Your feedback is helping to shape Kingston

Thanks to all of your feedback - there's so much happening in Kingston!

2022 has been a busy year for consultations in Kingston. We've run a huge number of community consultations about a range of matters: from Youth Service Strategies, through to the adoption of new nature strip guidelines, Asset Management Plans, sports builds, new car parks, advocating for better outcomes for Kingston and much, much more.

Whether you contributed to one, or many, of these consultations, you have made a difference - as your feedback has been helping us to shape our city.

A spotlight on 2022

Here's a summary of many of the outcomes of Kingston's 2022 consultations (and links to find out more):

• Amendment C203 - Thank you to everyone that told us what you think about the proposed changes to Kingston’s residential zones and overlays in our latest stage of consultation. Thousands of community members visited the consultation page, downloaded documents, and accessed online tools to find out what the changes mean for you. We are now reviewing all submissions received and will be considering them at a Council Meeting later this year. Find out more and sign up for project updates to be kept informed.
  
• Tarella Road Reserve, Chelsea 'No Dog Zone' - We asked if you wanted us to keep dogs out of Tarella Road and you told us that we need to protect the significant native vegetation at Tarella Road in Chelsea. Council agreed and adopted a policy. Read the minutes here
• Suburban Rail Loop's Delta and Highett sites - Thanks to the 180+ people who contributed feedback to Council's draft concept designs, created to advocate for the best outcomes for the SRL's projects planned for Sir William Fry Reserve, Highett and the proposed stabling yard in Heatherton. Your feedback was included in our submission to the Environment Effects Statement process. Whilst we are disappointed that the train stabling yard will go ahead in Heatherton, we did achieve a number of improved outcomes, including a commitment to replace lost open space, consideration of a green roof at the stabling site, a wider pedestrian bridge at Sir William Fry Reserve, improved pedestrian connections and stronger construction guidelines to reduce any impacts on neighbours.
• Kingston's New Parklet Policy - With outdoor dining becoming so prevalent after COVID lockdowns, we asked how you wanted us to manage parklets in our city in the long term. Thanks to community feedback, a new policy was adopted by Council. Read the minutes here.
• Spring Road Reserve and Heatherton Park Masterplans - Earlier this year we asked what you wanted to be included in the masterplans for the former landfill sites at Spring Road Reserve and Heatherton Park. Community feedback is currently being assessed and will help shape the Masterplans before they are considered by Councillors.
• Improving Access to Parkdale Beach - We sought community feedback on plans for improved car parking, completion of the shared user path and an accessible pedestrian ramp to the foreshore at Parkdale Yacht Club. It is a complex project that aims to provide parking, improve accessibility to the beach, and respect environmental constraints. Thanks to your feedback, we’ve also added more seating, bike racks, additional greenery, a drinking fountain and picnic tables. We anticipate work to begin in autumn 2023, after the yachting season. Read more here
• 2022 to 2026 Youth Services Strategy - Over several months this year, Council staff met with students, parents, teachers and carers to find out what they wanted in the next Youth Services strategy. With almost 1000 responses, a lot of work has been undertaken and work continues on this important document that will help shape how we best work with young community members. Council will soon decide upon whether a draft document is ready to go out for public consultation.
• Parkdale/Mentone Urban Design Framework - with the Victorian Government pushing ahead with its plans for an elevated rail option, Council developed ideas for improved outcomes for our community, to which many of you contributed invaluable feedback. Following our submission, the Victorian Government has released its latest plans. To coincide with the release of the plans, LXRP have commenced a period of public consultation with a design feedback survey open on the Engage Victoria website until 30 October. Read more about our community's wins and Council's concerns over these latest plans here.
• Improving Kingston's Small Shopping Centres - Small shopping centres are important meeting places and vital contributors to our local economy. This year we asked for community feedback on 38 local shopping strips to help us prioritise future investments. Work on collating and presenting this report to Council is underway.
