Station Pier - Visit Opportunity this Saturday 10th May

The Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network (MMHN) and Ports Victoria are hosting an event on Station Pier this Saturday 10th May, from 2-4 pm. This is an opportunity to hear about the technical and heritage underpinnings of this landmark. The event is part of the National Trust’s Australian Heritage Festival.

The event is free, but bookings are required (click/tap here to book).

The MMHN advocates for the urgent ‘Reimagining of Station Pier’ (click/tap here for details).

Fishermans Bend Tram Routes and the 109 Service

In March, Infrastructure Victoria released draft recommendations about infrastructure needs. The organization is required to revise a 30-year strategy every 3-5 years. Included in the report is advice about new tram routes into Fishermans Bend.

Two trams to Fishermans Bend

The strategy proposes extending tram routes 11 and 67 to connect Fishermans Bend with the city. The Carnegie service (route 67) would be extended from Anzac Station along Park Street, South Melbourne to Fishermans Bend north. The West Preston service (route 11) would be extended across the Yarra River into Fishermans Bend south. Both services are shown on a map above and at page 39 of Infrastructure Victoria’s report.

Expand the 109 service

A section of the report proposes more services on existing, busy routes. The 109 service is considered a busy service.

Infrastructure Victoria states “The government should add around 300 more services a week on key routes where more homes are planned and trams are already very busy, like routes 86, 96 and 109. It should run more evening and weekend tram services so people who live near tram lines are less dependent on cars and new housing developments do not require as many parking spaces.” (Infrastructure Victoria, 30-year strategy, page 37).

Infrastructure Victoria is an advisory body. The government is not obliged to adopt recommendations but is expected to respond to the recommendations in November 2025.

The Age published an article about the report last month. Click/tap here to read (paywall).

1-7 Waterfront Place - Agreement Reached at VCAT

Agreement has been reached on permit conditions for the proposed plans. The City of Port Phillip had set conditions on the 2022 VCAT approved plans, and the new owners sought some changes. These were discussed at VCAT’s Compulsory Conference on 30th April.

The building will have 84 apartments and some retail and office space (click/tap here for plans).

The key issues to resolve were about the allocation of internal parking, external shading, and the management of loading and unloading of vehicles.

The BCNA welcomes the new plans. We sought improvements to the allocation of internal parking (to minimise parking in nearby streets), traffic flow along Beach Street to the west to avoid blockages on Beach Street, management of the loading and unloading of vehicles to avoid vehicles being parked on Beach Street, and the screening of services at the top of the building. Agreement was reached in all these areas.  VCAT has now released details which can be accessed here.

Traffic flow is the responsibility of the City of Port Phillip and BCNA’s representatives discussed details with City of Port Phillip staff at the conference.

We expect the owners will now finalise the plans and seek an amended building permit from the City of Port Phillip.

Our Newsletter is Out

Volunteers are delivering the latest newsletter to residences over the coming days. This issue includes news on:

• New plans for 1 and 7 Waterfront Place 
• The Barak Beacon public housing site in Port Melbourne
• Beacon Cove Foodstore redevelopment at 103 Beach Street
• Hoon driving and related noise.
• Air quality monitoring at Station Pier
• Port Victoria’s Cruise Shipping Strategy
• Joining the BCNA

BCNA thanks Nina Taylor, MP, State Member for Albert Park, for arranging printing and to Kosdown Press for folding the newsletter.

Click/tap here for an electronic version of the newsletter.

Principal Appointed to New Fishermans Bend Primary School

Tim Sawalaga has been appointed as the inaugural Principal of the new school.

The school is being built at 299 Williamstown Road. The school expects to open for day one of Term 1 in 2026 and have places for up to 650 students when complete.  Click/tap here for further details.

Ship Visit

Ports Victoria has notified us to say that an offshore tug / supply ship, the Seven Sisters, will be at Station Pier on Monday 21st April for several days. The ship was built in 2008.

Click/tap here for more information about the Seven Sisters.

Update on 1-7 Waterfront Place

Since our earlier report, the BCNA has now been able to study the proposed plans ahead of VCAT’s Compulsory Conference on 30th April. The new owners have proposed modifications to the plans approved by VCAT in 2022. A Compulsory Conference is a mediation process - an opportunity to resolve a matter and avoid the cost of a VCAT Hearing.

Having seen the new design, BCNA supports the intent. However, we promote the allocation of sufficient internal parking for visitors of residents and for the commercial and retail facilities and offices, as there is insufficient parking nearby. We have also highlighted the potential for vehicles exiting the site travelling west along Beach Street to obstruct traffic if attempting to turn right at the break in the median strip to do either a U-turn or to turn into the western entrance to Park Square.

Home Installed CCTV can Assist Police

At our recent meeting with South Melbourne Police we were reminded about a program where homeowners can register their CCTV with police. This can assist police when they are investigating local crime.

The idea is that owners of private CCTV cameras notify police that they have CCTV and that they are willing to be contacted. This does not provide automatic access, but it helps Police to identify locations where CCTV exists for investigative purposes. If they require access to CCTV film, Police will contact the resident and forward them a link where the footage can be securely shared. The owner does not have to agree.

The BCNA encourages homeowners who have CCTV to consider this. Access can only help police in investigating and solving local crime. It does not provide immediate access--there is a right to refuse for each incident. Homeowners who wish to participate should complete this form and email it to South Melbourne police.

Click/tap here for more information about CCTV systems and police.

Public Art in Port Melbourne

The Port Melbourne Yacht Club dinghy shed has provided a canvas for a mural celebrating Port Melbourne's rich immigration history as shown here:

The project was initiated by the Port Melbourne Business Association and funded by the Victorian Government.

New Plans for 1-7 Waterfront Place

Representatives of the new owners have told us that they have developed modified plans (from those approved by VCAT in October 2022) and that the plans are now on display on the City of Port Phillip website. To access details of the modified proposals, click/tap here, scroll down to "Current appeals", then click/tap on 1-7 Waterfront Place, Port Melbourne.  Alternatively, click/tap here for the architect plans and click/tap here for the statement of changes.

The modified plans include an enlarged entrance and forecourt area on Beach Street. This is designed to get vehicles visiting the property off Beach Street. Vehicles will enter a forecourt area to set down passengers before exiting to Beach Street, or to underground parking. The architects have ‘softened’ the earlier design by using curves on corners and features and have sought to allow more light into ground floor areas.

There will be a total of 84 apartments (down from 119), and 164 car spaces over two levels underneath the building. There will be a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom apartments.

The BCNA welcomes the new plans as they offer improvements over the existing VCAT approved design. In particular, the new entrance and set down area will improve traffic flow on Beach Street which will become more congested over time.

The next step is a VCAT compulsory conference on 30 April of the parties that participated in the earlier VCAT Hearing.