Thursday 1 March 2012
Waterfront Place – A great Place to Talk
Over three hours yesterday afternoon, residents and visitors to the disputed Waterfront Place attended an information session with the City of Port Phillip Council staff and Councillors. The Beacon Cove Neighbourhood Association set up its own information stall. The discussions took place as part of the Council consultation phase of the draft Urban Design Framework for the waterfront between Bay Street and Beacon Road.
“It was great to see so many people present their views to Council and make it clear that demolishing the low level child minding and sports facilities areas and replacing them with two towers, 10 and 14 storeys, was not acceptable and would be a major loss to the community” said BCNA President Eddie Micallef. “People from outside the bay area feel the same, as do residents from South Melbourne, Middle Park and Albert Park who are worried that covenants on height may be removed in their neighbourhoods also.”
With passengers arriving at the 109 Tram terminus on the way home from work, and cars and campervans lined up in the roadway to board the Spirit of Tasmania it was a busy time. The attendance over the three hours was close to 200 people.
Mr Micallef when addressing the gathered crowd went on to say “Not only will a large development on this site exacerbate the already frequent traffic gridlock at the entry area to Station Pier, but high towers will cast shadows and generate wind flows over the community meeting places and lose some of the soul that exists at this award winning planned development”.
Any substantial development will also impact Station Pier and its shipping activities.
The Association has now secured 100’s of signatures on its petition from people opposed to this overdevelopment and more are coming in daily.
The BCNA is calling on the City of Port Phillip to amend the Draft UDF Report to reflect the aspiration of local residents and the broader Victorian community.
Contact: Mr E. Micallef, President, BCNA
PH. 0413127422
Photos provided by Ron Cassano