Community Safety Survey

The City of Port Phillip (Council) is conducting a community safety survey. The Council states: “Community safety is a priority for the City of Port Phillip. It influences how people use and interact with our public places and spaces: the built environment, local amenities, parks, and community facilities. A safer city contributes to positive health, social and economic outcomes for our community.”

The Council wants to hear what the priorities are for community safety, to help inform the development of the new Community Safety Plan. The survey should be completed by 11.59 pm on Sunday, 29 June (that's this coming Sunday).

The BCNA has as an objective to ‘preserve and enhance the quality of life in the area.’ In our view, hoon driving and excessive noise, and crime, detract from the enjoyment of living within the area. For this reason, we strongly encourage members to complete the survey. Click/tap here to access it.

Update on 103 Beach Street (former Beacon Cove Foodstore)

Recently, the City of Port Phillip approved plans for the public realm areas around this  development. The approved plans show design, materials for paved areas and plants to be used in the landscaping. Work has commenced on the plaza area at the front of the building, on the Station Pier side.

The area will be landscaped and transformed to what is depicted here (click/tap here to download):

The area at the rear will be landscaped and include public car parking as shown. The plans show space for a retail area on the ground floor. The entrance to the retail area will be from the front of the building (click/tap here to download).

The BCNA welcomes the progress to date and the development of this site.  We will provide further updates as information becomes available.

Barak Beacon Housing Development - Action on Excessive Light Spill

In response to concerns from nearby residents, the builder, ICON construction, will reduce the floor lighting from the five five tower cranes from 8pm to 5.30am, Monday to Sunday. This will take effect from Friday 13th June. The builder will continue to monitor the lighting to ensure it meets the community’s needs while maintaining safety and security.

The BCNA thanks Councillor Heather Cunsolo and Ms. Nina Taylor MP, for helping to gain this outcome.

No Funding for Acoustic Camera Trial

Unfortunately, the recent Victorian Government Budget contained no funding for an acoustic camera trial with the City of Port Phillip. Ms. Nina Taylor, MP, Member for Albert Park, had sought funding for the trial. This news was discussed at a recent meeting BCNA representatives had with Ms. Taylor. Ms. Taylor said she would explore ways in which a grant might be obtained for a trial.

The BCNA believes that there should be greater use of technology, such as CCTV and acoustic cameras, to deter hoon behaviour. Acoustic cameras are used in several countries and are being progressively introduced in Australia.

Other topics discussed with Ms. Taylor was excessive light spill from the Barak Beacon housing development (see item above), and possible new tram routes into Fishermans Bend. 

Barak Beacon Housing Development - Excessive Light Spill

Over many months, residents in Beacon Road and nearby streets have raised concerns with the builder, ICON construction, about excessive ‘light spill’ from the five large cranes at night. There is intense very bright light from the cranes.

In mid-March, ICON construction acknowledged the direct impact of the lighting on residents and stated that they had engaged lighting specialists to assess whether adjustments could be made while still meeting safety obligations. The assessment was to consider factors such as direction, and intensity of the lighting. ICON construction expected advice would be able to be provided to residents in early April.

Despite multiple written requests from the Beacon Road and Beacon Cove community to ICON constructions, no advice has been provided.

Nearby residents have contacted the City of Port Phillip. The BCNA has contacted ICON construction and Ms. Nina Taylor MP, Member for Albert Park, about the problem stressing the impact on nearby residents.

Home and Car Security

Unfortunately, the BCNA continues to receive reports of thefts from cars and attempted home entry. We urge property owners to be vigilant as explained in our earlier news item.

Thefts from cars are the most common type of crime in the Port Melbourne area. Disappointingly, local police report that most car thefts occur with cars that are left unlocked. So, we remind members to lock your car whenever it is out of your sight.

More recently, car thieves have developed ways of getting into locked cars. Any car which has keyless access where one does not need to press the unlock button on the key fob to gain entry is vulnerable to theft as explained here.

The RACV also has a useful article on how to prevent push-start car theft with an OBD lock.

Station Pier - Visit Opportunity this Saturday 10th May

The Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network (MMHN) and Ports Victoria are hosting an event on Station Pier this Saturday 10th May, from 2-4 pm. This is an opportunity to hear about the technical and heritage underpinnings of this landmark. The event is part of the National Trust’s Australian Heritage Festival.

The event is free, but bookings are required (click/tap here to book).

The MMHN advocates for the urgent ‘Reimagining of Station Pier’ (click/tap here for details).

Fishermans Bend Tram Routes and the 109 Service

In March, Infrastructure Victoria released draft recommendations about infrastructure needs. The organization is required to revise a 30-year strategy every 3-5 years. Included in the report is advice about new tram routes into Fishermans Bend.

Two trams to Fishermans Bend

The strategy proposes extending tram routes 11 and 67 to connect Fishermans Bend with the city. The Carnegie service (route 67) would be extended from Anzac Station along Park Street, South Melbourne to Fishermans Bend north. The West Preston service (route 11) would be extended across the Yarra River into Fishermans Bend south. Both services are shown on a map above and at page 39 of Infrastructure Victoria’s report.

Expand the 109 service

A section of the report proposes more services on existing, busy routes. The 109 service is considered a busy service.

Infrastructure Victoria states “The government should add around 300 more services a week on key routes where more homes are planned and trams are already very busy, like routes 86, 96 and 109. It should run more evening and weekend tram services so people who live near tram lines are less dependent on cars and new housing developments do not require as many parking spaces.” (Infrastructure Victoria, 30-year strategy, page 37).

Infrastructure Victoria is an advisory body. The government is not obliged to adopt recommendations but is expected to respond to the recommendations in November 2025.

The Age published an article about the report last month. Click/tap here to read (paywall).

1-7 Waterfront Place - Agreement Reached at VCAT

Agreement has been reached on permit conditions for the proposed plans. The City of Port Phillip had set conditions on the 2022 VCAT approved plans, and the new owners sought some changes. These were discussed at VCAT’s Compulsory Conference on 30th April.

The building will have 84 apartments and some retail and office space (click/tap here for plans).

The key issues to resolve were about the allocation of internal parking, external shading, and the management of loading and unloading of vehicles.

The BCNA welcomes the new plans. We sought improvements to the allocation of internal parking (to minimise parking in nearby streets), traffic flow along Beach Street to the west to avoid blockages on Beach Street, management of the loading and unloading of vehicles to avoid vehicles being parked on Beach Street, and the screening of services at the top of the building. Agreement was reached in all these areas.  VCAT has now released details which can be accessed here.

Traffic flow is the responsibility of the City of Port Phillip and BCNA’s representatives discussed details with City of Port Phillip staff at the conference.

We expect the owners will now finalise the plans and seek an amended building permit from the City of Port Phillip.

Our Newsletter is Out

Volunteers are delivering the latest newsletter to residences over the coming days. This issue includes news on:

• New plans for 1 and 7 Waterfront Place 
• The Barak Beacon public housing site in Port Melbourne
• Beacon Cove Foodstore redevelopment at 103 Beach Street
• Hoon driving and related noise.
• Air quality monitoring at Station Pier
• Port Victoria’s Cruise Shipping Strategy
• Joining the BCNA

BCNA thanks Nina Taylor, MP, State Member for Albert Park, for arranging printing and to Kosdown Press for folding the newsletter.

Click/tap here for an electronic version of the newsletter.