Fishermans Bend Drop-in Events

The Fishermans Bend Taskforce is hosting two community drop-in events in early June, which will feature project update presentations and a chance to ask questions of their team.

Saturday 1 June, 1.00pm - 4:00pm.

Presentation 1.30pm. No RSVP necessary.

Ferrars Street Education and Community Facility

129 Ferrars Street, Southbank (entry off Ferrars Street)

Wednesday 5 June, 2.30pm - 7.30pm.

Presentations at 3pm and 6pm. No RSVP necessary.

North Port Oval Sandridge Room

525 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne (entry off Ingles Street)

You are welcome to attend a session or complete an online survey at Engage Victoria. For further information on the Fishermans Bend Framework, please visit their website or email fishermansbend@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

Further Update on Election Pledges Regarding the Waterfront Place Precinct

On Sunday, we posted the responses from two Federal election candidates to our request for Commonwealth Government funding for the redevelopment of the Waterfront Place precinct.

We have now received a response from Kate Ashmor, the Liberal candidate, and you can find her response here.

Vale Port People Inc

The BCNA notes with sadness the official winding-up of Port People Inc, a long-standing local partner organisation. Port People has made a significant contribution to the local area in many ways, most notably the protection of Garden City Reserve and the establishment of the children’s play area in Maritime Cove.

Port People was established in 2005 in response to a proposal to sell a small area towards Tucker Street of Garden City Reserve to a not-for-profit South Port Community Residential Home. This was to establish a residential home. The proposal was withdrawn after opposition by Port People and nearby residents. More recently, Rowan Groves, the President of Port People, has represented community views about the development of Fishermans Bend at local forums, to the City of Port Phillip and the Victorian Government.

We thank the former presidents of Port People who have worked very collaboratively with BCNA, namely Ari Pappas, Helen Kuchel and Rowan Groves. The BCNA also thanks Port People for passing all assets of the organisation to the BCNA.

BCNA Receives Assistance from Real Estate Agents

The BCNA is always looking for ways to grow our membership. The more members we have the more influence we can have when acting on your behalf.

We recently met representatives of local real estate agents to see whether they would include a promotional flyer and the BCNA newsletter in their welcome packs. Agents that have agreed to do this, in alphabetical order, are Biggin & Scott (Port Melbourne), Chisholm & Gamon (Port Melbourne), and The Agency (Albert Park). We thank them for this support.

Update on Election Pledges Regarding the Waterfront Place Precinct

The BCNA has contacted the major party candidates standing for Macnamara (the new name for the Melbourne Ports federal electorate) to discuss our request for Commonwealth funding for the redevelopment of the Waterfront Place precinct. Details about our request were posted on 23 April.

The candidates’ responses are as follows (in the oreder they were received):

• Steph Hodgins-May (Greens candidate) commits to work with the State and Local Government to set up a Waterfront Place Precinct Redevelopment Authority to oversee redevelopment of the area. Part of the work of the Authority would be to determine the exact allocation of ratepayer/taxpayer and cruise industry funding for the cost of building infrastructure (download detailed response). 
• Josh Burns (Labor candidate) states that primary responsibility for improvements to local amenity and transport infrastructure in the Port of Melbourne rests with, in varying respects, the Victorian Ports Corporation, the Victorian Government and the City of Port Phillip. The Commonwealth can, however, play a role in helping to fund these improvements once they have been approved in principle. The vehicle for doing this is Infrastructure Australia (download detailed response).

Kate Ashmor (Liberal candidate) had not replied by the deadline for this post. We will publish her response when it is received.

Our Latest Newsletter is Out

Volunteers are currently dropping copies of our newsletter in mailboxes throughout Beacon Cove. It covers a number of topics including:

• Reinvestment in the Waterfront Place Precinct
• Update on 1-7 Waterfront Place
• Air Quality Monitoring Near Station Pier
• Beacon Cove Foodstore Redevelopment - 103 Beach Street
• London Hotel Site - 92 Beach Street
• Vale Port People Inc
• BCNA Residents' Dinners

For those who would like an electronic copy, it can be downloaded here.