dr Kathleen McInnes is Research Group Leader of the CSIRO’s Sea Level, Waves And Coastal Extremes Ocean and Climate Dynamics Program and will be addressing the meeting on Sea Level Rise and Coastal Impacts. We urge members and friends to attend to hear our very eminent speaker address the meeting on a topic that should particularly concern all Frankston Residents.

Light refreshments will be served

SUMMARY OF 2015/2016 FBA’s ACTIVITIES

Submissions on Central Regional Coastal Board 2015 Plan; Frankston Coastal Management Plan(details in this Newsletter); MSS, Amendment C100(details in this Newsletter).

Concerns voiced over Council’s proposed renaming of streets around the South East Water Building, we are stakeholders in any further discussion

Discussion on Council’s reorganization of its Parks and Foreshore Maintenance Department – our concerns over reduction and/or less experienced foreshore staff

Our view to Council on proposed Olivers Hill Boating Facility(more details in this newsletter)

Environmentally vigilant - contact to EPA over effluent in bay and objections to Federal Government over funding cuts to CSIRO for public good climate change research

Support of Neighbourhood Environmental Groups with local issues

Planting and foreshore maintenance (details in this Newsletter)

We have changed our Committee meeting time to the third Wednesday in every month at 4.30 pm at Long Island Tennis Club. We invite you to nominate for the FBA Committee for the 2016/2017 year, using the form supplied with this newsletter.

FBA’s SUBMISSION ON FRANKSTON’S DRAFT COASTAL MANAGEMENT FBA presented a submission and again a summary to Councillors. Main comments

Coastal dependence must signify coastal dependent intrastructure/development and not be used as an umbrella for a non-coastal dependent development.

Any sizeable development on the foreshore must be supported by numerical and physical modelling.

We requested the Shared Path Feasibility Study ($50k) be removed from the CMP. Funds better spent towards installing an approved shared path along the railway line joining with Patterson River and the Wetland paths.

We oppose the updated landscape design for the foreshore reserve at Long Island- (cost $500k) instead retaining current natural environment without any further infrastructure and this unnecessary expense.

FBA rejects a recreation node on the Mile Bridge foreshore entrance point. We support the retention of the Tennis Club which conserves native vegetation and provides a unique facility for community groups.

We requested that the following MSS C100 policy guideline be observed in the CMP “Precautionary Principle to consideration of all major development along Port Phillip Bay foreshore, within low lying areas of the municipality, adjacent to the banks of Kananook Creek, adjacent to the Seaford Wetlands and adjacent to areas of remnant vegetation and bush land reserves”

FBA Is disappointed that Council rejected most of our submission and decided to include the SUZ3 “to facilitate development of the Frankston Safe Boat Harbour (FSBH)” in the CMP. FBA COMMENTS ON MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT (MSS) C100 AMENDMENT

FBA believes it is important to obtain acknowledgement, preservation and protection of the coastal zone into the Local Planning Scheme where the reviewed MSS C100 does not take into consideration that the natural coastal system is of intrinsic value to the community and should be given top priority and embedded in every planning process. FBA commented on three sections of the MSS C100 – Settlement, Environment Risk and Environmental and Landscape Values. FBA supported:

the deletion of the 22ha Safe Boat Harbour.

application of the precautionary principle in areas likely to be impacted by sea level rise or natural hazard events.

FBA objected to:

the negation of climate change impacts in the document.

the omission of the protection of the “coastal zones” from inappropriate development in parts of the document

the lack of clarity in managing environmental protection of the Port Phillip Bay foreshore

On the impact of coastal processes and climate change, FBA recommends scientific coastal numerical and physical modeling be embedded in the MSS planning process to prevent any future damage to the foreshore.

OLIVERS HILL BOAT RAMPS DEVELOPMENT

Below is a “Consultation Concept Sketch”, courtesy of Frankston City Council Infrastructure Department

CSIRO

Dr Paul Fraser presented an in depth report at our AGM last year on the effects of climate change on sea levels. This was based on more than 40 years research by the world class facilities at Cape Grim and Aspendale. You may also be aware that this invaluable research demonstrating the impact of Greenhouse gases, reactive gases and aerosols as the major drivers of climate change is under threat of being abolished under cuts to the CSIRO this year.

The FBA have maintained a dialogue with Paul to see how we can Paul in this wanton dismantling of years of painstaking research in the "public good". We wrote to our PM Malcolm Turnbull seeking a change of direction regarding these appalling decisions with regard to the CSIRO and are at this time waiting his response.

