Help us protect our biodiversity
On a Sunday morning in September, light rain fell, wetting the grass in the Jawbone Arboretum area. Yet, members of Friends of Williamstown Wetlands (FOWW) came, lending a hand to weed. The volunteers’ spirits remained high even though it was raining.
Established in 1987, FOWW focuses on improving remnant areas, weeding and installing indigenous plants to enhance the habitat of birds, reptiles and other animals.
This activity is important for native flora and fauna. With such a unique collection of biodiversity habitats at our back doors, we must treat it like our National Parks. FOWW invites Williamstown residents to join its next activities, which happen monthly.
Details at friendsofwilliamstownwetlands.org.au
Anne Parisianne
Francis St still a death trap
Nearly one year ago,I was hit by a big truck when walking on green at a pedestrian crossing on Francis St, Yarraville near the intersection with Ballarat St.
I am still recovering. It has been a tough past year for me. TAC has been inglorious. But dare I say, things have been worse for the people who live near Francis St. They continue to endure risks because the State Government has failed to respond adequately. While it did replace the traffic signal that was missing, the presumptive cause of my harm, nothing more has been done. Much more can and should be done.
I was with MTAG (Maribyrnong Truck Action Group) at the intersection just days ago. Within 25 minutes, five trucks and a car ran red lights. Trucks sped through. There is no red light camera. No speed camera. No reduced speed limit. No warning signs. No changes to signalling so that the pedestrian green is delayed and elongated. No pedestrian safety or warnings about risk. There is just death waiting to happen.
It is not good enough to wait for freeways to open when risks exist now.
Brad Jessup – Seddon
Paintback backs off
Paintback has submitted an application to VCAT to withdraw the appeal to the City of Maribyrnong’s refusal of their application to use the parcel of land on the corner of Darwin and Braid St West Footscray for their paint processing plant (PACE HQ).
As a result this will no longer take place.
Residents Against Paintback sees this as a huge win for our local community. While we aren’t privy to the reasons the application was withdrawn, our group was focussed, organised and determined to push back against what we saw as a very inappropriate development for the area. This was our position for numerous reasons, among these the proximity of the site to housing, childcare and parks, and the risk of additional noise, traffic, odour and fumes, exacerbating issues the local community already deals with on a day-to-day basis.
We were able to raise almost $7000 from local residents and businesses to work toward presenting a strong case at the hearing (the unused portion of this will be refunded to donors). This along with everyone’s effort to get the word out far and wide by sharing petitions, articles, research, lobbying councillors and the like all went toward presenting as a strong and determined community that would remain vigilant through the process.
We believe that the result could not have been achieved without the support and commitment of so many people.
Whilst we are happy with this outcome, we are also cautious that there could be other motives behind this decision by Paintback and we will remain vigilant to ensure we don’t miss any other permit applications or plans that may pose a risk to our community that we have capacity to challenge.
Kelami Ata – West Footscray
