BENTLEIGHBENTLEIGH EASTBRIGHTON EASTCARNEGIECAULFIELDELSTERNWICKGARDENVALEGLEN HUNTLYMCKINNONMURRUMBEENAORMONDST KILDA EAST

MAJOR PROJECTS

Booran Reserve play equipment, Booran Road, Glen Huntly

Booran Reserve — an open space for all

Glen Eira’s newest outdoor space, Booran Reserve, was officially opened in April 2017 and boasts 1.6 hectares of open space for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

Booran Reserve features picnic areas, open grassed and shaded seating areas, surrounded by a range of native and exotic trees and plantings that will change with the seasons.

Council took over management of the site, formerly known as Glen Huntly Reservoir, in 2008 and we worked hard for almost 10 years to transform this disused reservoir into an outstanding open space.

Major construction contracts were awarded in May 2016 and successful completion of the project was made possible by partnership with the Victorian Government and assistance of $128K from Melbourne Water.

We are proud of many important features in the Reserve including art panels along the retained sections of the reservoir wall, which tell the story of water, the water connection to indigenous peoples and the context of the reservoir development in Melbourne’s water network.

The always-popular ‘play’ spaces provide a range of stimulating experiences and environments for all ages and abilities, including the double dome climbing net, water elements, climbing ropes, a double flying fox and swings.

The entire Reserve is an amazing asset for our community and a huge drawcard to the municipality.

See Mayor and CEO overview.


Hopetoun Gardens cannon, Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick

Hopetoun Gardens
makeover honours historic cannons

Rendering of people using Marara Road Reserve, Caulfield South

Marara Road Reserve enhances open space for our community

MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES

Booran Reserve water play area at night, Booran Road, Glen Huntly

Booran Reserve — where environmental and sustainable features shine

Environmental and sustainable design was a major feature of the recent enhancement works at Booran Reserve.

The works, completed in April 2017, showcase our commitment to environmental and sustainable design across the municipality and further enhance this impressive open space.

A standout feature at the reserve is a 500,000-litre storm water harvesting system, which treats and reuses water for irrigation on lawns and garden beds and for toilet flushing.

Recycling of concrete reservoir walls for base material was also a major feature of this project, with more than 95 per cent of the existing site material reused. This included onsite concrete crushing

and screening, and retaining some key structures and elements as heritage features. Our recycling efforts also saved an impressive 70 per cent on demolition and formation costs.

Other major features include LED and low energy lighting used throughout the Reserve and automated systems including energy management, irrigation and lighting control software. Solar power was also installed to offset daytime running of an underground water play plant room, irrigation plant room, two toilet blocks and CCTV.

Men installing solar panels on Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre, Bentleigh East

Glen Eira leading the way with solar

Vegetable food waste being put into a compost bin

Council takes action on food waste

MAJOR CONSULTATION INITIATIVES

Consultation key to Council and Community Plan success

Council adopted a new Glen Eira Council and Community Plan 2017–21  in June 2017 and we identified community consultation as key to its future success.

Consultation carried out in 2016 identified five strategic objectives for Council to consider. These objectives aim to ensure our communities are:

— liveable and well designed;
— accessible and well connected;
— safe, healthy and inclusive;
— clean and sustainable; and
— informed and engaged.

We also created actions and measures for each strategic objective to be reported on, each financial year. In addition, the Glen Eira Council and Community Plan 2017–21  is reviewed

on an annual basis by internal and external stakeholders and is used as an important planning document to respond to the needs of our community and deliver quality services that provide value for money.

Extensive community consultation and research took place and included a telephone survey, focus groups, community meetings and online consultation, involving more than 4,000 community members.

Residents were invited to six public meetings during July 2016, held in different geographical locations across each ward, to discuss planned Council initiatives over the next four years and help us to better understand local priorities and community satisfaction.

Public transport networks. Bus and Bentleigh train station, Centre Road, Bentleigh

People at Glen Eira’s shopping strip community consultation session

Locals have say on shopping strips

Young people at Glen Eira Youth Services event

Landmark youth consultation initiatives for Glen Eira

MAJOR ADVOCACY EFFORTS

Council continues advocacy for better use of Crown Land

We are passionate advocates for the use of Crown Land for public use and for many years we have pushed for better public use of the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve.

In our role as advocates we work hard to influence government and other key stakeholders on issues that are important to our community.

During 2017 we met with representatives for the Minister for Planning to discuss public use at Caulfield Racecourse Reserve.

We also met with the Victorian Planning Authority to ensure our voice would be heard during future strategic planning for the Racecourse precinct and other sites across the municipality.

The Crown Land at Caulfield Racecourse is reserved for three purposes: a racecourse, recreation and a public park. We will continue our advocacy work to the government to influence future decisions on this site.

Many sports clubs in Glen Eira are at capacity and we cannot accommodate the requests from clubs to increase the number of teams while the number of grounds remains the same.

For this reason, we will continue to investigate options for more open space and advocate to the State Government for better use of the disused and underutilised Crown Land.

In addition, we will promote any public consultation process undertaken by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to ensure our voice continues to be heard.

See Mayor and CEO Overview

Aerial photograph of Caulfield Racecourse and the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve

Multi story apartment building, Elsternwick

Advocacy wins interim height decision

Vehicle traffic North Road, Ormond

Council advocates during major level crossing works