1          Summary

Readers of this project outline would be familiar with the origins of Karkarook Park and the path that has brought us to this point in time.   They would also be aware of the park’s attributes and of the problems besetting the park (high costs, scarce resources).

This proposal is about solutions and opportunities. 

Community lead and funded, together with other external funding sources, the Karkarook Park Bird Hide and proposed future Outdoor Classroom will increase the value of the park in terms of community development, engagement, and contribution. With minimal to zero maintenance costs, there will be an ongoing positive influence on the cost/benefit ratio of maintaining the park.

The concept was born out of a vision for Karkarook Park as both a facility for passive recreation and a suburban oasis of natural fauna and flora, providing physical and mental health benefits and educational opportunities in a growing medium to high density residential area.

Implied in the proposal to establish the Karkarook Park Bird Hide and Outdoor Classroom is the intention to reinstate the conservation reserve originally established on the north shore of the lake.

Members of the Lions Club of Moorabbin and Friends of Karkarook Park, together with our industry and community partners, commend this proposal for the consideration of Parks Victoria and look forward to working with Parks Victoria to see this project through to completion.

2          Background

2.1         History

Before European settlement, this land was pristine coastal heathland, lightly forested with she-oak, tea tree and native grasses. It was part of the lands cared for by the Bunurong peoples.

In the early 1900s, the land was farmed but never very successfully. It became an unwanted and neglected site, collecting rubbish and debris. Fairchild Street was a dirt track leading to a pile of old night cans apparently damaged beyond use.

In the 1980’s, the Victorian Government leased the land to Boral for sand mining on condition that it be rehabilitated to parkland once the commercially viable sand had been extracted.

The development was to be dual purpose, parkland and storm water infrastructure. The serpentine ponds function as storm water filtration and the lake and its basin serve to mitigate a one-in-a-hundred-year flood event. The lake is fed from a bore and pump house near Henry Street, half a kilometre to the east. The land surrounding the lake includes open recreation areas, BBQ and picnic areas.

Friends of Karkarook Park (FoKP) was formed in 1999.  In conjunction with Parks Victoria, and with a grant from the Victorian Government, they established a community nursery at the southeast corner of the park.  From this base, the initial planting of native vegetation took place.  Subsequent vegetation programs resulted from seed collection within the park and propagation at the community nursery.   Planting was done mainly by FoKP and other community volunteers.  

Twenty-two years later, the bare open land has been transformed into a nature park suitable for passive recreation and potentially an ecology centre, providing physical and mental wellbeing and an educational asset to develop environmental awareness in this and future generations.

In recognition of this potential, the Rotary Club of Moorabbin provided a bird hide on the north shore of the lake.  This was a re-purposed transportable building which was well used by small groups of school students, keen bird watchers, and disability groups etc.   The park community was deeply saddened when the hide was burned to the ground in an act of vandalism several years ago.  

 2.2         The Problem

Karkarook Park has serious problems at this time. Infrastructure of the park was established by Boral / CSR and was understandably restricted by a tight budget.   The issues of longevity and low maintenance were not given a high priority.

Karkarook Lake is a magnificent asset but is in essence an artificial lake with no catchment area of its own. Its existence relies upon a deep aquafer, pump house, water quality sensors and aeration. This infrastructure alone is expensive to maintain.

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Easy access from industrial and residential areas makes the park vulnerable to vandalism and misuse. As the park falls into disrepair, instances of vandalism increase.

As a result, Karkarook Park has a very high maintenance cost per hectare relative to other parks in the Parks Victoria estate

2.3         A Solution and an Opportunity

The proposed Karkarook Park Bird Hide  will:

A.   Increase the value of the park as a community asset.   This comparatively low cost, low maintenance piece of infrastructure will provide additional and ongoing community benefits to justify the high baseline maintenance costs of the park.

B.    Turn the park’s vulnerability into its strength.  Located amidst an increasingly medium to high density residential area, the park is ideally situated to serve not only as a passive recreational area but as an educational asset available to the 35 schools located within 6 km of the park

The proposed Karkarook Park Bird Hide will provide the following benefits: 

·         Promote awareness of the environment among an increasingly urbanised community

·         Foster the development of community by being a focal point for a new community of environmental volunteers

·         Provide a facility for observation and recording of bird life at water’s edge, Submerged vegetation zone and surrounding bush land, and a destination for community groups and families etc.