• Nature Strip Guidelines - Nature strips account for a significant proportion of open space in the City of Kingston and many people have an interest in better utilising them for aesthetic and environmental use. Earlier this year, we put draft nature strip guidelines out for consultation. Thanks to everyone who provided feedback, these guidelines have been adopted by Council.
• Cool Roads in Kingston - Roads and asphalt areas have been identified as major heat sources in urban areas, especially at night when they release the heat they absorb. In addition to undertaking a trial of CoolSeal road sealant, we asked the community for a 'temperature check', on their thoughts around applying a sealant to cool our roads. Thanks to those who provided feedback, we are undertaking a trial to monitor the treatment.
• Elder Street South Reserve Playground - Thanks to everyone who provided feedback on this project. If all goes well (weather and available materials), construction is expected to start at the end of November. Keep an eye on the project page for details.
• Kingston's Ten-Year Asset Plan - Work on this important document which helps to guide how the city's assets are managed, began in 2021, when we undertook deliberative engagement with a community panel. We took this plan out to consultation in May and it was recently adopted by Council. Read the Ten-Year Asset Plan.
• Bonbeach Reserve Sports Pavilion - With the Masterplan for this site already adopted, earlier this year we asked for community feedback on the proposed concept plans for a new sports pavilion at Bonbeach Reserve. Thanks to everyone who provided feedback on this consultation. As a result, Council has endorsed plans for a 2-story pavilion and is advocating for a $5 million Victorian Government/state election candidate commitment to the site.
• Creating a new Aquatic and Leisure Centre for Kingston - This year, thanks to community feedback, we've made some significant progress in the delivery of a new district-level aquatic and leisure centre for Kingston! We have now purchased a site for the new centre on Governor Road, Mordialloc, received invaluable design feedback, and have appointed a Community Reference Group who'll help us work through plans. Read more or watch a video.
• Le Page Park Masterplan - Following a five-week community consultation with two drop-in information sessions, Council has adopted the Masterplan for Le Page Park and is seeking funding pledges from all parties in the lead-up to the Victorian state election.
• Permanent Piazza at Owen Street, Mordialloc - Thanks to everyone who provided feedback on a new permanent piazza in Owen Street Mordialloc, following a successful trial. Your input helped us to develop the final concept plan which is now available for viewing here and works got underway to make this permanent in late August.
• Streetscape improvements in Chandler Street Parkdale and Centre Road/Melaleuca Drive, Clarinda - thanks to everyone who provided us with feedback on draft concept plans for streetscape work in these two sites. This helped us to develop the final concept plans and to undertake works at these local shopping precincts, which are both nearing completion. If you wish to download the final concept plans, they're available in the 'Documents' section on the right-hand side of the project pages, see the links above.
• Public Toilet Strategy Review - We're currently halfway through a Public Toilet Priority Action Plan and decided to check in with the community about your wants/needs when it comes to public toilets. Thanks to everyone who provided feedback. Work is now being undertaken to draft a report about these priorities in-line with Council's other commitments and budget.
• Kingston Heath Reserve Sporting Facility Improvements - This month we closed a consultation seeking feedback on the Masterplan for Kingston Heath Reserve. Following Council’s consideration of a sporting needs analysis (which recognised an immediate need for an additional hockey field within Kingston) and subsequent site feasibility assessment (which identified Kingston Heath Reserve as the preferred location for an additional hockey field), a proposed concept plan was developed to meet these needs and we took feedback over the last few weeks.
• Integrated Water Strategy - We recently closed a consultation looking into how our water resources can best be future-proofed in Kingston to prepare us for climate change, increased urbanisation, forecasts for an increase in hot days, less annual rainfall, and an increase in polluted stormwater runoff. Feedback is now being considered and collated into a report which will be taken to Council.
• Personal Watercraft Usage - Last month, we closed a community consultation, seeking feedback on personal watercraft usage in the bay, to determine what advocacy - if any - is needed to be undertaken to ensure that the state authorities who police the water, need to consider in Kingston. All feedback received will be collated and considered.

Keep checking in on Your Kingston Your Say, as the year is not over yet and there are many more consultations opening soon.