Thank you to all who have renewed their memberships or who have joined the BCNA in 2016/17. Membership reached 373 which is a record.
BCNA continues to be active on your behalf in protecting and enhancing the amenity of the area. Our last newsletter as well as other posts on this website explain current initiatives on your behalf.
Tuesday, 4 July 2017
Parking Fees Fall at Waterfront Place
The City of Port Phillip has reduced parking fees around Waterfront Place. From April to September the hourly fee will be $1.80 per hour compared to $5.10. The BCNA has advocated for a review of parking policy as has the traders at Waterfront Place and the Port Melbourne Business Association.
The reduction is part of a two-year trial in St Kilda and Port Melbourne to help encourage greater activity in these areas. Further details can be found here.
The reduction is part of a two-year trial in St Kilda and Port Melbourne to help encourage greater activity in these areas. Further details can be found here.
More Shade for Maritime Cove
A permanent new shade structure is currently under construction in the playground at Maritime Cove, which will help keep little visitors and their parents out of the sun while they play. A part of the playground has been temporarily fenced off while the shade structure is installed, so please note there will be changed access and observe all safety signage in the area.
The new, shadier playground area is expected to reopen by mid-June 2017.
The new, shadier playground area is expected to reopen by mid-June 2017.
Monday, 19 June 2017
London Hotel Redevelopment
The City of Port Phillip (CoPP) has advertised plans for this site. The new proposal is for an 8-storey development (previously 8 storeys) comprising basement car parks, hotel and 18 dwellings (previously 35 dwellings). The new plans can be viewed on the Council’s website using this link (please be aware that due to the nature of the CoPP system it takes quite a while for the page to load and a few intermediate pages will flash up in the interim so ignore the intermediate pages and just wait for the final page to load) or by searching for application number number 1220/2016 online.
Council has agreed to provide a presentation to the BCNA in the coming weeks. The BCNA Committee will then decide its position with respect to the development.
Residents can object or support the proposal online using this link (please see above about ignoring the intermediate pages and waiting for the final page to load).
Council has agreed to provide a presentation to the BCNA in the coming weeks. The BCNA Committee will then decide its position with respect to the development.
Residents can object or support the proposal online using this link (please see above about ignoring the intermediate pages and waiting for the final page to load).
Friday, 16 June 2017
Update on 1-7 Waterfront Place
We continue to be asked as to what is happening at 1-7 Waterfront Place.
The BCNA wants to see the site appropriately developed and providing benefit to the community. This was explained in our April Newsletter.
The issue is with Council at this moment. Council staff tell us that they are frustrated that the developer/owner has not forwarded information required to adhere to the VCAT decision of 15 January 2015. Until this is done, the proposal cannot be fully assessed.
It is a great shame that the site looks like a rubbish tip. The BCNA has raised this with council many times. We are told that the Council’s Local Laws are ineffective in ordering a clean-up. Council is undertaking a review of Local Laws and we hope that they will prove effective.
The BCNA wants to see the site appropriately developed and providing benefit to the community. This was explained in our April Newsletter.
The issue is with Council at this moment. Council staff tell us that they are frustrated that the developer/owner has not forwarded information required to adhere to the VCAT decision of 15 January 2015. Until this is done, the proposal cannot be fully assessed.
It is a great shame that the site looks like a rubbish tip. The BCNA has raised this with council many times. We are told that the Council’s Local Laws are ineffective in ordering a clean-up. Council is undertaking a review of Local Laws and we hope that they will prove effective.
Update on Fishermans Bend
The final version of the Fishermans Bend Vision was released in September 2016. The Vision has helped to inform the development of the Fishermans Bend Framework which is expected to be released in July 2017. The Framework is designed to guide planning and will include strategies for transport infrastructure (road, rail, trams, and road network), community infrastructure, public space, density, sustainability and activity centres. It will be finalised after community comment.
Precinct plans will then be prepared to reflect the fine grain detail.
The BCNA continues to have concerns about decision-making and funding for the redevelopment.
