Dear Residents of Flockmill,

The Common Property SubCommittee is pleased to share an update on activities planned for the coming year.

Common Property Waste Collection

Following the recent survey sent to the Owners Corporation members, those who responded overwhelmingly endorsed the provision of a red bin secured in the recommended enclosure, and the donation of the old round bin enclosures to a not for profit organisation. The OC Committee has authorised Tideways to order the recommended Woodbury BN50 from the supplier, Urban Design Group. Delivery will be arranged within four to six weeks, and will be installed on the existing concrete pad near the drink tap. If you know of a not for profit who might be able to make use of the old yellow enclosures, please let us know.

Dear Residents of Flockmill,

Re: Central Park Waste Collection and Disposal

You might have noticed that there has been a temporary change to the arrangements for waste collection and disposal in the common property Central Park area of Flockmill since the new contractors commenced their operations. The Owners Corporation Committee would like to give you the opportunity to contribute to the decision making process with regard to the options for waste collection in the common property on a permanent basis.

Working to clear priority items:

• Collation and consolidation of Flockmill documentation and property items (keys; locks; materials; etc) including review and verification.
• Review of asset maintenance items: due diligence on: costs; fit-for-intended-purpose; projected vs actual maintenance schedule and depreciation.
• Stewart St driveway: Co-ordinated owner volunteers to replace a 2 metre section of loose bluestone pavers with reinforced concrete.
• Central Park pedestrian pathway: re-laid two sections of bluestone pavers, which had buckled due to heat expansion. Expansion joints to be cut into the path at regular intervals.
• Electrical cabinets: Serviced padlocks and sourced appropriate keys. Removed ants nests and applied barrier spray.
• Graffiti removal: completed by volunteers as required
• Herbicide: applied by volunteers to paths and hard landscaped areas as required
• BBQ: Emptied and cleaned grease trap. Researched various options, then purchased an original Christie lid. Fitted new lid to protect internal fittings from rainwater ingress.
• Development and rollout of the Community Working Bees in June. Slatted timber furniture lightly stained and one further coat of stain applied, garden beds weeded, grasses trimmed and thinned, cobwebs removed from light bollards, letter boxes and external balcony surfaces, surplus plants relocated to bare garden areas, stakes removed from established trees, Tideways sign installed.

Working to update our Waste Management Plan with a comprehensive investigation into alternative options for waste management and collection, in preparation for the end of the three- year contract with Urban Waste that was in place when Flockmill was established.

• Systematic search of available contractors suitable to service Flockmill.
• Development of Brief including feasible scenarios to test.
• Working with SubC to call for onsite meetings.
• Onsite meetings with each potential contractor to determine options and take advice on suitable solutions.
• Successful vote to separate the waste management fee from the OC fees, to allow for flexibility in waste solutions for each home.
• Preparation of an initial brief of options for owners, with accompanying Zoom consultation and feedback sessions.
• Finalisation of best-fit option waste management solution, and handover to Tideways.
• Compiling of final bin preferences for each home via survey, in collaboration with Tech SubC.

Strengthening the resilience and usability of our technology and security. Review and consolidation of the following assets:

• Security Cameras.
  • Procure a new CCTV/security contractor to reprogram and set up cameras on an independent secure server, ensuring the system is not linked to any individual.
• Public lighting automation.
  • Research and install new hardware to automate public lighting, allowing it to adjust automatically to current sunrise and sunset times. This will result in approximately a 12% reduction in electricity bills, saving around $160 per year.
• Technology Cabinet.
  • Develop, install, and test a new automation hub to support Flockmill’s future needs.
• Secure a new Internet service provider to replace our previous, underperforming provider.
• Onsite maintenance of technology assets.

Dear Flockmill,

We are contacting you to explain why we need to replace the two 80-litre bins in the central park area with a 120-litre bin.

Why?

The Owners Corporation has a legal obligation to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2004 (Vic). The current 80-litre bins require a specific waste collection service with the correct Occupational Health and Safety and Work Health and Safety insurances and resources to lift, carry, and empty the bins. None of the contractors that were shortlisted for our waste collection were able to provide that service.

Works undertaken by Landscape SubCommittee has been the completion of the:

• Landscape Master Plan (LMP) ready for comment and approval by the OC. The LMP includes the future direction for the landscape including expansion of the plant diversity and additional tree planting.
• The Owner Care policy has been completed for review and approval by the OC. The Owner Care document is the guidelines and requirements for an Owner to take on and choose the direction of the common area garden located directly in front of their townhouse. Owners at their own cost can choose the planting arrangement and species from the LMP for the subject area.
• Additional and renewed herbs and veggie stock have been planted and updated for the season.

Others working to enhance our soft landscape assets: