Monday, 25 March 2013

2013 Sunshine Festival Photos

The Friends of McKay Gardens had a lot of fun manning our stall at the Sunshine Festival on 23 March.

The festival is getting bigger and better every year and lots of people stopped by our tent to look through the photos, have a chat, grab some freebies and join up. Several enjoyed pointing out the irony that Regional Rail Link (RRL) were in the tent next door.

Lots of people wanted to double-check that the Gardens are safe - they knew about the protests against RRL last year but not always the outcome. It was great to tell them that after community lobbying last year:

  • the amount of land to be reclaimed reduced from 176m2 to 5m2
  • the restored historic gates will not be moved
  • electricity power lines are currently being placed underground to avoid removal of trees
  • the Friends have input into the design of the replacement footbridge (across the rail lines)
  • a second new footbridge will be built across to the gardens from King Edward Ave.
These were great outcomes and everyone who signed a petition, held a placard or wrote a letter should be very proud.

We not only had a stall at the Sunshine Festival - members Russell and Melinda Mockridge entered their gorgeously restore 1948 MG TC car in the parade on behalf of the Friends  - see the photos below for their sensational decoration efforts.

Thanks to the dozens of people who joined up on the day and to everyone who stopped in to share their story about the Gardens and what they mean to them.

Here's some shots of the Friends at the Festival. Can you spot the typo in the council provided banner for the parade?



Bruce and Melinda as flag bearers



RRL staff watching the parade



Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Sunshine Festival

The Friends of HV McKay Gardens will have a stall at the Sunshine Festival this Saturday 23rd March 2013.



Feel free to drop by and say hello to us - Stall 21 on Hampshire Road.

All the committee members - Helen, Speroulla, Melinda, Catherine and Michelle -  will be manning the stall at some stage over the day - plus other Friends will be assisting.

Come and have a chat with us - have a look through the photos - pick up an information brochure or a copy of the latest newsletter - we'll also be giving away bumper stickers and some lovely plants.

Hope to see you there!


Sunday, 25 November 2012

Maintenance Day - 15 December

The Friends will be holding an informal maintenance day in the Gardens on Saturday 15 December 2012.

We will pull a few weeds and pick up rubbish with a focus on recording any issues requiring future attention e.g. unhealthy or dead plants, tree health, vandalism etc

We welcome any members or other locals who would like to come and potter around the Gardens with us  - come and tell us your stories of the Gardens or ask questions.  Help out or just help yourself to cake.

We'll be there from 10am to 12pm.

Look forward to seeing you!


Friday, 16 November 2012

General Meeting - 17 November 2012

The next general meeting of the Friends of the McKay Gardens will be:


Saturday 17 November 2012

10am – 11.30am


Presbyterian Church Meeting Rooms
120 Anderson Road Sunshine

Come along to just to hear the discussion
or to participate.

Sunday, 21 October 2012

Fix the Links rally - Ardeer

The Fix the Links - Residents Rail Action Group held a rally in Ardeer on Saturday 20 October to protest increases in noise and pollution from the Regional Rail Link (RRL) project.

Residents marched from Ardeer train station to Ardeer Community Park and heard speakers from Fix the Links, and supporting groups such as Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association and Friends of the McKay Gardens.

Fix the Links are currently circulating a petition to the legislative assembly  - you can print off a copy from here for you and other concerned people you know to sign (phone Geraldine  on 0423 158 422 for details of where to return signed petitions).

Your small effort can make a difference.  We managed to reduce RRL impacts on the Gardens:
  • Acquisition of 176m2 land reduced to 5m2
  • Historic gates no longer being relocated
  • Pedestrian access from Albion will now be retained
  • Focus on tree conservation and protection
  • Input to the replacement Sunshine footbridge
This was due to residents making a stand - attending rallies and meetings, writing to media and MPs or signing a petition - it all helped.

Please think about supporting our friends and neighbours in Ardeer and Albion.

Residents march in the Fix The Links Rally - Ardeer 20 Oct 2012


Maurice Sibelle from Fix the Links addresses the crowd

 
Darlene Reilly from SunRRA


Catherine McDonald from Friends of McKay Gardens


 

Saturday, 20 October 2012

Meeting with Regional Rail Link Alliance

Members of the Friends and Brimbank Council reps met with the Footscray to Deer Park Alliance team from the Regional Rail Link project in the Gardens on Wednesday 18th October.

As the Alliance are yet to fulfil all of the stringent conditions set down by Heritage Victoria, they cannot commence the planned works in the garden.  However, they were seeking endorsement to undertake some preliminary works that will support those planned works.

These preliminary works entail:

  1. Installing fencing outside of the gardens, along the rail corridor, to prevent rail contractor vehicles impinging on the Gardens.  This fencing will blue and opaque.
  2. Undertake surveying in the gardens and peg out the excavation route for the planned placement of underground electricity wiring.
  3. Undertake drilling outside of the North West corner of the Gardens to facilitate planned works to redirect a major gas pipeline.
  4. Take 10 soil samples from the planned excavation route for underground wiring.  To be done with a hand auger on Friday 19 Oct, with all work cleaned up the same day.

The Friends and Council agreed to these preliminary works.

The Alliance also advised that although work on the design of the replacement footbridge across the rail line is a lower priority at this stage, work will recommence in the future, with involvement of the Friends and council.

We visited the Gardens on the evening of Friday 19 Oct and can confirm that augured sample work was done and the Gardens were left in good condition.




