Volunteers are currently dropping copies of our newsletter in mailboxes throughout Beacon Cove. It is a special issue focussed on hoon driving.
To get it (in PDF form), click on this link. And please send it onto others in Beacon Cove who may not see our webpage or get the email notification.
During 23-25 March, VCAT heard the appeal by the developer of 1-7 Waterfront Place against the City of Port Phillip’s conditions to the planning permit granted last June.
The conditions passed by Council last June are about minimising overshadowing beyond the southern kerb line along Waterfront Place at the June solstice, by permitting shadow in the morning but not the afternoon. The minimisation of new shadow on the foreshore is a requirement of the Port Phillip Planning Scheme.
Residents and the BCNA are eager to see this issue resolved and new facilities constructed at Waterfront Place. However, we also believe the community values the light-filled area along Waterfront Place, the section of Beach St foreshore near the Princes St roundabout, and opposite the London Hotel - the Waterfront Place bike and pedestrian paths are currently free of overshadowing all year round.
The BCNA thanks David Brand, architect and former City of Port Phillip Concillor; Jennie Jones, BCNA member and town planner; Peter Barber, Urban Edge Consultants; and Angus Wallace, Plico Design Studio, for advice provided in the preparation of our submission.
VCAT’s decision is expected in about 6-8 weeks.
The City of Port Phillip (CoPP) has recently proposed a new asphalt BMX pump track within the Garden City Reserve.
This has generated community concern with a local petition against the proposal already having collected more than one hundred signatures. Concerns include the removal of green space and potential after-hours nuisance.
Representatives of the BCNA and local community attended a consultation on the morning of 30 March with the Council at which these issues were discussed. No decision has yet been made regarding the track and the CoPP consultation will be used to present a recommendation at the May Council Meeting.
The BCNA will discuss this issue further with Gateway ward councillors and relevant project management to seek a proper public meeting for further consultation with the community.
Revised plans for 103 Beach Street (which formerly was the Beacon Cove Foodstore) have recently been advertised by the City of Port Phillip (CoPP).
The main differences between this set of plans and the previously approved plans seem to be:
To view the revised planning application you will have to follow the following steps (CoPP have changed their website and direct links no longer seem to work):
The due date for submissions about these revised plans is 21 March 2022. Submissions can be made from the web page you have got to above (ie after following the first four steps).
Submissions will still be able to be made after this date until the time that the City of Port Phillip makes a decision on the application. Decisions can be made by council officers if 15 or fewer objections are made, otherwise council officers prepare a report for the councillors and the councillors will vote on the application at a council planning meeting.
The BCNA is examining the plans and is looking for feedback from the community to help inform BCNA position on this proposal so please contact us at secretary@beaconcove.org.au if you have any comments.
Currently there is a bio security order prohibiting cruise ships (with a greater capacity than ninety-nine passengers) from operating in Australian waters. The current order expires on 17 April 2022. The Federal Minister for Health may cancel or extend the order. Given that Australian borders are now open for tourists, the current order may be allowed to expire.
The Coral Geographer, a small cruise ship with less than 99 passengers, will be at Station Pier on 1 March 2022.
Ports Victoria are anticipating and planning for cruise ships returning to Melbourne in October or November 2022. If the biosecurity order is lifted in April 2022, Ports Victoria anticipate a near normal cruise season from October 2022 to April 2023.
Since our earlier update we understand that the ferries will move to Corio Quay in Spring 2022.
The developer is actively seeking a tenant for the restaurant/wine bar on the ground floor. Any tenant would need to do a major fit out so it will not be ready for some time. There are seventeen apartments in this building which is on the site of the old London Hotel.
The City of Port Phillip (CoPP) is developing a Positive Ageing Policy which will guide future decisions about how it can respond to the needs and aspirations of people aged 60 years and older. Whilst not specific to BCNA, we are aware that our membership includes many mature individuals and accordingly, we believe it relevant to bring this to member attention.
The survey closes on 4 March and more information can be found here.
We have received a further update from the City of Port Phillip on the closure of the boat landing next to Mr Hobsons and D'lish Fish on Station Pier:
Contractors will be commencing works to repair the failed piles next Monday, 17th January. The works commencement was slightly delayed and based on the current schedule provided, we anticipate these works to be completed by 4th March. Parks Victoria have been advised and will be issuing a notice to mariners. Additionally, the St Kilda Ferry service will continue to operate from the Eastern promenade throughout the works and the contractors have been advised of their schedule to avoid any conflicts and ensure their safety.
Further inspections are also being undertaken currently on the Eastern and Southern promenades to inform their detailed condition and any relevant findings will be shared once these are completed.
Some residents may be aware of the proposed redevelopment of the Barak-Beacon Road public housing, part of the State Government’s “Big Housing Build”. The government first announced this strategy in late 2020 as an initiative to construct more than 12,000 new homes throughout metro and regional Victoria. The “Big Housing Build” has announced plans for housing renewal in a number of suburbs but to date there has been little mention of initiatives in Port Melbourne and indeed, in Port Phillip. Recently however, residents of the Barak Road housing received notice of plans to evacuate the area to enable redevelopment. The BCNA has met with local residents and will continue involvement to help ensure appropriate community consultation occurs and that residents are treated with care and respect as planning proceeds.