FORESHORE ACTIVITIES REPORT

The Frankston Beach Association volunteers have been active on the foreshore in 2016. Unfortunately we missed out on obtaining a project grant for the year so activities have been concentrated on

Frankston City Foreshore’s priorities. The year began with some uncertainty on the possible effects of Frankston City ‘s Operations review on the City’s continued support for the FBA and other environmental volunteer groups. Rumours were rife regarding the closure of the Frankston Indigenous Nursery.

Fortunately the FBA and FFEN have been given written assurances that the nursery will remain open and continue to provide its vital role in supplying Frankston residents and various Frankston environmental volunteer groups with indigenous plants for revegetation projects. The FBA was also given firm assurances that the City strongly supported FBA foreshore activities would continue to maintain and protect Frankston’s remnant foreshore areas.

The City of Frankston’s support for our working bees has been invaluable.

Our first working bee for the year on April 18 was on the foreshore near Allawah Ave. Eleven volunteers planted some 400 tubes. To date six working bees have been held at various locations between Allawah Avenue and the Frankston Life Saving Club. Over 1500 tubes have been planted and numerous weeds consigned to the compost heap.

The FBA will coordinate a National Tree Day event directly north of the Frankston Yacht Club on July 31 with the City of Frankston providing vital support including the supply of 1000 plants.

On August 22 FBA with help from the City of Frankston will host a volunteer day on the foreshore for Monash University 1st year Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy students. The students are to participate in a variety of tasks, which will be recorded in various formats for assignments. The partnership benefits the local community. Working Bees will run till mid October and continue to be attended by a dedicated core group of volunteers. By October many volunteer hours will have been worked including behind the scenes baking for morning teas. A fantastic community effort!

The Frankston foreshore needs friends Working bees are held once a fortnight during the planting season. Come along and enjoy the company, the outdoors and doing a service for your local environment. In 2016 Monday is our scheduled day for working on the foreshore.

Johan de Bree, Foreshore Activities Coordinator

VALE FRANK HART - 20th March 2016 Frank was President and Secretary of Frankston Beach Association for 10 years. His early years were spent in the British merchant navy reaching the rank of master mariner. He was assistant Harbourmaster at Port of Hastings for six years, followed by 16 years as Harbourmaster. FBA was privileged to obtain Frank as a member and his experience as a master mariner was a huge bonus. Frank was a warrior, with a strong sense of social justice and unafraid of a challenge. We have been fortunate enough to be guided by Frank’s intellect, his skills, his kindness and honesty, along with his sense of humour and his love of the sea. His fight for the natural environment was far reaching and inspiring. Frank was our leader in our fight to protect Frankston Beach, he was the author of Frankston Beach Association’s submissions opposing a number of Olivers Hill marina proposals. All submissions were clear, well researched and backed up with expert opinion. We would like to finish with a quote by Jacques Cousteau that makes us smile when we think of Frank – “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

NOMINATION FOR COMMITTEE OF THE FRANKSTON BEACH ASSOCIATION 2016/2017

I/We hereby nominate:……………………………………..Date…………..………………..

For the position of :……………………………………..…………….

Proposer:…………………….……………………….……Signature………….……………. PLEASE PRINT NAME

Seconder:…………….…….………………………………Signature………….…………….

I ACCEPT THIS NOMINATION:……………………………………….. SIGNATURE of CANDIDATE

Please return by 20/8/16 TO THE RETURNING OFFICER at P O BOX 5092, Frankston Sth. 3199

We are sorry to report that our membership is dwindling a little each year and are seeking your help to publicise the work we are doing to enhance and protect our foreshore. If you are able to pass on our Newsletter to someone else in the hope of increasing our numbers, it would help our Association to expand its work and have a broader voice on foreshore issues.

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FBA Membership Application (July 1 2016 to June 30, 2017)

Annual membership for the 2016/2017 financial year was due on 1st July 2016. We welcome you to apply to join our group by taking out an annual membership or renew if you are already a member.

Membership is $10 (family) or $5 (concession). Concession includes seniors and pensioners. I/we wish to join or renew my/our membership of the FBA, and agree to support the purposes of the FBA and be bound by its rules of association.

Name(s): __________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________

Telephone: ______________________

Email: ___________________________________________ (preferred means of communication)

If you might be available to assist with voluntary work (eg. planting out, research, foreshore maintenance etc.), then please identify your particular interest below:

Interest __________________________________________________________

I/we wish to further assist the FBA’s activities, and enclose an additional once-off donation of $_______

Payment Please send payment with this form to the Membership Secretary, Eve Welch, PO Box 5092,

Frankston South 3199. OR To pay your subscription via EFT, please refer to the following FBA bank details:

BSB 033-362 Account No. 176020

YOUR SURNAME AND INITIALS must be included in the REFERENCE FIELD when using EFT so we can identify your payment.