New Frankston Council unilaterally ends Kananook Creek Governance Group

The Frankston Beach Association has expressed deep disappointment in Frankston City Council’s decision to discontinue the Kananook Creek Governance Group, saying that this decision, made by the new Council on Monday, 2 December 2024, reflects a concerning lack of transparency and consultation. 

Their statement continues: For over 50 years, KCA volunteers have worked tirelessly to clean, protect, and restore Kananook Creek, transforming it from a polluted drain into the much healthier waterway we have today. While we’re proud of achievements such as the diversion of sewage effluent and the restoration of natural reserves, critical issues remain unresolved:

• Silt build-up is choking the creek, affecting navigation and flood management.

• The planned Seaford Park Arboretum remains incomplete, delaying vital community education opportunities.

• The Kananook Creek Management Plan, first supported in 1992, has not been updated as promised.

The Kananook Creek Governance Group, established following the Ministerial Advisory Committee’s Review in 2016 and adopted by Council in 2020, has been working to address these challenges. It is deeply concerning that this decision was made without consulting the Governance Group’s community representatives or acknowledging the group’s achievements.

Council’s proposal to incorporate the group’s workload into the Foreshore Advisory Committee is not in the best interests of the community. The responsibilities of these two groups do not overlap, and the Foreshore Advisory Committee has no remit for Kananook Creek. This decision risks sidelining the unique challenges and aspirations associated with the creek’s health and future.

While we are disappointed in this decision, we stand by our mission to advocate for Kananook Creek and its surrounding environment and thank those at council who continue to work hard to maintain the reserve's trails and native vegetation.

We invite community members to join us at a special general meeting at Seaford on Thursday, 6 February 2025, to discuss the future of our advocacy efforts.