cbv_moys

Dear Mr Wilson, 

2002/8152:
Proposed Construction
of Viewing Platforms, and other Work at and near “Moysey Gardens”  

Beaumaris Conservation Society Inc. considers
that the
“Moysey Gardens” and the area near it (Melway 86F8) is, not
surprisingly,
given the nearby large and long established hotel and commercial areas,
more in need of restoration and corrective work than many other parts
of
Beaumaris Beach Park. 

The Society notes that the “Moysey Gardens”
provide, by
means of an unduly large stone cairn, and remnant senescent Pinus
radiata
trees, a substantial reminder of the past presence of the Moysey
family,
who were pioneer settlers of Beaumaris. These relics relate to an era
long
past, and it is appropriate that they should look old and simple, and
not
be dominated or even rivalled by nearby incompatible development. It is
appropriate that these reminders of the Moysey era appear in a simple
setting
of public open space, which at present includes mown grass, with four
bench
seats, a public drinking tap, a litter container, and a cliff top
safety
fence, providing that this present level of modification of a once
natural
coastal setting goes little further. 

Need to remove past clutter:
Unfortunately that
simple and restful scene overlooking Port Phillip, and the coastline of
the City of Kingston and beyond, from the edge of a high cliff, has
already
been marred by the blight of more municipal and other introduced
clutter
and disturbance. Extraneous past works and clutter that mar the site
covered
by Project 2002/8152 include: 

• A completely unnecessary and currently
  unsightly large
  area of degraded crazy paving around the stone cairn – that paving
  should be removed and lawn should be allowed to grow right up to a
  paved
  mowing border strip, no wider than say 150 mm around and abutting the
  cairn

• A rectangular masonry block with a
  derelict
  information page on the top of it like the many other such derelict
  blocks erected on the coast by the former City of Sandringham – no
  longer
  maintained, ugly and useless

• Two large and obtrusive white signs each
  on
  two poles that
  are part of the Bayside Art Trail, but which are inappropriately
  located
  in that they intrude into views of the sea (immortalized
  by the Clarice Beckett painting of that site) from
  the
  grassed area and further inland, in one case from all along Bodley
  Street
  – the solution to that blemish would be to relocate them at opposite
  ends
  of the grassed area, at right angles to the coast and road, not in line
  with either Bodley Street or Banksia Avenue, and with bushland behind
  them
  so that they were not obtruding into the view of those seeking a long
  range
  view of the sea, and did not have their rear blank sides visible on the
  skyline from land below, and from the sea.

• A partly rusted early 1990s Bayside
  Council sign mounted on two poles bearing two large rectangular plates,
  the upper one reading “Moysey Gardens” and the lower one reading
  “Bayside
  City Council”. The proliferation of signs could be reduced by
  discontinuing
  this sign and noting this relatively inconsequential information, which
  is easily deduced from the plaque on the unavoidable cairn, more
  compactly
  as part of another more important sign.

• A bulky
  grey-green metal utility enclosure near Keys Street that is close to
  the bicycle road is disfigured with graffiti, and is unduly obtrusive
  and
  ugly. Funds proposed to be spent on the unnecessary construction of
  further
  clutter would be far better spent rationalizing existing necessary
  clutter
  and minimizing its obtrusiveness. Some of those funds should go towards
  some toning down or amelioration of the starkness and unwelcome
  appearance
  of that utility enclosure. It is recognized that the enclosure is the
  property
  of another instrumentality that does not have the responsibility and
  motivation
  for managing Beach Park that Bayside Council does, but that should not
  preclude an arrangement between Bayside and the owner, with Bayside
  spending
  money to reduce ugliness rather than spending money to increase it.

Need to Avoid Introducing New and Gratuitous
Clutter:
The Society opposes the proposed construction of “Viewing Platforms” at
the edge of the cliff, both in the “Moysey Gardens” area opposite
Bodley
Street, and also opposite Banksia Avenue. There is no difficulty
whatsoever
for people to view the sea and cliffs from near the edge of the cliff
at
both of these sites. The supposed need for one, let alone two, “Viewing
Platforms” is imaginary. It would be a complete waste of funds that
should
be directed to the serious and ever-growing take-over of the foreshore
and cliffs by pest and exotic plants. The impact on the landscape, and
skyline views in this narrow area of special cliff top land of the
proposed
structures is entirely negative and unwelcome. 

The Society opposes the increase in built
clutter on Beach
Park that will result. The platforms are not needed to view the sea
here,
and would detract from the goal of having as natural and unaffected a
coastal
reserve as possible. The best views of the cliffs here by far are
obtained
from the public access areas, including the jetties, around the
Beaumaris
Motor Yacht Squadron area. If there is a serious intention to have
people
enjoy coastal views here, we consider that rationalized, relevant
signage
should publicize the public’s lawful right to walk right around the
BMYS
perimeter, which is written
into BMYS’s lease from the Crown. A recent sign on
the BMYS fence regarding “grounds” might deter many people
from
exercising their right to walk on those public areas. 

Need to Replace Pest and Exotic Plants with
Coastal
Indigenous Plants: Because of its early settlement and its
closeness
to early intense development, including the former boat shed below, the
project area contains many pest and exotic plants. Columns G and H on
the
Beaumaris Foreshore Pest Plant list on our Web site give an approximate
listing of the species noted there. More specimens of surviving
indigenous plants should be planted. 

Inappropriateness of “Gardens” here: It
would be
honest, and appropriate for a foreshore area, to phase out the
terminology
“Gardens” for this area. Its status as a part of a Permanent Public
Recreation
Reserve under the Crown Land Reserves Act is secure, and it
needs
no subsidiary protective title. The idea of the “Moysey Gardens” as
“Gardens”
is no longer reflected in the way in which the area is managed, as the
only “gardening” that occurs on this very dry sandy area is periodic
lawn
mowing in times when summer dieback of grass or drought has not
resulted,
as at present, in there being any lawn worth mowing. The main legacy of
past “gardening” has been the persistence of recognized pest plants
introduced
at that time, such as South African Gazania and Agapanthus
plants. 

Yours sincerely, 

Adrian Cerbasi
President 
Beaumaris Conservation Society Inc.   

cc. Mayor and Councillors, Bayside City Council