An Empowering Monash & YOU initiative Thursday, 13 August 2015

SUBMISSION TO MONASH COUNCIL REF. AMENDMENT C120

A Community Proposal for an Alternative Vision

for Central Car Park and the Glen Waverley

Activity Centre

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Names and addresses of those submitting

this document.

Name Address P’cde Email 1 3150

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Table of Contents Names and addresses of those submitting this document. ................................ 2

Our Vision for the Future of Monash ................................................................. 4

Summary of submission to the City of Monash .................................................. 4

Introduction ....................................................................................................... 5

Building lifestyles conducive to health and wellbeing ........................................ 5

Raise the profile of sustainability .................................................................... 6

An intercultural focus ..................................................................................... 6

Health and wellbeing implications .................................................................. 6

Families and children ................................................................................... 6

Walking ........................................................................................................ 7

Traffic volumes and congestion ................................................................... 7

What the Open Space might be ......................................................................... 7

Inspiration from other places ............................................................................. 8

The parks of China .......................................................................................... 8

A park in a neighbouring municipality ............................................................. 9

Modifying the Glen Waverley Activity Centre Structure Plan ........................... 10

Placing car parking underground .................................................................. 10

Locate the new library in Mulgrave .............................................................. 10

Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 11

Bibliography ..................................................................................................... 12

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Our Vision for the Future of Monash

The community representatives making this submission, request

Monash Council to facilitate an ‘open green space’ for use by the people

of Monash on the current Central Car Park site. At this time we are

presented with an historical opportunity to enhance the lives and

wellbeing of our community for future generations, by this one decision.

Summary of submission to the City of Monash We ask Council to:

Prohibit building on the Central Car Park site.

Collaborate with the community to develop an open green space which:

o is a culturally neutral place providing space for interactive community

events, displays and performance areas, musical entertainment etc.,

o has a focus on healthy outdoor activity and relaxation for local

residents, workers and visitors,

o is Age Friendly, providing seating and designated safe access areas,

o attracts commuters to linger longer in Glen Waverley,

o links the northern and southern sections of the activity centre,

o attracts custom off Springvale Road for local business,

o is green and leafy, providing habitat for local birds and wildlife as part

of the corridor between Hinkler and Bogong Reserves,

o links the bike path from Syndal station to Scotchman’s Creek Trail,

o encourages pedestrians and cyclists in preference to motor cars

o is aesthetically pleasing keeping Glen Waverley an attractive green

city,

o is free from overshadow from surrounding buildings,

o provides equitable access to all groups in the community, regardless

of group size or financial status, and

o represents both our heritage and our future.

The submitters of this proposal support the Proposal of building ‘Monash

Multicultural Square’ for an All Ages Friendly City by Mr Joseph Qianfu Jini. The

proposals co-exist providing different community perspectives on open space

in the Central Car Park area.

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Introduction

OPEN, ACCESSIBLE GREEN SPACES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR LOCAL

PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN CULTURAL IDENTITY AND BUILD

SOCIAL TIES.

Emmett Jon 2015 Urban green spaces as socially sustainable

places

The people of Glen Waverley and surrounds are unhappy and shocked by the

scale and nature of development planned for the Central precinct. Health,

sustainability and space are highly valued, as is community involvement in

decision making. Already these values have been compromised as the green

canopy and character of the area is being destroyed. Apartments targetted at

empty nesters, among others, are being rejected as “dog boxes” i.e., they are

perceived as too small and badly designed. We hear of apartments that

cannot be sold, yet more are planned. There are signs of slipshod construction

and materials. The Planning Minister Mr. Richard Wynne has articulated the

need for “more space” on numerous occasionsii.

Experiences in neighbouring municipalities outline the problems faced with

high population density and insufficient free open space. The people in

Monash do not want to follow the path of Box Hill and Springvale.

It is only fair and reasonable that current residents, ahead of developers and

commercial interests, drive the future direction of our activity centre.

