The Friends of Caulfield Park Community Forum - July 1st 2010

  Guest Speaker:  John Hawker

"What is it about Trees - Their Value, Protection and Management?"

John is horticulturist with Heritage Victoria, Department of Planning and Community Development.  Has also worked as Horticultural Project Officer, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne from 1982-1990 and Horticulturist Department of Planning, 1990-95.

Trees, especially their removal and what is replanted , stirs the community to have strong views on their retention  and if native or exotic trees should be planted

This talk will explore how trees are assessed for significance, how they can be protected and how they should be managed

THURSDAY, 1st July - 7.00pm

at St Aloysius School, Catherine Street, North Caulfield

(Behind the church in Balaclava Rd – opposite Caulfield Park)

The talk will be followed by the Friends of Caulfield Park A.G.M.

We welcome the opportunity to hear your views and ideas.

Refreshments will be served

The Friends of Caulfield Park Community Forum - June 4th 2009

President David Wilde welcomed the audience and reviewed the Friend's activities in the last year.  He then went on to talk about the Friend's Values for Caulfield Park.  
Then is was time for our key-note speaker.

Those who came to hear what it takes to design an Australian wildflower garden. Jill Burness, the Landscape Planner of the prize winning gardens at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne listened and watched in rapt attention as she explained their approach and showed what they have achieved at Cranbourne.  (See picture) We imagine that there will be a real trek of people to Cranbourne this following spring to see the flowers.  Her talk provided useful idea starters for the next Caulfield Park Master Plan. 

Following her talk with questions, the AGM was held with the existing committee being returned along with two new members who are keen to add their talents and resources.

Next there was a photographic appreciation of the park with a description of the website.  

Then back to the forum.  

After a brief outline of what changes have occurred in the park in the last year, and what is happening now, the Friends listed the most likely issues and sought the audiences feedback on where to focus.  (see below)

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Friends' Activities in the Last Year

•
·        Regular questions to Council
·        Regular attendance at Council Meetings 
·        Consultation with Councillors and Mayor

·        Questioned need to remove cypresses

·        Questioned holding of functions in drought

·        Questioned need to fence ovals 

·        Sought information about Aviary

·        Questioned future of Depot

·        Endorsed independent candidates at Council elections

·        Website development
 
•    Regular newsletters

The Past Year

What has happened in the last year

–       Completion of sports pavilion

–       Commencement of southern ovals

–       Mulching and watering of trees

–       Water tanks

–       Cypress removal

 Current activities

–       Erection of cricket nets

–       Drip systems being installed

–       New canopy trees

–       Removal of Aviary

–       Opening of pavilion

Future Issues

A number of future issues were described and an indication of their relative importance to the forum was noted:

•         Future of Conservatory (60%)

•         Amphitheatre Removal (50%)

•         Caring for Mature Trees (100%)

•         Removal of works Depot (80%)

•         Water Storage Planning (70%)

•         Pavilion Management (60%)

•         Maintenance of Crushed Rock paths (85%)

•         No ‘bus shelters’ in park (50%)

•         Better traffic management in Inkerman Road (General)