SAVE KNOXFIELD VICTORIA (3180)
Pterostylis nutans (Nodding Greenhood) orchid in Egan-Lee; photo by Ian Simpson
Save Knoxfield came into being because of residents' concerns about the removal of indigenous canopy trees, some at least 100 years old, and understory and the vanishing wildlife (birds, frogs, etc.) and loss of biodiversity as a result of constant clearing. Also the alarming amount of applications for double storey town houses with their concrete diveways and additional storm water run off that is warming our waterways and adding to rising sea levels. Originally Save Knoxfield Blog was created but after the Save Knoxfield joined Environment Victoria we were encouraged, by our mentor, to create a website and to learn how to issue press releases about what is happening in our area.
There is also the Save Knoxfield page on Marvellous Melbourne protecting, city, country and coast
Since Save Knoxfield's inception many other residents in the City of Knox have contacted us saying their area is under siege also and asking for help and advice. Where we can we do help but we also urge you to contact your local Councilor and advise them of the problem your concerns. Also, to use EDO Victoria's new website Environmental Law Online live.
At the launch of this Site Stuart Morris QC – former Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria and former President of VCAT talked about democracy and third party rights and how when the system is inefficient and lacks timeliness third party rights are curtailed. He also talked about the ability of the citizen to obtain information and that this ability empowers them. (We have one lady in her 80s who goes to VCAT Hearings with us and fights for children's rights because, in many of the proposed developments, there is no room for children to play safely as there is very little open space. She has contacted UNICEF and uses the information provided by them to present an excellent case for future generations.)
Some of our residents do not even have an Internet connection so the information is spread by word of mouth often in the street when residents stop and chat. This area still has a village-like atmosphere and dog walking and garden admiring is common. Lack of water for our gardens and us is also discussed. Some residents can not write English well and feel that the Council should be defending their rights. Residents that have moved out of the area still come back and buy their fish and chips etc. at the local Anne Rd shops.
During the recent really hot spell many residents noted that all birds shared the same bird bath water, some residents opened a tin of peaches each night for their resident mother possum and her baby while, in other areas without trees and a community spirit, wildlife and pets died from lack of shade and water.
This area is an important wildlife corridor and it is a bird flight path from Lakewood Reserve and RG Egan-Lee Reserve to Monbulk/Ferny and Corbanwarrabul Creeks and from the Dandenong Ranges and, as such, it should be protected. Yellow-tailed black cockatoos and many other birds feed in the area. A Vegetation Protection Overlay 3 was introduced in 1999 based on the Vegetation Assessment Protection Strategy for the City of Knox carried out by WATER ECOscience. Of the submissions made in 1998 requests were made for the same protection that The City of Whitehorse had at the time. Comments like great relief that remnant canopy trees were to be protected and requests for permit advertising requirements so that neighbours and passers by could contribute to the decision regarding vegetation protection or removal. The importance of education was stressed and that regeneration needed to also be protected. There was a call for proper penalties to be introduced where trees were removed ileagally. All of which was ignored.
Map of the area covered by the VPO Shedule 3
Save Knoxfield is made up of educated concerned citizens who welcome development but are getting over development thrust on them and are told they just have to live with it and, that they do not like change. What we do not like is "Climate Change" but reasonable development is welcomed and encouraged. Removal of rain bringing shade trees, combined with the height and mass of the double storey buildings will severely impact the surrounding neighborhood character by creating a heat bank in summer and possibly creating more salinity problems.
Where is it?
In The City of Knox, Victoria, Australia
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Map Reference: Melways 73 A3
Tips for fixing problems with Interenet Explorer and Google Maps
Valetta Cresent the latest to be targetted by developers
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Aims
- to promote the importance of this area and R G Egan-Lee (see above map) and Lakewood Reserves as part of an important existing wildlife habitat corridor
- to assist and encourage people to become aware of the importance of the large trees on their properties in the fight against Climate Change
- to educate residents and visitors about the importance of native and indigenous vegetation and biodiversity
- to encourage re-planting of the same species that is growing in the area when and where necessary and to do this we need better surveys and mapping
- to strengthen and obtain planning laws that strenthen our community and preserve and enhance our life-style values
Mother frogmouth owl and baby; photo by Marion Cornwell These owls nest in this area
Knox City Council Sites of interest
Knox City Council, Friends Groups in Knox,
Knoxfield – landscape assessment and design guidelines for residential areas
Interesting and helpful links
Environment Defenders Office (Victoria) Ltd
PlanetArk National Tree Planting
Locals into Victoria's Environment
Trees
Lots of information here. Scroll down and read Philip Hewett's article
Gardening Australia - Dr Greg Moore on the importance of mature Trees
The benefits of trees in Urban areas
The value of an old growth tree for its hollow bearing characteristics
The Essentials of Tree Pruning by Dr Greg Moore
Victorian National Parks Association
New South Wales
If a tree falls in Woollahra; Urban forest in NSW
Salinity problems are already evident in Knoxfield
Australia
Survey Results of what people think
Who on Earth Cares by Cate Blanchett - a means of sending a letter to your local member
The Alternative Technology Association
The World
United Nations Environment Program - Biodiversity
United Nations System Wide Earth Watch - Forest loss
The girl (Severn Suzuki) who silenced the World at the United Nations 1992
Melbourne
India Jilly speaking at the 2009 Climate Change Rally