Building lifestyles conducive to health and wellbeing

A change in population density, demographic profile and type of

accommodation has an impact on the health of the current residents and

workers, as well as on those moving into the area. The current and proposed

changes in Glen Waverley are already affecting the community in a negative

way. Some have moved their shopping centres and others have moved or are

planning to move out. Some have a gloomy view of their future. Older

residents are being priced out of their community as they retire.

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Raise the profile of sustainability The tree canopy across Monash is diminishing despite the imposition of

vegetation protection overlays. This canopy reduction adversely affects the

wildlife in the City by removing travel corridors. Further, studiesiii have shown

that the removal of tree cover results in heating of the urban environment and

increased cost and pollution in order to cool buildings on hot days.

An intercultural focus Monash’s population has diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Groups

operate within their cultures with minimal opportunity for ‘inter-cultural’

interaction. An open, public, culturally neutral environment where people can

come together creates a greater participation in our diverse cultures and a

more cohesive society valuing all community members for who they are and

their contribution to the community.

In such an environment, all cultural groups have a chance to simultaneously

honour their own heritage and share with others to develop a common

heritage for future generations.

Health and wellbeing implications

Families and children

The GWAC Structure Plan envisages increased population density and diversity.

The Plan needs to provide for residents, workers and visitors in GWAC. The

cafes and restaurants fill some needs but offer little to families requiring non-

commercial environments, those with a love of outdoors, trees and birds and

the all-important need for physical exercise.

Families have been the backbone of the Glen Waverley community but their

needs are overlooked by the Structure Plan. Children’s needs, in particular, are

excluded, at a time of rising concerns in relation to Australia’s “Obesity

Epidemic”, since the plan offers no opportunity for them to be active.

The experiences of the Docklands and Southbank developments have been

unfortunate for families and provide a timely lesson from which we must learn.

Small apartments and a lack of suitable, inviting spaces for physical exercise

and outdoor play have made Docklands, in particular, a ghost-town during the

working day.iv

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Walking

A central open space is expected to improve Glen Waverley’s low Walkability

Scorev improving the health and wellbeing of residents.

Suburb Walkability Score

Carlton 97 Richmond 90 Prahran 87 Malvern 80 Bentleigh 75 Hughesdale 74 Oakleigh 73 Clayton 69 Mt Waverley 62 Glen Waverley 59 Table 1 - Walkability Scores for Glen Waverley and Selected Suburbs

Traffic volumes and congestion

Traffic volumes and car parking space are currently at saturation point. This is

not conducive to a vibrant and inviting centre. Encouraging pedestrians and

cyclists by providing attractive walking areas, connecting bike paths and

providing infrastructure including water drinking fountains, seats and bicycle

racks promotes a sustainable response to traffic issues.

What the Open Space might be The people of Monash need to be active partners in deciding how the open

space will meet social and intercultural needs over time.

Possibilities include:

On the way to work exercises such as Tai Chi or Yoga

Daytime seniors workouts

Meet for games e.g., Chess

Picnic or take away lunches under trees

Catering by Kingsway trader options

Cyclists’ break for coffee or lunch

Outdoor education

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Bird watching

Displays of art and craft

Historical displays

Community garden bed or displays of plantings by diverse groups

Community gathering space for educational sessions e.g., on sustainability

Inter-cultural gatherings and festivals

Families gathering while children play

Buskers

Impromptu activities in allocated areas e.g., rap dancing

Speaker’s podium

Office lunch/BBQ

Inspiration from other places

The parks of China The use of open space in China provides inspiration for our proposal. The

people, many living in high rise apartments, make good use of open space to

exercise, socialise and relax.

Photograph 1 – Westerners welcomed by a group of locals practising Tai Chi

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Photograph 2 - Late in the day people gather in this green park to exercise and socialise.

A park in a neighbouring municipality

Ringwood City Council, through the creation of this historical venue, seeks to present to the citizens of Ringwood and its visitors something of Ringwood’s unique beginnings.

