Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The BCNA’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Thursday 18th September 2025 at the Sandridge Community Centre (formerly called the Trugo Club), Tucker Street, Port Melbourne. Members should arrive at 7 pm for a 7.15 pm start.

Reports have been sent to financial members. If you did not receive the reports, it may be because you are unfinancial or that you have changed your contact details. Please contact the Treasurer to check.

The Guest Speaker will be Senior Sergeant Ely Reynolds, South Melbourne Police. Ms. Nina Taylor MP, Member for Albert Park, and Councillor Heather Cunsolo, Port Melbourne Ward have accepted invitations to attend and provide reports.

Community Safety Survey

The City of Port Phillip (Council) is conducting a community safety survey. The Council states: “Community safety is a priority for the City of Port Phillip. It influences how people use and interact with our public places and spaces: the built environment, local amenities, parks, and community facilities. A safer city contributes to positive health, social and economic outcomes for our community.”

The Council wants to hear what the priorities are for community safety, to help inform the development of the new Community Safety Plan. The survey should be completed by 11.59 pm on Sunday, 29 June (that's this coming Sunday).

The BCNA has as an objective to ‘preserve and enhance the quality of life in the area.’ In our view, hoon driving and excessive noise, and crime, detract from the enjoyment of living within the area. For this reason, we strongly encourage members to complete the survey. Click/tap here to access it.

No Funding for Acoustic Camera Trial

Unfortunately, the recent Victorian Government Budget contained no funding for an acoustic camera trial with the City of Port Phillip. Ms. Nina Taylor, MP, Member for Albert Park, had sought funding for the trial. This news was discussed at a recent meeting BCNA representatives had with Ms. Taylor. Ms. Taylor said she would explore ways in which a grant might be obtained for a trial.

The BCNA believes that there should be greater use of technology, such as CCTV and acoustic cameras, to deter hoon behaviour. Acoustic cameras are used in several countries and are being progressively introduced in Australia.

Other topics discussed with Ms. Taylor was excessive light spill from the Barak Beacon housing development (see item above), and possible new tram routes into Fishermans Bend. 

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.

BCNA Meeting with Nina Taylor MP

The BCNA arranges regular meetings with Nina Taylor MP, State Member for Albert Park, to discuss local issues.

Topics discussed at a recent meeting included:

• Fishermans Bend infrastructure - it is estimated that development has added 3000 apartments and over 6000 new residents and their cars onto existing roads. Ms. Taylor said there would be a new assessment of transport infrastructure once Metro 1 is completed. This is expected early in 2026.
• Barak Beacon redevelopment - once completed, this will drive a big increase in population on the site without any consequential improvement in public transport. The proposed Fishermans Bend tram service would help Barak Beacon and Garden City residents as the route shown in the 2018 Fishermans Bend Framework shows the tram terminating in Garden City. Ms. Taylor said she understood community concerns about traffic. She plans to contact the Minister for Transport about a transport plan for the area. 
• Hoon driving and related noise - Ms. Taylor is aware of the impact and welcomes constituents contacting her about this. She is seeking funds for an acoustic camera trial in the City of Port Phillip vicinity through the State Budget.
• The 109 tram service - the timetable for track duplication at Beacon Cove remains unknown, despite a recent meeting with Yarra Trams. Ms. Taylor undertook to ensure a Yarra Trams representative contacts BCNA to discuss this.

BCNA Meeting with Ward Councillors

BCNA representatives recently met Heather Cunsolo (Port Melbourne Ward) and Alex Makin (Montague Ward) to discuss local issues. Topics included:

