Candidates’ Forum for State Election 2026

We’re pleased to share that, following our announcement of election activities, the BCNA and the Fishermans Bend Business Forum (FBBF) are working together to host a candidates’ forum for the District of Albert Park.

Venue: Sandridge Events Centre, Gate 3, 200/201 Ingles Street, Port Melbourne.

 

Date: Thursday 22 October

Time: 6:30 for 7pm start

We look forward to welcoming the following known candidates:

• Nina Taylor MP (ALP)
• Sonya Semmens (Greens)
• Georgie Dragwidge (Independent)
• Tammy Lindrum (One Nation)
• Colleen Bolger (Victorian Socialists)
• Andrew Cook (Liberals) 

Everyone in Port Melbourne is warmly invited to join us. We’ll share more details closer to the date and hope to see you there.

BCNA’s September Dinner

Members and friends came together for a wonderful evening at the BCNA dinner on 2nd September. Held at Marina Bay, 11 Waterfront Place, it was a lovely opportunity to catch up and enjoy each other’s company.

During the evening, President Tim Norman shared a brief update on key local matters, including hoon driving and the Waterfront Place Precinct.

If you haven’t joined us before, we’d be delighted to welcome you next time. It’s a relaxed and enjoyable way to meet neighbours, stay connected and be part of our community.

State Election 2026

In recent years, the BCNA has asked candidates standing for Council, State and Federal elections for their views on important local issues. We post responses on our website. We will be doing this for the upcoming state election in November, for candidates standing for Albert Park. At this stage the known candidates are Nina Taylor – Labor, Sonya Semmens – Greens and Georgie Dragwich– Independent.

This year we are teaming up with the Fishermans Bend Business Forum (FBBF) to host a Candidates’ Forum. The proposed date is 15 October 2026. The focus will be on Port Melbourne and Fishermans Bend. The format is expected to allow a short time for candidates to introduce themselves and their priorities for our area, a series of formal questions on the priorities that BCNA and the FBBF perceive relevant, and open questions from the floor.

Save the date and details will be circulated once they are finalised.

Station Pier Open to the Public

Ports Victoria has told us that the pier is open to the public on weekends and public holidays. It is not open when cruise ships are at berth or when maintenance works make it unsafe for the public.

2026 Council Community Satisfaction Survey

Each year the City of Port Phillip (Council) participates in a community satisfaction survey run by Victorian Government. The BCNA encourages residents to participate and reports the results.

This year Council’s score was 57, roughly in line with the state-wide average of 58.  But this was seven points less than the Metropolitan Council benchmark of 64.

Council scored well in the areas of Customer Service and Waste Management but had a poor score on the Spending of Public Funds in ways that that benefits the community. Click/tap here for the full report.

BCNA Dinner

If you’d like to meet some Beacon Cove neighbours, the BCNA Committee, and have a good night out at a local restaurant, you may wish to attend the next BCNA social dinner on Wednesday 2 September.

 

Full details have been sent to members but if you’re not a member, just email Mary Barry, and she’ll give you some details.

Council Approves Anti Hoon Measures for Waterfront Place and Station Pier

At its meeting on 5th August, the City of Port Phillip (Council) approved traffic and road treatment measures for these areas. This follows a proposal by BCNA which laid out various options for road treatments. This was received favourably by Council and was discussed with Council officers on site, at a follow up meeting with the Mayor and Councillor Cunsolo, and advocacy by BCNA members and residents.

Council has approved two (2) new speed humps within Waterfront Place, two (2) new speed humps within the Station Pier Car Park, two (2) raised priority crossings to replace the existing at-grade zebra crossings of the Bay Trail, including lighting upgrades, new chains installed between existing bollards along the periphery of Station Pier car park and new bollards installed where gaps are identified by officers. Council will also advocate for fixed speed cameras on Beach Street and Waterfront Place. Council officers are to provide an update on progress by October 2026. Click/tap here for full details of Council’s response.

The BCNA thanks Mayor Alex Makin and Councillor Heather Cunsolo for their advocacy on this issue.

Call for New BCNA Committee Members

The BCNA is inviting interested persons to join our committee and help shape the future of our neighbourhood. We’re especially keen to welcome enthusiastic homeowners or renters who want to play an active role in strengthening local amenity and community wellbeing.

As an active and respected residents’ association, the BCNA represents member interests across Port Melbourne. We meet regularly with all tiers of government and council officers, and we’re consistently told that our approach is constructive, balanced and objective. That reputation gives us real influence - and committee members are at the heart of it.

Joining the committee offers a rewarding opportunity to contribute directly to the amenity, liveability and character of our area. You’ll be involved in monitoring emerging issues, leading positive change, and helping ensure our neighbourhood continues to thrive.

If you’re curious, interested, or simply want to understand what the role involves, we’d love to talk. Please contact President Tim Norman or Secretary Bill Fisher.

Update on Ground Floor Plans for 103 Beach Street

The BCNA has been contacted by the City of Port Phillip’s planning department to say that they have approved a change of use for the ground floor. Members will be aware that the ground floor is currently vacant.

The owners sought changes to allow two apartments to be built on the northern side of the building with a small retail space to be used for delicatessen/café/groceries on the southern side (explained here). After deliberation and discussion with the owners, the BCNA committee resolved  to support the changes. This aligns with feedback received from members, which was strongly in favour.

Old Telstra Building in Bay Street

The City of Port Phillip (Council) recently approved an extension of a planning permit for the site at the corner of Bay and Liardet Streets (222-224 Bay Street). This was the former site for Telstra.

