“Sustainability is a key commitment of Bayside City Council and is reflected in significant Council projects such as harvesting stormwater to irrigate sports grounds and improving the quality of stormwater entering Port Phillip Bay,” says Samantha Krull, Council’s Manager City Works.
Council’s sustainability commitment is also evident in the current upgrading of major Bayside activity centres with extensive tree planting and landscaping.
Reworking and designing foreshore carparks to include water sensitive urban design initiatives and optimal drainage and erosion control is also underway.
Sports and recreation facilities are in high demand across the City of Bayside and Council is committed to improving sports grounds by installing water tanks, extending pavilions and upgrading wickets and tennis courts. To ensure that young families continue to enjoy visiting Bayside’s vast array of parks and reserves, the upgrade and replacement of playgrounds is also part of Council’s $16.5 million 2010–2011 capital works program.
A new kitchen and distribution centre for Council’s meals delivery service for aged and vulnerable residents was launched in late November and next year will see improvements to Bayside’s family and aged care services with the upgrade and extension of nine childcare centres.
Other projects high on Council’s capital works agenda include the resurfacing and reconstruction of local roads, the replacement of footpaths, kerb and channel, and drainage upgrade works.
Bayside City Council is also committed to other projects including upgrading libraries, working on historic buildings and renewal works at senior citizens centres and aged care residences.
Council has undertaken an extensive audit of its infrastructure assets and buildings to determine its capital works priorities and is now focused on reducing the infrastructure gap by working with the community and developing a long term capital works program.
Bayside has recently completed a comprehensive sustainability audit on its smaller buildings using a star ratings system, which has resulted in initiatives being incorporated into Council’s buildings renewal projects to improve their environmental performance.