• Hoon driving and related noise continues to detract from residents' quality of life, particularly in summer. Councillors stated that the City of Port Phillip has been planning to assist the Victorian Government should funds be provided to the EPA for an acoustic camera trial.
• The skatepark underneath the Graham Street overpass attracts comment about the lack of fence and graffiti. There are plans for fencing and screening around the site.
• Noise from vehicles using the Graham Street overpass due to its elevated position as well as incidents with speeding drivers. It was agreed that a permanent speed camera would help in managing noise and speed. However, it is noted that Graham Street is the responsibility of the Department of Transport.
• The Barak Beacon Housing redevelopment will mean a sizeable increase in population on the site. The BCNA is disappointed that the Victorian Government is persisting with the current design without any acknowledgement of local resident concerns as described here, or steps to mitigate the impact. Better transport infrastructure is needed for the population influx.
• The timetable for the planning and construction of transport infrastructure in Fishermans Bend, promised by the Victorian Government in the 2018 Fishermans Bend Framework, has not been met. The BCNA and both the City of Port Phillip and the City of Melbourne have made numerous representations about this.

Hoon Activity in Beacon Cove

In recent weeks there have been reports of hoon behaviour in Beach Street and around Station Pier. Nearby residents have had their sleep and evenings disturbed by excessive vehicle noise.

Police encourage hooning to be reported on ‘000’ while it is occurring, if it is safe to do so, or to ring 131 444 at other times. Reporting helps police to identify ‘hot spots’ so that police resources can be effectively deployed in the future.

The BCNA believes that there should be greater use of technology, such as CCTV and acoustic cameras, to deter hoon behaviour.

Acoustic cameras are used in several countries and are being progressively introduced in Australia. For example, in NSW a trial commenced in December 2024 and will run until mid to late 2025 as explained here. In Victoria, the EPA would like to undertake a trial with the City of Port Phillip but needs funds to do so.

The BCNA continues to advocate to Nina Taylor MP, Member for Albert Park, about hoon behaviour and the need for government funding of the EPA to undertake a trial with the City of Port Phillip.

BCNA AGM – Summary of Meeting

The BCNA held its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 14th November. For those who could not attend click/tap here for a summary of the meeting.

The Guest Speaker was Craig Walker, CEO of Ports Victoria. Craig spoke about the maintenance and improvements to Station Pier, the preparation of a Cruise Ship Strategy, and that Ports Vic may open the Pier to the public on occasions with special events on the Pier and precinct.

Ms. Nina Taylor, MP, State Member for Albert Park, spoke about the freight yard adjoining Station Pier may become a community area, hoon driving, and that she will investigate the installation of road humps to control hoon driving near Station Pier.

Port Melbourne Ward Councillor Heather Cunsolo spoke about collaborating with police on hoon driving, Fishermans Bend and public transport, E-scooters and 1 and 7 Waterfront Place.

Port Phillip Neighbourhood Policing Forum

Victoria Police are holding a neighbourhood policing forum at 5:30pm to 8:30pm on Tuesday 3 December.

The forum will explore topics including: 

• Current crime trends and crime prevention 
• Family violence 
• Young people 
• Road policing 
• Drugs and drug related crime

For details on how to register (which is required) or how to submit a question in advance, please click/tap here.

Our Newsletter is Out

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

• Renters are welcome to become members
• The Barak Beacon public housing site in Port Melbourne
• Update on 1 and 7 Waterfront Place 
• Hoon driving and related noise.
• Update on Foodstore redevelopment at 103 Beach Street
• Dogs off leash in public spaces  
• Air quality monitoring at Station Pier
• BCNA’s residents’ dinners
• Joining the BCNA

The 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.

Noise Camera Trial to Start in NSW

A recent news item reports that the NSW Government, with NSW Police and the EPA, have decided to trial noise cameras in two local council areas. This is the first such instance in Australia. The BCNA has promoted the use of such cameras for several years now as a critical mechanism to curb the vehicle noise and hoon driving that plagues our foreshore during the warmer months.

In Victoria, the EPA has been nominated to evaluate noise cameras and, again with our advocacy, has prioritised the City of Port Phillip (CoPP). CoPP is keen to assist but the Victorian Government has not yet provided funds.

According to the World Health Organisation, noise is the second biggest environmental factor causing health problems after air pollution. Several countries are now introducing innovative technology in the form of vehicle noise cameras to address public concern. Noise cameras can detect vehicles exceeding legislated noise limits, record number plates and trigger fines.

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.