Council unanimously approved a motion that the development must commence by 30 May 2028. Pleasingly, the motion also requests officers to engage with the landowner and/or their representatives to investigate opportunities for interim activation of the site pending the commencement of development.

Reminder - BCNA Survey - Closes this Sunday (26 July)

Many thanks to those who have responded so far to our survey about BCNA social events aiming to encourage a greater sense of community in Beacon Cove.

For those that haven't responded, there is still time. The survey closes this Sunday (26 July) and should only take about five minutes.

The survey is anonymous and would be a great help to our volunteers who arrange these activities and would like to spend their time where it’s most effective.

Click/tap here to take part in the survey. 

BCNA Meeting with Council About Anti Hoon Measures.

Recently, BCNA representatives met the City of Port Phillip’s transport and planning staff at Station Pier to discuss anti hoon measures for the area. The BCNA proposed several measures designed to suppress speeding and noise. A walk along Station Pier, Waterfront Place and Beach Street promoted discussion about the options. Council staff are preparing a report for a meeting with Councillors in August and will discuss the issues with the BCNA before the meeting. 

BCNA’s 2026 Annual General Meeting

This year’s BCNA AGM will be held on Thursday 24th September at the Community Centre (formerly the Trugo Club) just off Tucker Ave in Garden City Reserve. The Guest Speaker will be Alex Makin, Mayor, City of Port Phillip. Other invited guests include Nina Taylor, MP, State Member for Albert Park, and Councillor Heather Cunsolo.

Members will be sent papers and further details in mid-August.

The BCNA Needs Your Feedback

One of the goals of the BCNA is the facilitation of communication and social interaction to encourage a sense of community and one of the ways we do this is by arranging social events for members of the Beacon Cove community.

To see how we are doing and how we can do better at this, we’re asking Beacon Cove residents to complete a short (five minute) survey.  The survey is anonymous and would be a great help to our volunteers who arrange these activities and would like to spend their time where it’s most effective.

Click/tap here to take part in the survey.  It closes on Sunday 26 July.

Storage of Caravans, Boats and Trailers on Council Land and Roads

At its meeting on 17th June, the City of Port Phillip unanimously passed a local law amendment which prohibits a person from storing or parking a caravan, boat or trailer on Council land or a road for a period of 14 days within a 60-day period. This follows feedback from the community and a report.

Long-term storage of caravans, boats and trailers on street can negatively affect local amenity, parking availability, and sightlines. The BCNA has received complaints about this and contacted the Mayor, Councillor Alex Makin, and Councillor Heather Cunsolo ahead of Council’s meeting to register our support for the local law amendment.

Road Safety at the Intersection of Beacon Road and Williamstown Road

This is a dangerous intersection and is more so for motorists turning right from Beacon Road into Williamstown Road during peak hours.

The BCNA discussed this with Nina Taylor MP, State member for Albert Park, last February. We urged her to seek car activated traffic lights (known as vehicle detector loops) to assist drivers as the road is the responsibility of the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) and the Victorian Government.

          

Council staff have advocated for vehicle detector loops on Beacon Road and ‘Keep Clear’ line marking on Williamstown Road. However, both measures are not supported by the DTP. The BCNA will be contacting Nina Taylor to ask that she request that these measures be supported by DTP.

If you have concerns about safety and the need for vehicle detector loops, we encourage you to contact Ms Taylor at nina.taylor@parliament.vic.gov.au.

Until road safety improvements are introduced, we urge drivers to avoid turning right from Beacon Road. Choose an alternative route to get on to Williamstown Road. This intersection will become busier once the Barak Beacon housing development is completed later this year.

Increase in Annual Garbage Bin Surcharge

At a special meeting on 29th June, the City of Port Phillip Council passed the Year 2 arrangements of the long-term Plan for Port Phillip 2025-35. One of the items approved is a significant increase in the cost (to you) if you choose to use a large (240-litre) rubbish bin. The default allocation for a residence in Port Phillip is a 120-litre bin, for which there is no additional charge with your rates. However, some residents have chosen to upsize to a 240-litre bin and for that an additional charge is allocated. That charge will now increase from $290 per year to $360. If you have the largest rubbish bin, you can avoid this charge by contacting council and requesting to downsize.

Opening of Port Melbourne Migration Trail

Apologies for the late notice, but the BCNA has just received advice about the official launch of the Port Melbourne Migration Trail this Saturday, 13th June at 9.30 am. The launch will be held at the canoe sculpture near Station Pier before proceeding to the mural at the Port Melbourne Yacht Club. Following the formal proceedings there will be a complimentary sausage sizzle.

Road Works to Suppress Hooning at Station Pier and Waterfront Place

At a recent meeting with the Mayor of the City of Port Phillip, Alex Makin, and Councillor Heather Cunsolo, Port Melbourne Ward, the BCNA proposed road works and other tools to suppress hoon driving and excessive noise in this area.

It is become increasingly clear that road works are part of the solution. They are needed along with CCTV, acoustic cameras, speed cameras, and a police presence to suppress hoon behaviour. To this end, the BCNA has proposed road works and other tools. The BCNA’s ideas are being studied by Council staff for discussion in July.

Port Melbourne Light Rail Linear Parks Plan

The City of Port Phillip (Council) is developing a masterplan for the nine reserves along the Port Melbourne Light Rail Corridor. In 2025 they asked the community how they use these spaces and what could be improved. The feedback has helped Council to develop a draft masterplan.

The draft includes ideas to improve access through the reserves, add more greenery and create more places for people to relax and spend time together. Council is now inviting the community to review the draft plan and to provide feedback by 19 June.