No Cuts, No Butts

Tomorrow is officially the first day of summer and the day that Port Phillip's beaches go glass and smoking free.

Every week Council picks up over 100 cubic metres of beach litter, including 1,000s of cigarette butts and a large amount of broken glass.

1 in 10 butts littered in Melbourne end up in our beautiful Bay.

1861, 1888, and 2010 at Chequers

I feel ambivalent about the changes taking place at Chequers. I never really liked the yellow [just a sliver remains] and this grey looks smart - but is it one of the last of Port's working class pubs to go?

The Chequers Inn was built in 1861 by Edwards James Crockford whose son later became Town Clerk of Port Melbourne.

It was renovated in 1888 under the direction of local architect John Grut. It included classical Italianate embellishments of frescoes, columns and trusses and offered comfortable accommodation. [taken from Chartered Scoundrels: A brief history of Port Melbourne hotels by Pat Grainger]

I have always found the embellishments, seen here above the Bay/Bridge corner, a bit over the top.

How Port Melbourne people voted

As at 28 November, the Victorial Electoral Commission [VEC] had the two candidate preferred vote for the Albert Park District as
Martin Foley [ALP] 14,177 or 52.62%
Mark Lopez [Liberal] 12,767 or 47.38%
At the Port Melbourne booths, the results for these two candidates were:
Port Phillip Specialist School:
Martin Foley [ALP] 1,138, Mark Lopez [Liberal] 1,384
Fishermens Bend/Sandridge:
Martin Foley [ALP] 777, Mark Lopez [Liberal] 546
Postal votes and pre-polls remain to be counted.
Click here to look at the detailed results for all parties in the Albert Part electorate at the VEC's virtual tally room.

Election tomorrow

Polling booths in Port Melbourne are at:

• Port Phillip Specialist School, 127 Nott St - access via Farrell St
• Fishermens Bend Community Centre, cnr Centre Ave and Dunstan Parade

Voting centres will be open from 8 am to 6 pm

For more information about voting go to www.vec.vic.gov.au

AGM Season 3: South Port Community Residential Home

The two strong themes of this year's AGM were the redevelopment of the facility and the quality of care provided at SouthPort.

Chairperson Lyn Allison explained that the state government has made the site at the rear of the St Vincents Boys Home [pictured here] available for not for profit community based aged care. SouthPort and Claremont have combined to bid for the site. The outcome of the bid will not be known until after the election - but everyone is hoping it will be soon after that. As Lyn said: their experience has taught them to be 'patient and prepared.'

The pressure on the organisation is revealed in some of the figures provided in the Annual Report: Staff wages increased by 4% and utility bills went up 18.8% whilst Commonwealth grants went up by only 1.7%. Nevertheless, a small surplus was made.

After a magnificent afternoon tea, I spoke with a resident who had grown up on the shores of Albert Park Lake where her father was the only boat builder. She sewed sails from japara because 'you can't make sails that let the wind through'.

AGM Season 2: Port Melbourne Neighbourhood House

The Port Melbourne Neighbourhood House celebrated 25 years in this community at their AGM last night. They can be found at the corner of Liardet and Nott St.
Justice can't be given to the range and depth of their work, where they 'weave the social fabric' [Mandy Burns, chairperson] but here are some highlights:

• 7,000 people participated in activities at the House over the year
• The City of Voices expresses the essence of the House being a theatre group of people with and without disabilities, young and old, professional and amateur. 'The City of Voices created characters, scenes, text, music which I merely shape together. [Myfanwy Powell, Artistic Director] Pictured here is a scene from 'Waiting, meeting, chasing .. the Station' performed at a range of tram stops along Route 96
• Kate Kelly, coordinator, spoke of the House's aim to go beyond social inclusion - currently the prevailing thinking - to active participation
• John Dawes, volunteer, said that he has time to give, and wants to give it to this community he loves
• The reception area is an entry point to programmes, participation, and training
• Dig In community garden at Murphy's Reserve is a thriving garden and community in itself

Congratulations Port Melbourne Neighbourhood House on 25 amazing years.

Pedestrians and Drivers

Since we are all pedestrians some of the time, its good to know what the Road Rules say about driver obligations to pedestrians. In 2008, 44 pedestrians were seriously injured in the City of Port Phillip, 23% of all road users.

