Renewal Reminder

A gentle reminder to those members whose membership has expired or is about to expire on the 30th June 2023. Please renew your membership. If you've lost your renewal notice, click here for a membership form. Payment can be made by EFT. 

Vale Save Port Melbourne Gateway (savePMG)

In December 2022 members of savePMG decided to wind up the affairs of the organisation.

savePMG was established in 2013 to oppose efforts by Council to replace community hub buildings at 1 to-7 Waterfront Place, primarily with residential development that would overshadow the Waterfront Place foreshore for many of the colder months of the year. More details about the work of savePMG are shown here.

With the sale of the sites at 1 and 7 Waterfront Place in 2007, the new owner sought approval to redevelop the site. In October 2022, VCAT approved a 10-storey design that would overshadow a significant part of the foreshore at the winter solstice.

The BCNA thanks savePMG for their work to defend the original vision of the Beacon Cove planned estate. We also thank them for the funds that they have passed to BCNA.

Auditor Needed

The BCNA is looking for an appropriately qualified auditor/accountant (ACA or CPA) to audit its financial records for the year ending 30th June. This is an honorary position, not onerous or time consuming. If you can help it would be appreciated. Please contact our Treasurer, Graham Kemp by email (click here) for further details.

BCNA Meeting with Local Police

BCNA representatives attended a community forum organised by the Victoria Police's Port Phillip Local Area Commander last Tuesday to discuss policing issues in the area. Such meetings are being held around the state with sponsorship by the Chief Commissioner.

The main topics were drugs, youth offending, road policing and family violence. Crime statistics are collected and reported by the Crime Statistics Agency. The top offences in the Port Phillip area were stealing from motor vehicles and property crime. Sadly, 5 road-related deaths occurred.

E-scooter safety and hooning, two priority issues for BCNA, were discussed. Police report that they are enforcing road laws regarding laws regarding E-scooter use (see our previous news item here). The Principal of Port Melbourne Secondary College, Anne Stout, spoke about speeding and dangerous driving on Plummer Street. Police will be targeting this. Police report that the mobile CCTV unit, purchased by the City of Port Phillip at the urging of BCNA, has proved valuable.

Police continue to emphasise the reporting of incidents as this helps them to plan and target police resources. Here’s a quick summary of how to report.

Triple Zero - 000 - Call 000 immediately if the incident is life-threatening, needs ommediate police attendance, a crime is happening now, or an offender is (or may be) still in the area.

Police Assistance Line - 131 444 - To report non-urgent crimes and events.

Crime Stoppers - 1800 333 000 - To report crime information confidentially

Acoustic Cameras

The BCNA has been advocating for governments to trial the use of acoustic cameras as they appear to be a cost-effective way of enforcing vehicle noise standards. They are increasingly used overseas. See our previous item on this here.

BCNA representatives have discussed the use of acoustic cameras with senior police in the Port Phillip police area who have advocated for a trial within government. They have also advised that vehicle noise falls within the responsibility of the EPA. We understand that there is growing interest and support for this technology.