The project requires consistent decision making if the Vision is to be realised around 2050. Without consistency, investors and buyers will not have the certainty they require to make it worth their while to be involved. Similarly, the local community will not have confidence that the Vision can deliver benefits that they can share in. At present, decision making is complicated with decisions split between the Melbourne and Port Phillip Councils, the Victorian Government and VCAT (when there are disputes). Co-ordination and decision making is slower than if one organisation was responsible for all decisions.
There is no agreed funding. This means each Council and the Victorian Government must seek funds through their normal budget processes. Inevitably this means delays. The BCNA and South Port Urban Responsible Renewal (SPURR), an umbrella group representing 49 local organisations, has advocated on these issues and will continue to do so.
To date 6,594 residential dwellings have been approved with permit applications for a further 7,070 dwellings. There have been no applications for commercial developments.
Precinct plans will then be prepared to reflect the fine grain detail.
The BCNA continues to have concerns about decision-making and funding for the redevelopment.
The project requires consistent decision making if the Vision is to be realised around 2050. Without consistency, investors and buyers will not have the certainty they require to make it worth their while to be involved. Similarly, the local community will not have confidence that the Vision can deliver benefits that they can share in. At present, decision making is complicated with decisions split between the Melbourne and Port Phillip Councils, the Victorian Government and VCAT (when there are disputes). Co-ordination and decision making is slower than if one organisation was responsible for all decisions.
There is no agreed funding. This means each Council and the Victorian Government must seek funds through their normal budget processes. Inevitably this means delays. The BCNA and South Port Urban Responsible Renewal (SPURR), an umbrella group representing 49 local organisations, has advocated on these issues and will continue to do so.
To date 6,594 residential dwellings have been approved with permit applications for a further 7,070 dwellings. There have been no applications for commercial developments.
Monday, 29 May 2017
Beach Street Queuing Lane Update
The City of Port Phillip (CoPP) is about to commence construction of the Beach Street Separated Queuing Lane. Works have been delayed to accommodate the cruise shipping season, which has now finished for winter.
Works on the queuing lane will commence on 30 May 2017 and are scheduled for completion by the end of August 2017 weather permitting.
The scope of works include:
As part of the works, three light poles will be replaced along Beach Street. CitiPower has advised there will not be any disruptions to your power and temporary lighting will be installed during the replacement works.
For more information please visit the project web page.
Works on the queuing lane will commence on 30 May 2017 and are scheduled for completion by the end of August 2017 weather permitting.
The scope of works include:
- creating a Station Pier lane along Beach Street, from Bay Street to the roundabout that will separate queuing traffic at cruise ship times
- the works will be contained within the existing road space. Angle parking on foreshore side of Beach Street will be reconfigured to parallel parking to make room for the Station Pier lane
- adding a lane to the roundabout to create a lane that goes straight through to Station Pier along with a right turn lane, effectively removing congestion from the roundabout
- creating an on-road bike lane in both directions on Beach Street, between Bay Street and the roundabout
As part of the works, three light poles will be replaced along Beach Street. CitiPower has advised there will not be any disruptions to your power and temporary lighting will be installed during the replacement works.
For more information please visit the project web page.
Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Our Latest Newsletter is Out
Volunteers are currently dropping copies of our newsletter in mailboxes throughout Beacon Cove. It covers a number of topics including:
- Update on 1-7 Waterfront Place
- Beacon Cove Foodstore Redevelopment
- London Hotel Redevelopment
- Air Quality Monitoring at Station Pier
- Beacon Cove Covenants
- City of Port Phillip (CoPP) Strategic Planning and Budget
- BCNA Social Events
Council Plan 2017-27
The City of Port Phillip (CoPP) are inviting the community to 'have your say' on the Draft Council Plan 2017-27 including Budget 2017/18.
Respondents have the option of providing comments via the online form or by uploading a written submission to this web page.
There will also be a drop in session between 11am and 2pm on Saturday 6 May at the Port Melbourne Town Hall, 333 Bay Street.
All submissions must be received by 5pm on Friday 19 May 2017.
Respondents have the option of providing comments via the online form or by uploading a written submission to this web page.
There will also be a drop in session between 11am and 2pm on Saturday 6 May at the Port Melbourne Town Hall, 333 Bay Street.
All submissions must be received by 5pm on Friday 19 May 2017.