Council Election Pledges 2024

The BCNA contacted the five candidates standing for Port Melbourne Ward on Saturday 20th September and invited them to respond to four questions by cob Friday 4th October.

Responses, in order of receipt, were received from David Wright, Richard Whitfield, Heather Cunsolo and Adrian King. Details are shown below.

Vehicle Noise and Hoon Driving

Hoon driving is a particular problem at Station Pier, in the Waterfront Place precinct, and in nearby streets. The candidate’s discussion includes mention of mobile CCTV by police, an acoustic camera trial, parking restrictions, more regular monitoring of parking restrictions, and traffic calming measures. Click/tap here for a summary of responses.

Waterfront Place Precinct

The area is the ‘gateway’ to Melbourne for cruise ship visitors. It is also the community hub for the Beacon Cove community. The candidates acknowledge the poor state of the area. Their discussion includes the development of a masterplan, leadership by the Victorian Government, and the role Council can play. Click/tap here for a summary of responses.

Fishermans Bend

The Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area (FBURA) is next door to Beacon Cove. Timely infrastructure provision in FBURA, or not, has an impact in nearby areas. In 2018, the Victorian Government made a commitment to introduce tram services by 2025. Click/tap here for a summary of responses.

Barak Beaon Housing Development

The Victorian Government’s redevelopment of the public housing site between Barak and Beacon Roads is underway. The candidates discuss improvements to traffic flow, parking around the estate, problems with design, problematic traffic analysis and entry/egress plans, and the lack of public transport, and amenity issues. Click/tap here for a summary of responses.

The full response from each candidate can be accessed here (click/tap on the name) for David Wright, Richard Whitfield, Heather Cunsolo and Adrian King. Sabina Sablok did not respond by the deadline for this post. We will post her response when it is received.

Don't forget that the BCNA is hosting a candidates’ forum at the Liardet Street Community Centre, 154 Liardet Street, Port Melbourne on Wednesday, 9th October commencing at 7.15 pm. Click/tap here for details.

Mexican Navy Tall Ship at Station Pier

A Mexican Navy tall ship, Cuauhtémoc, is at Station Pier and will depart on Tuesday 8 October. 

The ship is open to the public from 10am to dusk, with access through the former Freight Yard via the gate in Waterfront Place on the following days:

• Thursday 3 Oct
• Friday 4 Oct
• Sunday 6 Oct
• Monday 7 Oct

BCNA Hosting Candidates’ Forum for City of Port Phillip Council Election

The BCNA is hosting a forum for Port Melbourne Ward candidates for the forthcoming election.

It will be held at the Liardet Street Community Centre, 154 Liardet Steet, Port Melbourne from 7.15 pm (for 7.30 pm start) on Wednesday 9th October.  It is expected to finish between 9.00 and 9.30 pm.

Four (of the five) candidates have now accepted our invitation. We anticipate allowing approximately 20 minutes per candidate for a speech and questions. Candidates will only be allowed to speak to attendees and not to interject or question each other.

The BCNA believes it is important that members scrutinise the policies for all candidates before casting your vote. This forum provides an opportunity to do this and to ask questions. We hope you will attend, and it is suggested to come early as the forum is open to the public.

Separately, the BCNA has sent written questions to the candidates about hoon driving and related noise, the poor state of the Waterfront Place precinct, the promised tram services by the Victorian Government into Fishermans Bend and the Barak Beacon housing redevelopment as explained here. Their responses to our questions will be posted on our website soon after the 4th October.

Navy Ship Visiting Station Pier

If you heard gunfire from Station Pier on Friday afternoon, it was from HMAS Arunta (using blank rounds) in preparation for a ceremonial volley at 8 pm.

 

Ports Victoria notified BCNA late Thursday that HMAS Arunta was arriving at Station Pier on Friday morning, 20th September. It is staying for several days.

The RAN is holding a Ceremonial Sunset event on the ship on Friday evening which will include a gunfire volley of blank rounds. The ceremonial volley is scheduled for 8pm.

City of Port Phillip Elections 2024

This year’s City of Port Phillip council election is the first under the new Ward structure (explained here).

Nominations for this year’s election have now closed. There are five candidates for the one vacancy for Port Melbourne Ward. Names and contact details are shown on the Victorian Electoral Commission’s website.