The Alliance advised that they will be writing to residents shortly to inform them of night works and of the planned works for the Gardens.  The letter states that works will commence in 'the coming weeks' but they acknowledge that it will be dependent on first meeting all the conditions set down by Heritage Victoria.

Heritage Victoria Permit

Heritage Victoria granted Permit No: P18325 in relation to the Gardens in August 2012.  Heritage Victoria did not notify the Friends this had occurred, despite their policy of advising submitters of the outcome, and have apologised for their oversight.

The details of the permit are shown below, with the Friends supportive of the specific requirements for the Footscray to Deer Park Alliance to gain specific additional approvals from Heritage Vic around important areas such as tree protection, footbridge design, landscaping etc.






 
HERITAGE
PERMIT
GRANTED UNDER SECTION 74 OF THE HERITAGE ACT 1995
 
 
Permit No.: P18325
 
 
                               
NAME OF PLACE/OBJECT:
 
HV MCKAY MEMORIAL GARDENS
HERITAGE REGISTER NUMBER:
 
H1953
LOCATION OF PLACE/OBJECT:
 
ANDERSON ROAD SUNSHINE

 
The Permit allows: Removal and replacement of the railway footbridge to allow for additional tracks. Work also includes modification to the north west corner of the gardens as part of grade separation construction at Anderson Road, in accordance with the following documents, as endorsed by the Executive Director and forming part of this permit:

·         Regional Rail Link Report: Proposed works to HV McKay Memorial Gardens and footbridge, dated August 2012,
 

The following conditions apply to this permit:

 

STANDARD CONDITIONS:

1.                   This permit shall expire if the permitted works have not commenced within one (1) year of the date of issue of this permit, or are not completed within two (2) years of the date of issue of this permit unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria.

2.                   The Executive Director is to be given five woring days notice of the intention to commence the approved works.

3.                   Approved works or activities are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the registered place / object.  However, if other previously hidden original or inaccessible details of the object or place are uncovered, any works that may affect such items shall immediately cease.  The Executive Director shall be notified of the details immediately to enable Heritage Victoria representatives to inspect and record the items, and for discussion to take place on the possible retention of the items, or the issue of a modified approval.

4.                   All works must cease and this office be contacted if historical archaeological artefacts or deposits are discovered during any excavation or subsurface works. Should any munitions or other potentially explosive artefacts be discovered, Victoria Police is to be immediately alerted whilst the site is cleared of all personnel.

5.                   The Executive Director is to be informed when the approved works have been completed.

6.                   The development approved by this permit is to be carried out in accordance with the endorsed drawings, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria.

PERMIT SPECIFIC CONDITIONS:

7.                   To ensure an accurate archival record is created of the existing conditions of the heritage  assets listed on the Victorian Heritage Register a full archival quality photographic record should be undertaken, in accordance with the leaflet Heritage Victoria Technical Paper Photographic Recording of Heritage Places and Objects. Two copies of this photographic record shall be produced with one copy submitted to the Executive Director for approval in writing. When approved you will be notified to lodge the second copy with the La Trobe Picture Collection State Library of Victoria.  You must then notify the Executive Director that it has been lodged and provide a copy of the lodgement receipt.

8.                   To emphasise the culturally significant values of the place, and recognising that existing site interpretation has been damaged and vandalised and may sustain further damage through the course of the works, a revised interpretation proposal shall be prepared. The design of the revised interpretative medium should be developed in consultation with Brimbank Council and other key stakeholders and is to be approved in writing by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria, and implemented by the conclusion of the works approved under this permit. 

9.                   To ensure the satisfactory remediation of landscaping and other garden and interpretation infrastructure and prior to the commencement of works and in accordance with s.74 (4) of the Heritage Act 1995, a Security in a form and amount determined by the Executive Director to the total value of $100,000 (One hundred thousand dollars) will be lodged with the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria. If the amount of the Security is in excess of  the estimated cost of remediation works submitted by an appropriately qualified Quantity Surveyor, this excess amount shall be released on written application to the Executive Director.  The Security will be released on written application to the Executive Director, subject to the satisfactory progress and/or upon completion of the remediation works. The Security will be forfeited if the remediation works are not completed to the satisfaction of the Executive Director within one year of the completion of the development.

10.                To ensure the protection of significant vegetation at the site, works must be carried out generally in accordance with the Draft Tree Protection Plan dated 31 July 2012 prepared by Greenwood Consulting Pty Ltd, which shall be finalised and submitted for approval by the Executive Director prior to the commencement of the works. Any amendments to the Tree Protection Plan must also be approved by the Executive Director.

11.                Prior to commencement of landscape remediation works, two copies of detailed landscape plans to include plant species and details of any feature ornaments/fittings are to be submitted to the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria for approval. The finalised design of the landscape remediation works shall be developed in consultation with Brimbank Council and other key stakeholders.

12.                Prior to commencement of works on the replacement of the pedestrian bridge over the railway corridor,  two full sets of detailed architectural plans, elevations and sections at a minimum scale of 1:200 shall be submitted for approval to the Executive Director. The finalised design of the pedestrian bridge shall be developed in consultation with Brimbank Council and other key stakeholders. These endorsed drawings shall supersede the drawings submitted by the applicant to Heritage Victoria at the date of issue of this permit.
 
13.                Prior to commencement of works on the replacement of the pedestrian bridge over the railway corridor, full details of the bridge, including samples, of proposed finishes and materials, shall be submitted to the Executive Director for approval. Finishes and materials for the pedestrian bridge shall be developed in consultation with Brimbank Council and other key stakeholders. The endorsed schedule of finishes and materials shall form part of this permit.