At pedestrian crossings

A driver must give way to any pedestrian on a pedestrian crossing, and you must not overtake another vehicle which has stopped at a pedestrian crossing. When approaching a pedestrian crossing, you must drive at a speed that would enable you to stop safely.

At intersections

When turning at any intersection (except a roundabout), you must give way to any pedestrians crossing the road you are entering

In slip lanes

You must give way to any pedestrian in a slip lane

At pedestrian lights

You must give way to any pedestrian on a pedestrian crossing. At pedestrian lights with When Flashing Give Way to Pedstrians signs, when the yellow light starts flashing, you can proceed provided you give way to any pedestrians still on the crossing

At a children's crossing

You must approach a children's crossing at a speed from which you can safely stop. You must stop at a flagged children's crossing if a pedestrian is on or entering the crossing.

For all the Road Rules applying to pedestrians go to www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/RoadRules/Pedestrians.htm

Council agenda for Monday 22 November

After a lovely weekend of many community picnics and gatherings, it is back to Council.

The Port item on the agenda is the Fishermans Bend Planning and Economic Development Strategy.

The purpose of the Strategy is to guide land use and business development of the Fishermans Bend Industrial Area for the next five to ten years.

Click here to access the Council report and the supporting attachments.

The Council meeting will be at the St Kilda Town Hall at 6 pm.

Preparing for a wedding 2

I know people love this rotunda because I have seen it crop up in paintings at several exhibitions. But how about this ...

Welcome to Bay St

After much labour behind mysterious windows, and the discovery of the copper window surround, Balderdash is now open on the corner of Bay and Bridge St.
I am no cafe reviewer but it seems the proprietors are dedicated to coffee and creating a comfortable space for patrons.
Coffee and pastries now and breakfast and lunch from next week.

Preparing for a wedding

Being anywhere in Port Melbourne today was lovely and every activity was enhanced by the beautiful day.
Saw this wedding table being prepared as I rounded the corner on the beach at Beacon Cove.

87 to 101 Bay St - Nott St side

Follow this link to see what the development at 87 to 101 Bay St will look like on Nott St. The site runs through from Bay St to Nott St.

Review previous posts to read the planning history on this site by putting '87 to 101 Bay St' in the search box of Port Focus.

Planting tomatoes

There may be a lot of debate about the best date to plant tomatoes, but you are invited to plant a tomato at the Simply Living Garden on Sunday.
The tomato plantings shown here are an extension of a frontyard productive garden in Esplanade West.
Simply Living Garden
cnr Nott and Bridge
Sunday 21 from 11 to 12
Or you may prefer to make Jam in the Kitchen on Tuesday 23rd 9.30 to 12. Make some jam for Christmas and a few extra for the Simply Living Garden market stall. $3 contribution.

The Piers

Did you know that there used to be cranes on Station Pier but not on Princes Pier?
As part of fulfilling their heritage commitments at Station Pier, the Port of Melbourne Corporation will re-instate one of the cranes on the pier in due course.
image courtesy of the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society used with permission www.vicnet.net.au/~pmhps

AGM Season

South Port Day Links AGM gave an opportunity to acknowledge the many volunteers and staff to the organisation and the community.
This wonderful organisation is about far more than transport. Through Pet Links, Garden Mates, Walk Mates and transport, SPDL supports frail elderly people to stay at home through maintaining their connection to the community, services and activities.
New volunteers are always especially welcome at SPDL.

corner of Rouse St and Esplanade West

After a long period of neglect, this unusual house at 51 Esplanade West is being prepared for demolition.

There is a permit on the site for four, three storey townhouses.

You can check the planning permit register for this, or other sites, by going to http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/planning_building.htm

Cargo bike picnic

There will be a cargo bike picnic at Garden City Reserve this Sunday 21st from 11 to 2. You can try out different kinds of cargo bikes, speak to different cargo bike suppliers and see what they are like to ride. There will even be a coffee machine operating from a cargo bike. Apart from that it is byo picnic and helmet.

Welcome back!

Bruce is back on the foreshore path after a stint in hospital. He travels daily from Port to St Kilda and back again. Noone knows our foreshore as well as he does - because he talks to everybody and everybody talks to him. Its good to have you back.

502 - 518 Williamstown Road

The application for this site goes to Council for a decision on Monday 15 November. The application is for 32, 2 and 3 storey dwellings.

The applicant has lodged an Application for Review with VCAT. The Council still needs to make a decision on the application and advise VCAT and objectors of its decision prior to the hearing. You will find the report going to Council here

The Council meeting starts at 6 pm at the St Kilda Town Hall and this is the first item on the agenda.

