Beach Patrol for 2018

3207 Beach Patrol have announced their dates for 2018. Beach cleans will be the first Saturday of every month except March (when it's held on Clean Up Australia Day on 4th March).

The specific locations for each clean aren’t determined but if you are interested just check their website at www.beachpatrol.com.au/BeachGroups/3207.

They have also introduced a second monthly clean - LoveOurStreet - as removal of litter from our streets helps prevent it from getting down stormwater drains, etc and into our bay in the first place. These will be held on the third Saturday of every month. More details at www.beachpatrol.com.au/LOS/LOS-3207.

Update on 1-7 Waterfront Place

On 21 September 2017, VCAT agreed to review the City of Port Phillip's (CoPP's) decision to refuse a planning application for the “construction of a 10-storey mixed use building over two basement levels containing 175 dwellings and two retail premises of 355 square metres and a reduction in car parking requirements” at this site.

Details of the review have been posted to all who objected to the original proposal. If you objected and have not received a letter, contact Ms Rhodie Anderson (randerson@rigbycooke.com.au). Objectors who wish to participate in the VCAT review have until 16 November 2017 to lodge a Statement of Grounds with an application form at VCAT, with copies to the CoPP and the developer’s solicitor. A fee of $19.90 applies for individuals and not-for-profit organisations. Fee details are shown at www.vcat.vic.gov.au.

The BCNA has decided to participate in the review. The BCNA wants to see the site developed, but according to Port Phillip planning guidelines. Participation in the review allows us to defend our objections which were about visual bulk; that the plans were not in accordance with the plans listed in the VCAT Order of January 2015; overshadowing of the foreshore; and traffic congestion. Our Statement of Grounds can be downloaded here. It follows the objection the BCNA submitted to the CoPP in March 2017.

Local Laws Review

The derelict site at 1-7 Waterfront Place provides a poor image to visitors. This prompted the BCNA to discuss with the City of Port Phillip (CoPP) whether Local Laws could be used to enforce a clean-up. We were led to believe that a review of Local Laws would offer a solution. Unfortunately, this has turned out not to be the case. However, the CEO of the CoPP, Peter Smith, is preparing a report for Council on other steps that might be taken.

BCNA Annual General Meeting

This year's Annual General Meeting for the BCNA will be held at

6:00 for 6.30pm, Thursday 23rd November 2017
Sandridge Community Centre and Trugo Club, Garden City Reserve

Reports and the annual financial statement for the BCNA will be presented. The election of office bearers will occur.

The Guest Speaker will be Peter Smith, the new Chief Executive Officer of the City of Port Phillip. Brief reports will be provided by The Hon. Martin Foley, MP and Gateway Ward Councillors Bernadene Voss, Marcus Pearl, and Ogy Simic. Rachel Johnson, the CEO of the Victorian Ports Corporation, has been invited.

Financial members of the BCNA have already been sent the Agenda and papers for the meeting.

Community Engagement Sessions for Fishermans Bend

The following community information and drop-in sessions are being held as part of consultation regarding the plans for Fishermans Bend:

• Friday 3 November - South Melbourne Market
• Wednesday 9 November - University of Melbourne Farmers Market
• Sunday 19 November - North Port Oval
• Thursday 23 November - South Melbourne Town Hall

There will also be workshop sessions for which you are required to register.

All submissions must be received by 5pm Friday 15 December.

More information is available on this flyer.

Port of Melbourne Boat Tours for Summer

The Port of Melbourne is again offering boat tours of the port this summer.  They are now charging a fee but, at $5.50 + $1.20 booking fee, it's hardly expensive.  Bookings must be done online and open 2-3 weeks before each tour.

Tours will be on 26 November, 25 February, and 29 April.

The February tour will depart from Williamstown and include a visit to the new container terminal and automotive trade facilities at Webb Dock as well as the crude oil terminal at Point Gellibrand so will be different to the tour that most residents would have been on before.

The November and April tours seem to be similar to previous tours, departing from Docklands and visiting Victoria Dock, Appleton Dock, and Swanson Dock.

More details can be found at www.portofmelbourne.com/community-and-education/visiting-the-port/boat-tours.

Beacon Cove Foodstore Redevelopment at 103 Beach Street

After a long and drawn out unresolved planning process, the IGA & Spuntino Café site has been sold with a planning permit for a three-storey development of similar height to the existing building, comprising 15 apartments with retail premises on the ground floor. The planning permit is for a layout/design like that which was proposed and displayed previously.

The new owners, the V-Leader Group, are not associated with the previous owners, Key Infrastructure Australia Pty Ltd. The new owners have said they will consult with the community once plans are settled.

Station Pier Air Quality Monitoring

The BCNA has written to the EPA requesting further air quality monitoring at Station Pier. We are grateful for the work done by the Victorian Ports Corporation Melbourne (VPCM) in 2016/17, but this work was not comprehensive enough to reassure members that air quality meets Australian standards. A second monitoring station on one of the towers would have been necessary to check air quality at heights above the monitoring station on Station Pier.

The Australian Government sets standards for fuel emissions from ships. This is currently at 3.5% sulphur content, but is scheduled to fall to 0.5% from 1 January 2020. The BCNA has written to the Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure and Transport urging the Australian Government adhere to this timetable.

Update on 1-7 Waterfront Place

In July, the City of Port Phillip (CoPP) refused an application for “Construction of a 10-storey mixed use building over two basement levels containing 175 dwellings and two retail premises of 355 square metres and a reduction in car parking requirements”. The application was refused on many grounds but included overshadowing of the foreshore and pedestrian spaces, and visual bulk and massing related to tower design.

It is a great shame that the site continues to look like a rubbish tip. The BCNA has raised this with the CoPP many, many times. We have been told that CoPP's Local Laws are ineffective in enforcing a clean-up and that a review of Local laws offered the hope of a solution. Unfortunately, this has turned out not to be the case. The recently completed review did not reveal any further way that Local Laws could be strengthened to deal with this situation.

The BCNA has written to the Mayor asking for a public explanation.

London Hotel Site

The City of Port Phillip (CoPP) recently approved plans for a redevelopment of this site, but with amendments after community input.

The approval is for an eight storey building, including basement car park, 18 apartments and a hotel. The amendments are for the inclusion of three onsite visitor parking bays; increased setback of the upper levels to ensure that the pedestrian path on the foreshore is not overshadowed after 10am throughout the year; and the inclusion of a heritage record about the London Hotel.