·         Have a minimal maintenance cost.  The proposed construction will be impervious to weather, resilient to misuse and be fit for purpose indefinitely.  Minimal maintenance can be carried out by volunteers.

·         Have a positive and ongoing effect upon the cost/ benefit ratio of maintaining the park.

 3          The Project

It is proposed that Friends of Karkarook Park, in partnership with Lions Club of Moorabbin and together with industrial and community contributors, work collaboratively with Parks Victoria to establish The Karkarook Park Bird Hide as outlined in this proposal. 

3.1         Vision and Goals

The establishment of the Karkarook Park Bird Hide is a keystone of our vision for the park.

Our vision is an urban community where the native flora and fauna is understood, appreciated, and enabled to flourish.

Our goal is a Karkarook Park which reflects the indigenous flora and fauna of the area, providing educational, passive recreation and health benefits to a broad community,

Education is fundamental to an appreciation of our environment.   Early engagement of our younger generations will engrain such an appreciation into our culture and ensure that future leaders recognize the importance of conserving the environment for the benefit of our physical and mental health and the well-being of future generations.

This goal is entirely consistent with the Parks Victoria philosophy.

Healthy Parks – Healthy People

Our specific and immediate goals are:

Gain sufficient funding to enable us to enlist the services of a suitable Building/Construction contractor to undertake works, preferably with a component of in-kind contribution.   This may happen quickly or take a little longer but will be a pivotal factor in the time-frame of the project.

Subsequent Goals Include:

1.    Gain specific commitments from industry supporters with in-kind contribution.

2.    Source a suitable registered builder(s) to undertake works, preferably with a component of in-kind contribution.   This may happen quickly or take a little longer but will be a pivotal factor in the time-frame of the project.

Our ultimate goal is to complete construction of the physical structure by the end of the financial year 2022/23

 3.2         Time-frame

Site preparation and construction will necessarily cause some disturbance to the ambiance and amenity of the park.  For this reason, it is essential that once commenced, the project must proceed smoothly to completion.

THIS SECTION NOT COMPLETE  

3.3         Costing

THIS SECTION NOT COMPLETE 

3.4        Fundraising

Fundraising:

·         Lions Club of Moorabbin have allocated $15,000 to the project

Australian Lions Foundation grant for a further $15,000 (application pending)

·         Application for a grant of $80,000 will be made to the Suburban Rail Loop      Community Projects Fund.
This application has been approved subject to project endorsement by Parks Victoria

·         Crowd funding is proposed if required

·         Other Grants

3.5 In-kind Contribution:

Brickworks:  There is keen interest from this local manufacturer of building products.   Concrete bricks being the basic material used in the construction, the enthusiasm shown by their marketing department gives cause for expectation of a substantial contribution.

Marand Precision Engineering :  A major engineering firm with head office a short walk from Karkarook and with high-end capability for profile cutting of plate steel (major component of the bird hide roof).

Management have shown interest in making an in-kind contribution.

The extent and value of in-kind donations will be determined once full specifications and approvals are finalized.

3.6        Ongoing Maintenance

It is envisaged that ongoing maintenance will be carried out by a self-managed sub-committee of Friends of Karkarook Park.  Maintenance will be minimal but when required would comprise mainly of litter collection (including removal of items that could potentially affect user safety) and graffiti removal.

3.7         Risks & Issues

There is the risk that the bird hide could become a venue for late night illicit parties.   This risk currently exists in secluded areas of the park. One would reasonably expect this to occur on a rare occasion but, given its robust construction, the impact on the facility would be minimal.

As community appreciation of the bird hide and the wider park land develops, instances of misuse are expected to diminish.

Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, 

and that is the risk of doing nothing

3.8       Implications

It is implied that the Karkarook Park Bird Hide will require future development of a conservation reserve around the facility enabling the development of habitat for bird life, their food source and indeed an entire ecosystem. Enthusiasm for this next development is high and widespread.