Port to Port

I am glad that some businesses are choosing to relocate to other premises in Port rather than move out of the area.  Port Travel has moved from cnr Bay/Liardet to Rouse St, Three Four Knock at the Door hope to move from Nott to Bay St, and Kosdown is moving to Rocklea Drive in Fishermans Bend.
Kosdown is one of the last industries to go as the area south of Graham St transitions to residential development.

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The Turville connection

Alright. Enough football - for today at least.

When the Council came to upgrade Turville Reserve, I wondered who Turville was. Chartered Scoundrels* provides the answer. This house in Princes St was once a hotel - the Locomotive - and Turville was the publican. Formerly a train driver, he held the license until 1875 and lived there for a further twenty years. Also of interest, the Forester's Arms once stood in the vicinity of this landscaped area. It was demolished to make way for the Graham St overpass.

*Chartered Scouncfels: A brief history of Port Melbourne hotels, p63 by Pat Grainger. Available from the Port Melbourne Town Hall

The red & the blue

Port defeated Williamstown today 12.15.87 to 7.11.53 on a perfect spring day at North Port Oval. Into the Grand Final next Sunday.

Go Borough!

Port play Williamstown tomorrow in the Preliminary Final at North Port Oval starting at 2.10 pm. Traditional rivals. Last year's Grand Finalists. Preview the game here.

Port Melbourne a winner in the Port Phillip Business Awards

Having felt glum about Bay St just a few posts ago, I feel much more optimistic after Port Melbourne businesses performed exceptionally strongly in the Port Phillip Business Awards held last night.

• Melbourne Medical Deputising Service [MMDS] was the business of the year. Based in Plummer St, Port Melbourne, MMDS is the lagest home visiting doctor service in Victoria. www.homevisitingdoctor.com.au

• Miishu - a fashion destination at 74 Bay St won in the micro business category [employing up to 5 people]
• Three Four Knock on the Door - a childrens' book and toy store at 46 Nott St, was a finalist in this category
• TANK Branding - a brand agency at 30 Lalor St was a finalist in the small business category [employing between 6 and 20 people] and in the Creative and Cultural Industries category
• Hunky Dory Fish & Burger Bar at 181 Bay St, and in Clarendon St,  won in the medium business category [employing between 20 and 200 people]
• Beach Tennis Australia was a finalist in the Tourism & Hospitality Category

Ardoch Youth Foundation won in the not-for-profit category. Ardoch's CEO Mandy Burns is a Port Melbourne resident who also finds time to chair the committee of management of the Port Melbourne Neighbourhood House and to coach her daughter's netball team.
Speaking with the finalists and winners in retail, I was struck by how their businesses are a hybrid of in store retailing, unique product offer with energetic social marketing and above and beyond service.

Report back on Council meeting: St Kilda Festival

For a long time I have been concerned about the growing cost of the St Kilda Festival. However, no report has been brought to Council that put those figures before you in the form of a publicly accessible Council report.
In response to a question from Councillor Frank o'Connor at Tuesday's meeting, the following information was provided:
The net cost of the St Kilda Festival to council has increased from $533,171 in 2008/09 to $1,180,703 in 2011/12. The cost to Council over 5 years can be accessed here. These costs are projected to increase significantly into the future. This year, considerable effort went into trying to secure a major sponsor. The arrangement yielded a mere $4,000. Council has been advised that up to 80% of the expenditure goes towards the physical infrastructure of the event such as toilets, security, and cleaning.
In response to the presentation of these figures, Councillor o'Connor put this motion which was passed unanimously:
That Council

• Confirms its strong support for live music in this municipality
• Receives an urgent report at its meeting on 24 September 2012 which includes
• identification of strategies for containing the 2013 St Kilda Festival expenditure within the budgeted amount for 2012/13
• an update on progress with sponsorship for the 2013 Festival
• information on the option not to proceed with the 2013 Festival Sunday
• a process for community consultation to determine alternate approaches to deliver Council's objectives regarding live music and cultural development within current budget allocations.

The discussion will continue at the meeting on 24 September.

  

 

 

 

 

 

Countdown!

There is only one more formal Council meeting before the Council enters caretaker mode when it may not make any significant policy decisions that would bind a future council, or commit to significant expenditure.
This week, I would like to introduce you to several items that were considered at last night's meeting.
Fishermans Bend

The Council adopted a set of principles that we would like to guide the future development of the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area. As you know, the Minister for Planning has designated this area a capital city zone. That makes the Minister the planning authority - not the Council.  Places Victoria will undertake the planning for the area for the Minister. Information on their website about Fishermans Bend is seriously scanty at this time. The Minister's announcement has immediate implications for what is possible in Fishermans Bend. At this early stage there is no framework plan in place to guide how any future development of the area will take place and how necessary community and physical infrastructure will be funded. It has almost become an over-used thought - including by the Minister - that a Docklands or Southbank must be avoided. Well - what does that really mean in planning terms?
That is why Council has adopted these principles to take to the table in future thinking about what is now know as the FBURA - Fisherman's Bend Urban Renewal Area.
Guiding Principles

• A child and family friendly place - safe, accessible and human scale
• A highly connected place that priorities sustainable travel and the movement of people
• An exemplary environmentally sustainable precinct
• A strong and vibrant economy, providing local jobs and local access to goods and services
• A variety of neighbourhoods, each with a distinct and unique identity
• A well serviced, diverse and connected local community that welcomes everyone
• A community and place that is integrated, resilient and self sufficient
• A place that embraces and fosters cultural and creative communities - in its businesses, residents and visitors
• A funding plan for the timely provision of open space, community facilities and physical infrastructure
• A well planned and staged precinct approach to facilitate the orderly transition of the precinct.

These principles are supported by a more detailed  strategic directions document which you can access here.