Anti-Hoon Programs and Victoria Police

Since our last update, members of the BCNA and the Port Melbourne Road Safety Group (PMRSG) have met Inspector Helen Chugg, the officer in charge of the Port Phillip Police Service Area. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss current and longer-term measures to deter hoon behaviour such as those that we have advocated to the Hon Ben Carroll MP. They include the greater use of mobile speed cameras to respond to changing hoon venues, the introduction of acoustic cameras, and the strengthening of laws and penalties for some offences.

Unfortunately, the City of Port Phillip (CoPP) was unsuccessful in obtaining a grant from the Victorian Government to purchase of a mobile CCTV unit like the one used last summer at Station Pier. The unit shown below was borrowed from the City of Stonnington. The BCNA has asked Gateway Ward Councillors to support Council purchasing a mobile CCTV unit for use across the municipality.

Inspector Chugg agreed to meet the BCNA and PMRSG later this year to further discuss anti hoon measures and the program for Beacon Cove over the summer months. Inspector Chugg re-iterated the importance of reporting hoon behaviour as explained earlier. If it is not reported, police do not know about it.

Council News Affecting Beacon Cove

The BCNA regularly meets City of Port Phillip (CoPP) Gateway Ward Councillors to discuss issues of mutual interest. At our recent meeting on 13th July with the Deputy Mayor, Marcus Pearl, and Councillors Cunsolo and Martin we discussed:

• Princes Street drain: The BCNA has proposed a joint approach to Melbourne Water to seek priority for an upgrade of this drain. This is due to health and amenity concerns as explained here.  We were told that a report is being prepared about options.
• Safety concerns with the Princes Street pedestrian crossing (near the corner of Rouse Street): Nearby residents and the BCNA have raised safety concerns. As a result, the CoPP has installed warning signs in Princes and Rouse Streets to alert drivers to the presence of the pedestrian crossing. Temporary improvements in lighting are planned in 2021/22 before longer term improvements are considered in 2022/23. Once work has finished on the construction of the new apartments at 92 Beach Street and 2-4 Princes Street, traffic surveys will be undertaken to consider whether any permanent measures are required.
• Need for a traffic management plan for the Graham Street/Williamstown Road intersection: Residents have asked about the safety of school children, cyclists and cars at this intersection given the opening of the Port Melbourne Secondary College in February 2022.
  The Councillors report that officers have been meeting with the Department of Transport and the Victorian School Building Authority to identify immediate safety improvements for surrounding streets. The Department of Transport is considering a reduction in the speed limit from 60 km/h to 40 km/h during school hours on Williamstown Road as well as a signalised pedestrian crossing to allow safe access to the new school. Council officers have advocated for a reduction in the speed limit on Williamstown Road from 60 km/h to 50 km/h. Additional safety measures are being considered for the intersection of Plummer and Graham Streets.

Implications of Council’s Approval of Plans for 1-7 Waterfront Place

The BCNA welcomes the City of Port Phillip's (CoPP) approval of plans for a building on the 1-7 Waterfron Place site.

The BCNA recognises that there are differing views in the community about development on the site. We will continue to work with key stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcome for the community.

The two amendments passed by the CoPP at its Planning Committee meeting on 24 June 2021 are about minimising overshadowing of the bike path along Waterfront Place at the June solstice. This is a requirement of the Port Phillip Planning Scheme. It is stated in Design requirement B8 in Design and Development Overlay 23.

The amendments passed by the CoPP are:

• “…rooftop services to be sited and designed so as not to cast shadows to the bicycle paths along Waterfront Place at the June Solstice, between the hours of 12 midday and 3pm, and are not visible from Beach Street.”
• “…the reduction in the built form of the development above the podium, so as not to cast shadows onto the bicycle paths along Waterfront Place, between the hours of 12 midday to 3pm at the June solstice.”

Other than a reduction in building height, it is not clear how the design would need to change to comply with these amendments. If the changes are not acceptable to the developer, he may appeal to VCAT.