An Eco City around a Bay
* Update: 19 January 2008,
Ted Baillieu, Leader of the Opposition has stepped up to plate! he wants to establish a web site to monitor the Bay. [I suggest he may like to co-opt the 4,000 or so Lovers of the Bay we have ready, willing and very able... maybe we could have t-shirts, caps and cameras provided? Then again, wouldn't it be wiser to just stop the whole fiasco right now?] See Press Page.
Crikey has really taken up the mantle and posted everyday this past week.
*** Today is the kiddies Swimming for the Bay. Mornington to Mills Beach starting 10.oo am.
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Our City of Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs and towns is at a crossroads. What kind of City do we envisage?
The Age has established a media forum for the Dredging proposal – inviting people to post comments and explore the controversial project.
For me personally it is a lot about lifestyle and the kind of City and environment I choose to live in. My comment posted today raises the question of values, vision and design.
One direction we may take now involves the gouging of the Bay, building of a bigger port, the consequential development of infrastructure to carry huge loads … the redesigning and rebuilding of Melbourne into an Industrial port and industrial City.
OR,
We could utilise and take advantage of the natural environment we have: The Bay and its surrounding mountain ranges; its ambience and cultural offerings, its fashionable shops and theatres, cinemas, universities and education centers. There are many international organisations and interests which would be attracted to holding their conferences here in Melbourne. We could become a Marine Centre, a natural world of beauty and healthy living. A city that enjoys a Quality lifestyle created by an Eco City.
Both directions require planning, design, investment and consistent effort. Both will reap harvest of activity (employment) and prosperity.
One however, embraces and builds upon what already is naturally here – a City surrounding a Bay. That has already been created for us.
The other, finds that Bay a nuisance and seeks to bulldoze most of what is beautiful and natural – in order to create an industrial mega world.
It’s all about values and vision.
The cross roads is before us. Once we wreak havoc in this bay and create 5 kilometre square areas of a toxic dump close to the shores of Bayside towns like Black Rock and Beaumaris – there is a long time required before we can rethink our direction.
What do you want ? What do you see as possible for Melbourne? Join the forum in the Age and enhance community debate. It is our City and our choice.
To Hilary and the people of Melbourne, how is it that we have taken for granted something that is the very lifeblood of our city as well as the major organ that gives life to the City? How can it be that we listen to a plethora of so called experts put up by a body that is semi attached to the Government with its own biases and agendas and think for a moment that they have our best concerns in their minds? We all need the bay just the way it is because there is so much going wrong in the world that our place on this planet needs to be protected as a place for us all come to home to and say “thank Goodness we are home”. We can only do this by all getting behind those that are out to work hard for your environment, in this case the Port Phillip Bay. Anything you do to assist will help. It is up to you! Andrew
People do not realise Andrew. I am sure that many of them would be upset if they knew the truth. Many are unable to think ahead of the consequences, they are busy surviving. Many still believe that ‘economic prosperity’ will enhance Melbourne – it may well, but not if the tag of being the ‘Liveable City’ disintegrates along with the health and ambience of our Bay. Who wants to visit another mega industrial port and stinking, suffocating mess? Methinks if this goes ahead, there will indeed be a mass migration out of Melbourne. Many people choose to live here for its beauty. These egos in suits with small minds and closed hearts are living in yesteryear and Melbourne may pay dearly for its apathy. Post comments on the Age Forum – be read world wide. We shall continue to state the obvious…and hold the love for our Bay in our hearts. Yes, I love to ‘come home’ to Melbourne too. Be glad you are at least awake and in tune with the future of the planet and not living in the past.