Our Newsletter is Out

Volunteers are now delivering our latest newsletter to residences. This issue includes news on:

• Invitation to renters to become members
• The Barak Beacon public housing site in Port Melbourne
• Air quality monitoring near Station Pier
• Update on 1 and 7 Waterfront Place
• Hoon driving and related noise
• Update on Foodstore redevelopment at 103 Beach Street
• Council news affecting Beacon Cove: Dogs off leash in public spaces and the Princes Street stormwater drain
• BCNA’s residents’ dinners
• Joining the BCNA

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

Click here for an electronic version of the newsletter.

BCNA’s Meetings with Nina Taylor MP and Ward Councillors

BCNA arranges regular meetings with Nina Taylor MP, State Member for Albert Park, and with our City of Port Phillip Ward Councillors to discuss local issues. A report from recent meetings follows.

Nina Taylor MP

Your BCNA representatives covered topics including height, traffic, and infrastructure concerns with the Barak Beacon public housing redevelopment, the delay in providing public transport commitments in Fishermans Bend, and the lack of EPA funding to progress an acoustic camera trial in the City of Port Phillip.

The BCNA remains keen to meet Ministers with responsibility for Station Pier and Waterfront Place to discuss redevelopment. Nina offered to arrange meetings for us. Updates will be discussed at future meetings and reported on here.

City of Port Phillip Ward Councillors

At our meeting with Councillors Heather Cunsolo, Marcus Pearl, and Peter Martin we discussed the future of the Waterfront Place precinct and Council support for arranging a forum with stakeholders to discuss precinct planning, Council support for an acoustic camera trial to detect hoon noise, maintenance and improvements at the mouth of the Princes Street stormwater drain, tram track duplication adjacent to 103 Beach Street, and BCNA’s concerns with the Barak Road housing redevelopment. Future news items will report progress.

Our Newsletter is Out

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

• Invitation to renters to become members, 
• Hoon driving and related noise.
• Update on Foodstore redevelopment at 103 Beach Street
• The Barak Beacon public housing site
• Update on 1 and 7 Waterfront Place 
• Council news affecting Beacon Cove: Dogs off leash in public spaces, and Port Phillip’s Housing Strategy 
• BCNA’s Annual General Meeting
• BCNA’s residents’ dinners
• Joining the BCNA

The BCNA thanks Nina Taylor, MP, Member for Albert Park, for arranging printing.

To get the electronic version of the newsletter, please click here.

BCNA AGM – Summary of Meeting

The BCNA held its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 9th November. For those who could not attend click/tap here to read a copy of the President’s report and click/tap here for a summary of the meeting.

The Guest Speaker was The Hon. Nina Taylor MP. She spoke about the Victorian Government’s Housing Statement, the State Electricity Commission, Fishermans Bend, E scooters and vehicle noise and hoon driving.

Gateway Ward Councillors Heather Cunsolo and Peter Martin attended. Mayor Cunsolo spoke about Fishermans Bend, implications of the Victorian government’s Housing Statement, that Port Phillip will be trialling the use of acoustic cameras, E scooters, dogs off leash areas, an application from the owners of 1 and 7 Waterfront Place to delete three conditions of the planning permit, and re zoning of the area near Station Pier. BCNA will obtain details on these issues and assess the implications.

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.

Our Newsletter is Out

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

• Hoon driving and related noise
• Foodstore redevelopment at 103 Beach Street
• The Barak Beacon public housing site
• Council news affecting Beacon Cove: Dogs off leash in public spaces, and new Local Laws 2023 
• E-scooters
• BCNA’s residents’ dinners
• Joining the BCNA

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

The newsletter can be accessed here.

Our Newsletter is Out

Volunteers will be delivering the latest BCNA newsletter to local residences over the coming days. This issue includes news on:

• Hoon driving and related noise
• Foodstore redevelopment at 103 Beach Street
• Council news affecting Beacon Cove
• E-scooters
• Traffic congestion in Fishermans Bend
• BCNA’s Annual General Meeting

I'f you'd like an electronic version, you can download it here.