The BCNA will follow the same approach as we have done for recent elections. That is, the President and Secretary will attempt to meet each candidate so that they have an opportunity to discuss our interests and concerns. Simultaneously, we will send them questions on four local issues. This election we are asking candidates about their views, if elected to Council, about hoon driving and related noise, the poor state of the Waterfront Place precinct, the promised tram services by the Victorian Government into Fishermans Bend and the Barak Beacon housing redevelopment. We will publish candidates’ responses on our web site soon after the 4th October. If you are a subscriber to our news service, you will automatically receive the responses.

Guided Tour of Station Pier

The CEO of Ports Victoria has invited BCNA members to a guided tour of the Pier. Members will be sent details shortly.

If you are not a member of BCNA and would like to join the tour, please contact the treasurer about becoming a member. Click/tap here for a membership form.

City of Port Phillip Elections 2024

The 2024 Victorian local council election will be held in October, by postal ballot. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) will send ballot packs with instructions to all enrolled voters in Port Phillip in early October.

The current Ward structure was changed by the Victorian Government after the last election in favour of one Councillor per Ward. Many BCNA members will now be in the new Port Melbourne Ward. This Ward is bounded by Todd Road, Williamstown Road, a section of Bay Street, Liardet Street, Pickles Street and along the foreshore.

Click/tap here to see a map showing the new City of Port Phillip Ward structure.

  

Further details for Port Phillip can be found on the Victorian Electoral Commission’s website.

The key dates for this year’s election are:

• Candidate nominations open on Monday, 9 September
• Candidate nominations, statements, photo, and questionnaire close at 12 noon on 17 September
• Ballot papers mailed out with candidate statements from 7th October
• Voting closes at 6 pm on Friday, 25th October
• All postal votes must be received by 12 noon on Friday 1 November
• Results to be declared by 15 November

The BCNA plans to contact candidates standing for the Port Melbourne Ward to seek their views on local issues. We will publicise their responses on this site.

New Cruise Ship Season

This year’s cruise ship season commences with the arrival of the Diamond Princess at Station Pier on Sunday 29th September.

Ports Victoria reports that there are bookings of around 100 ships in 2024/25, compared to 128 last year. Last year’s travel is thought to have been boosted by post COVID-19 travel.

Maintenance work on Station Pier has taken place in the off-season. This has included pile maintenance and building repairs, painting, corrosion protection, electrical and other works as explained here. Painting of the Gate House has been completed and the ramp in the freight yard has been demolished.

State Housing Target for the City of Port Phillip

In June 2024, the State Government released draft local government housing targets as part of statewide plans to reach 2.24 million new houses by 2051. Comments on the draft are expected by 30th August 2024. The targets are explained here.

The draft target for the City of Port Phillip (CoPP) is 56,000 new dwellings by 2051.

The draft target and CoPP’s response to the State Government was discussed at a Council meeting on 7 August. Council officers believe the city has enough existing capacity (without rezoning) to accommodate up to 59,000 new dwellings across the municipality if every site is developed to its full potential. Crucially, this potential includes Fishermans Bend which requires the provision of transport infrastructure promised by the Victorian Government but which has yet to materialise. Population growth in established residential areas also strains existing infrastructure - the State Government’s draft target does not include plans for the provision of updated or additional infrastructure. More details can be found in this CoPP paper.

The CoPP resolved to respond to the State Government seeking details about the methodology to determine housing targets, stressing the importance of State Government provision of infrastructure in Fishermans Bend and for updated and additional infrastructure in established areas.

Volunteers Needed for Around the Bay Bike Ride

The BCNA has received a request from the Bicycle Network for volunteers to help run this year’s ride. The ride takes place on Sunday 6th October (click here for details).

Specifically, the organisers are looking for volunteers to help as Route Marshals (job explained here). Marshals are required for 12 locations from the start site at Albert Park Lake and must have a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC) which is free (click here to apply). As the WCCC cards can take a few weeks to arrive the organisers will accept proof in the form of a confirmation email after applying.

This spreadsheet provides location details where Route Marshals are required as well as start and finish times. Ideally, two volunteers per location are required. The shift times vary slightly by location but most fall between 5am and late morning.

If you are interested, please contact the BCNA at secretary@beaconcove.org.au providing name, phone and email address and the location you would prefer. Please respond by cob Friday 7 September.