Lest we forget

Weed Busting this weekend

Several coastal grasses, regionally significant for conservation, grow on Port Melbourne's foreshore. One of these, spinifex hirsutis, is coming into flower now. The male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. [the male flowers are pictured here.

Across Australia, weeds are a huge threat to biodiversity. Weeding is an essential response to this threat. The ways that weeds threaten indigenous vegetation are many and various.

That is why the Friends of Port Melbourne's Foreshore invite you to a weed management morning this Saturday 13 November from 9.30 to 12.30 pm. The session will be facilitated by Biosis Research consultant Jeff Yugovic. Meet at Life Saving Victoria HQ, cnr the Boulevard and Todd Rd. After initial discussion the group will visit Perce White Reserve, our most significant place for biodiversity, for action learning.

What's happening with ... the Sandridge toilet?

People sometimes report losing sight of projects after the consultation phase.
The design of the Sandridge toilet was refined following the public consultation. Fitting into the natural, coastal setting was a strong theme from the feedback. The design will be put out for tender this month.
Have a look here to see the final design and the location [opposite Fred Jackson Reserve]

Final report from a busy weekend in Port

Checking out my worm farm with interested children at the community rich and enjoyable Skills Fest at Port Melbourne Uniting Church on Saturday.

Whittaker Walk

The harsh times of 1928 and the depression years that followed were recalled in the second annual walk commemorating the life of Alan Whittaker, waterside worker.

Frank Vincent, seen here near the site known as Hogans Flat, examines the scant evidence to try to find out how Whittaker was shot.

Every day is clean up day

Surfrider Foundation got going in Melbourne this morning with a clean up at Sandridge Beach.

They join committed people in 3206 Beach Patrol, the emerging 3207 Beach Patrol and Friends of Port Melbourne's Foreshore in helping to keep our beaches clean.

Andrew Foran of the Surfrider Foundation at Sandridge Beach

No Port particular items for 8 November Council Meeting

While there are no Port items for Council's meeting on 8 November at the South Melbourne Town Hall, there is a report recommending the introduction of a 'No Cuts No Butts' program to come into effect on 1 December.

'No Cuts No Butts' is intended to not allow glass and smoking on sand areas along the Port Phillip foreshore.

On a similar theme, this is an opportunity to let you know about Your Bay: Your Say - a forum to be held at the St Kilda Town Hall on 17 November - a time for you to let us know your aspirations for our beaches as we develop our foreshore management plan.

It is a first - at least that I can remember - to use a Port Melbourne image on a flyer or brochure on a Port Phillip wide topic.

95 - 117 Dow St

At the meeting held to talk about this development, these concerns were expressed:

• increase in the number of dwellings from 69 to 121* and consequent increase in parking and traffic impacts
• traffic movements in Little Dow St and the surrounding road network
• carparking
• waste management
• interfaces with houses on Graham St backing onto Little Dow St, and interfaces with the Bayview building
• equipment and services on top of the building - and noise generation from them
• overlooking and overshadowing
• deliveries and removal vans

* 51 one bedroom, 70 two bedroom

All these matters will be taken into consideration by the planner in assessing the application according to the Port Phillip Planning Scheme and making a recommendation to Council.
In addition, people raised concerns about the present operation of Little Bay St and Little Dow St. I will take up these concerns at Council.

Many hats

Port resident, Ken Hall, met here on public transport to Oaks Day, is a member of the Rotary Club of Albert Park. He is a driver of their very successful book sales initiative.

There is a bin to receive unwanted books at the Port Town Hall - off Spring St. These are then sold at the South Melbourne Commons, [former Galilee School cnr Bank/Montague], on ebay and at the Book Fair held each year at Albert Park Primary in October.

Significant donations flow straight back into this community.

Peeling back the layers

Went past the shop preparing for opening on the corner of Bridge and Bay St to see that they have uncovered copper surrounds of the window frames facing Bridge St.

I remember when this was - briefly - a health food shop.

Do you know what shop it was in earlier days?

Bridge St, west of the Railway Reserves

This financial year the section of Bridge St between Ross and Derham will be made safer and greener. Thinking about Bridge St prompted me to have a look at an earlier traffic treatment at Bridge/Evans in 1996 and again in 2010. image courtesy of the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society, used with permission www.vicnet.net.au/~pmhps