Sandridge - new public toilets are open

The Sandridge public toilet facility is now open. As you can see, the toilets are accessible. The facility has solar panels that will return power to the grid, LED lighting, and rainwater tanks [concealed] for toilet flushing. I think it sits well in the foreshore environment - do you agree?

viewed from centre median on the Boulevard

when viewed from the footpath you don't see the solar panels

Foreshore improvement

A long awaited beach shower and bottle refill station are being installed. Tell me, do you prefer small photos on the right, or bigger pictures [like this] in the centre of the page, or mixing it up a bit with sometimes one and sometimes another?

Back in business 2

Punters enjoying the new look London on this very beautiful evening.

Emergency markers

Following the terrible accident near Lagoon Pier on Friday evening, it is worth becoming familiar with these emergency site identification marks. On land, it is easier to give a street address but important moments can be lost for emergency services at beach side locations. This is the marker at the end of Princes Pier.

Jetskis

I've just taken a ride down to Sandridge. The lifesavers say that compliance with the new swimming zone at Sandridge is good. Jetskis are staying out of the swimming area. To see the boating and swimming zones that apply in Port Melbourne, click here. The yellow hatched areas for swimming only are in front of the Port and South Life Saving Clubs, and in front of the Sandridge Life Saving Club. Here are the speed and distance rules for jetskis which require a 5 knot speed limit when near structures and swimmers. I am told that is walking pace. What has your experience been?

The Piers Festival

By now, you will have heard about The Piers Festival that is happening on 28 January. The last time that a celebratory event was held at Princes Pier was in 1988 for the Bicentenary - now 24 years ago. On that significant occasion, tall ships from around the world berthed at Princes Pier. On the 28th, from 1 pm, Princes Pier will come to life with food and crafts from around the world, roving entertainers, storytelling and boardings on the historic tall ship Enterprize. Station Pier won't be closed. It will be open to the Immigration Museum's display on the history of Station Pier, photographs by Georgia Metaxas of the Blessing of the Waters and more. But most exciting of all will be the stories that will emerge ... Port Melbourne locals will appreciate the thoughtfulness of the brochure: 'Parking in surrounding streets is very limited. Catch the No 109 Lightrail tram to Port Melbourne'.

'The Piers Festival welcomes all to celebrate migration and cultural diversity across the two historic landmarks.'

Summer by the Sea

photos Lyn Allison

Some people find the number of spinifex seed heads rolling through the streets of Port Melbourne pesky, like autumn leaves. I enjoy all the attributes of this tough coastal grass, but I am in awe of what it does for our foreshore. Spinifex leaves and runners are covered in rough hairs. Beach sand lodges in and around them, and in this way new dunes form. It helps to hold our beaches in place. Summer by the Sea offers free and fanatastic opportunities for getting to know more about our coastal and marine environment both on land and in the water. Locally, there is fishing, kayaking and guided walks with local expert Neil Blake - but check out the programme now as there is only about 10 days to go.

Council Meeting Monday 12 December: Port Melbourne Waterfront Urban Design Framework

This important report will be presented to Council on Monday 12 December at South Melbourne Town Hall. The meeting starts at 6 pm. The report brings together themes and principles derived from the community consultation held throughout the year, and makes recommendations for each of the five precincts between Bay St and Beacon Rd*. The recommendation to Council is to release the draft UDF for public comment from Monday 12 December to the end of February 2012. More detailed community consultation will be held in late January and early February 2012 in recognition of the holiday period. The report and other agenda papers are available here, or from the Meetings and agendas link on the right hand side of Port Focus. It is also the last full Council meeting to be held on a Monday night - the practice as long as I've been on Council. Council meetings will be on Tuesdays beginning in 2012. *The five areas are the Bay/Beach St hub, Beach St between Bay and Princes St, the Promenade at Beacon Cove, Princes Pier and Waterfront Place - the whole area between the Station Pier entry back to Princes St.

Welcome to Beach St: Bella Cosi

Its taken me a while to follow up on the good reports of the new Bella Cosi at 71 Beach St, corner of Stokes St. Its a family affair - the Di Lisio family - Maria and her three sons. They want it to be a place where people feel comfortable to stay for a while. Bella Cosi draws on the talents and experience of the whole family: Marisa has run and intends to run cooking classes, the pastries are made in house and Vince is a seriously experienced barista. As Vince observed [on yesterday's 33 degree day], there are only so many sunny days in Port Melbourne so it needs to work in all weather. Bella Cosi provides long awaited life to this corner of Beach St.

Balloons over Sandridge

The balloon appeared to arise from Webb Dock somewhere, and hovered above the Sandridge path before whooshing onwards.

Chilly arrival

The cruise ship season begins with the arrival tomorrow of the Dawn Princess at 8.00 am [+/- l hour]. For the full cruise ship schedule for 2011/12, click here. I have put a link to the schedule under the links section.

Shades of grey

HMAS Newcastle, HMAS Perth and HMAS Sirius are at Station Pier as part of the commemoration of 100 years since the formation of the Royal Australian Navy. Or, another beacon picture? The ships will be open to the public on Sunday from 10am to 2pm.

Sandridge project

Work has begun on the Sandridge Beach toilet - middway between the Sandridge Life Saving Club and the western end of Beacon Cove. The current approach to designing toilets is to place them in highly visible places with lots of passing traffic.

More beach cleaning

A six month trial of daily manual beach cleaning began on 4 July. Beaches with lots of visitors, seaweed high tide lines, stormwater outlets, groynes and jetties have been targeted. Feedback from Beach Patrol members has been positive.

The Beacon

Do you think you can take too many pictures of the beacon? When the sun shines it is pretty irresistable.

What about Port?

Those readers who walk along the foreshore would have noticed the handsome landscaping at Middle Park Beach. Lest you wonder - what about us in Port? - I want to let you know we will be getting a water station like this in Port Melbourne. The refill water stations are intended to reduce the scourge of discarded plastic bottles on our beaches. BYO bottle and fill up. The pier timbers with chiselled lettering were inspired by the timber wall at Sandridge.

Toilet talk

I am showing the improvements to the women's toilets and change rooms next to the Sandridge Life Saving Club which have just been upgraded and made more accessible.

Council notes 1

• The planning applications for 19 to 25 Nott St, and 41 Nott St were approved by Council last night with refinements to some of the conditions on the permits.




• Approval was received from the state government to build a skate park at Marina Reserve in St Kilda - the approval of the Minister for Environment and Climate Change was needed as the Reserve is coastal crown land.

Cold evening

The sunset was pink on familiar landmarks this evening.

High tide leaves a mark on Sandridge Beach

Perce White Reserve, Sandridge Beach, 8 am

High tide was at 7.15 am [.8m] and the next high tide will be at 8.10 pm [.9m]

source: http://www.tides4fishing.com/au/victoria/melbourne This website is an amazing resource.