Sign at Ringwood Lake

Outdoor stage

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Further inspiration comes from a walk around Ringwood Lake in the

neighbouring municipality of Maroondah. The municipality has achieved

similar goals to those put forward for this project by developing a space for the

people while enhancing the environment. Wildlife lives within 50 meters of a

main highway, people are walking and relaxing, an outdoor stage is available

for planned or impromptu use and an historical display gives a sense of where

the community has come from.

Modifying the Glen Waverley Activity Centre Structure

Plan The following modifications to the GWAC Structure Plan are recommended to

facilitate this proposal:

Placing car parking underground The City of Stonnington is converting the ground level Cato Street car park into

multi-level underground car park, repurposing the ground level as public open

green space demonstrating that this concept is feasible for Monash as well.

They statevi:

“OPEN SPACE IS A HIGHLY VALUED COMMUNITY PRIORITY

AND IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY SCARCE AS POPULATION

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT DENSITY IN STONNINGTON

CONTINUE TO PLACE PRESSURE ON ALL AREAS ON THE

MUNICIPALITY.”

City of Stonnington Open Spaces Strategy 2013

Locate the new library in Mulgrave We do not support the building of a new Glen Waverley library on the Central

Car Park.

The Glen Waverley branch of the Monash Library is much loved and well used

by the community. The Glen Waverley community also has access to the

nearby Wheeler’s Hill and Mt Waverley branches. A more equitable solution

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which provides more benefits for more Monash residents is to build a library

for the people of Mulgrave who currently only have a room in the

Neighbourhood House.

Conclusion The community members making this submission have put in heart as well as

time and effort. This is where we live and we want an holistic approach and a

longer term view applied to planning. We have endeavoured to outline a

sustainable plan to suit all demographics and the local traders. We want Glen

Waverley to remain open and attractive; a green and leafy and diverse city.

We do not want a city of high rise buildings, small apartments, isolation, health

issues, disconnectedness and traffic congestion.

Open, accessible green space is essential for people to maintain their cultural

identity, share diverse heritages, build social ties, exercise and enhance

personal health. To enhance sustainability such a space needs to be within

walking and cycling distance from homes and workplaces. We want to hand

on Glen Waverley as a healthy and liveable city to future generations.

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Bibliography City of Stonnington Open Spaces Strategy 2013

http://stonnington.vic.gov.au/your-council/strategies/open-space-/ accessed 1

July 2015

Emmett J. Urban green spaces as socially sustainable places

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/sustainability/2014/02/26/urban_parks/ accessed 25

June 2015

Jin J.Q. Proposal of building ‘Monash Multicultural Square for All Ages Friendly

City’ https://monashandyou.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/proposal-of-

building-monash-multicultural-square-for-an-all-ages-friendly-city-including-

community-feedback-on-26th-march-2015.pdf accessed 2 July 2015

Dow A. Action on very small apartments The Age Thursday May 14

Dow A. High-rise homes forget about the kids The Sunday Age Feb 1 2015

Divencha S. A need for greenery Waverley Leader 17 Feb 2015

i

Jin JQ Proposal of building ‘Monash Multicultural Square for All Ages Friendly City https://monashandyou.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/proposal-of-building-monash-multicultural-square-for-an-all-ages-friendly-city-including-community-feedback-on-26th-march-2015.pdf accessed 2 July 2015 ii Dow A; “Action on very small apartments” The Age Thursday May 14, 2015

iii Waverley Leader 17 Feb 2015 reported Dr Simon Divecha from Uni of Adelaide Environment Institute need

an urgent culture to counter urban heat island effect. iv Dow A; “High-rise homes forget about the kids” The Sunday Age February 1, 2015

v https://www.walkscore.com/AU-VIC/Melbourne https://www.walkscore.com/methodology.shtml

vi City of Stonnington Open Spaces Strategy 2013

City of Stonnington web site http://stonnington.vic.gov.au/your-council/strategies/open-space-/ accessed 1 July 2015