Port Projects 2010

I have updated the Port Projects post to reflect feedback I received.
I had thought that someone might say it was a long list - that was what I thought!

Every day is clean up day with 3206 beach patrol

I am inspired by Middle Park's Guy Boston who started 3206 Beach Patrol

Distressed by litter on the beach, he created this flexible and easy way of helping to keep our beaches clean. Each member volunteers one hour a month to picking up litter wearing the 3206 Beach Patrol t-shirt. How hard is that?

Cigarette butts are his number one aversion. He would like to see smoking banned on Port Phillip's beaches following successful bans at Manly and Bondi.

He imagines that every beach in Port Phillip - and beyond - would have its own patrol.

Would you like to be part of/or start a 3207 Beach Patrol?

Contact me, or Guy Boston via www.3206beachpatrol.com.au

Port Projects for 2010

The council re-convenes tomorrow. These are some of the projects you have identified that I will be working with you and others to achieve:

• respond proactively to possible planning application for 1 - 11 Waterfront Place (currently occupied by Genesis gym) to achieve benefits for the Port Melbourne community
• ensure effective buffer arrangments are put in place between an expanding and intensifying Webb Dock and the Port Melbourne/Garden City community and improve uptake of Plummer St bypass
• get that toilet outside Coles open!
• work towards the Liardet St family and children's centre
• complete Garden City Reserve landscape and playspace improvements
• implement the final stage of the Sandridge Beach masterplan including pathways and lighting
• implement recommendations from the Perce White Reserve masterplan
• secure commitment for funding streetscape works in the Rouse St (west) precinct
• begin working with the community reference committee on the urban design framework process for the Port Melbourne waterfront to plan for long term improvements to this significant place
• work with the community of Murphy's Reserve on future directions to achieve improvements
• deliver the new facility at North Port Oval and refurbish the Goss grandstand
• achieve raised pedestrian crossings at Poolman/Clark for children going to and from Port Melbourne Primary
• rehabilitate degraded turf areas in the Railway Reserves
• get options on the table for the Bay/Liardet intersection
• a 40 km speed limit for Bay St
• complete the asset handover of Beacon Cove to the City of Port Phillip. This includes the Promenade. A measure of success would be to get bins on the Promenade
• transfer planning control for Beacon Cove (residential areas) to Port Phillip
• significantly strengthen our tourism effort at Station Pier
• work with Parks Victoria to implement the boating zone review recommendations to manage jetskis, especially at Sandridge

I have deliberately not prioritised these projects as each one is significant to the community closest to it.

Is there something that is very important to you that I have left off this list?

Carparking at Kyme Place and in the Bay St precinct

There will still be publicly accessible carparking at Kyme Place in the new development as follows:

Kyme Place
There are 33 places in the carpark at Kyme Place currently.
There will be a net loss to the public of 5 spaces from the approved housing development. That means there will still be 28 spaces publicly available.

[7 spaces will be lost from within the car park and 2 will be gained on Liardet St outside A Simple Affair where the cross over will be re-instated, including a disabled parking place.]
Liardet St

Recent council works have added to the supply of on-street parking.
The kerb and channel works in Liardet Street (between Esplanade East and Dow St) in December 2008/January 2009 created 10 new spaces.
More recently, as part of the reconstruction of the kerb and channel between Bay and Princes St, 12 new spaces have been created which were not taken into account at the time of the planning decision.
The steering committee for the family and children’s centre in Liardet St are actively considering how new carparking can be created to service that facility without taking away play space for children.

South of Graham Street

Additional parking for shopping and visitors was required as part of the planning approvals for Bayview 142 spaces (cnr Rouse/Bay eastern side), Bayshore 130 spaces (cnr Rouse/Bay western side), and Bianca 108 spaces (the curvy building). That is a total of 380 spaces.

These carparks are all open and accessible to the public. Bayview and Bayshore carparks are run by commercial operators who offer all day parking at competitive rates. They are currently under utilised.

Riding through the Montague St/M1 interchange

I thought I would take a ride to road test the new arrangements at the Montague Street interchange now the M1 works are substantially complete.

This intersection is all that comes between Port Melbourne and the attractions of the DFO at South Wharf, Docklands and Docklands Stadium.

In spite of the of the green on road treatment and relatively low volumes of traffic on a Sunday morning, I found it less than comfortable on the bike.

The St Kilda cycle club Sunday morning race made the access round the back via Johnson Street a bit awkward.

There is a wide footpath from one side of the crossing to the other. Although not signed, it looks as though it is intended as a shared walking and cycling path. All the crossings are well marked with clear audio-tactile pedestrian crossings.

So, my opinion was that the crossing is safer than it used to be but remains an intimidating experience for non-car users.

What is your experience of this intersection?

Council meetings in Port Melbourne in 2010

The Council meets on the second, third* and fourth Monday of each month. The Council meetings that will be held in Port Melbourne in the council chamber are:

• Monday 8 February
• Monday 12 April
• Monday 15 June
• Monday 9 August
• Monday 11 October
• Monday 13 December

All meetings begin at 6 pm.
You are most welcome to attend any meeting of council if you would like to ask a question or make a submission on an agenda item. The Port Melbourne meetings are listed because they may be more convenient for you.

The full council meeting timetable for 2010 can be viewed at http://intranet.portphillip.vic.gov.au/council_meeting_timetable.htm

The councillors outside Port Melbourne Town Hall are from left to right: Janet Bolitho (Sandridge), Judith Klepner (Albert Park), deputy mayor Rachel Powning (Balaclava), Jane Touzeau (Ormond), Serge Thomann (St Kilda) and the mayor Frank o'Connor (Emerald Hill). John Middleton (St Kilda Road) is not in this photo.

* statutory planning

Maintaining the stormwater drains

Every three months Thiess, for Melbourne Water, clears sediment from the massive stormwater drains that run under Esplanade West to protect the massive pumps housed in this building. The pumps give stormwater a boost to discharge it into the bay at the drain outfall on the beach between Lagoon Pier and the Port Melbourne Yacht Club. The pumps protect this area from flooding after heavy rain.

The pumphouse, built in 1891, sits on the western edge of the former Sandridge Lagoon.