Circus doesn’t bring joy to all

By Alison Kinkade

Permission to allow Circus Oz to erect an events tent on the Harbour Esplanade waterfront this month has at least one Docklander up in arms.

Docklands resident and owner of Pleasure Boat Cruises, Keith Rankin, said he was outraged to learn that a 7m tall and 17.3m wide tent would be erected in front of the water at the bottom of LaTrobe St.

“Since 1997 they have had this policy that there could be nothing obstructing the water-view from the footpath line and now it seems they have decided to reverse it with no consultation,” Mr Rankin said.

Mr Rankin said he wanted to know whether VicUrban was also going to reverse the policy for everyone and allow boats to moor along the waterfront between Central Pier and the Conder.

“I want to know why they are reversing the policy all of a sudden and why people weren’t allowed to use it for mooring in the first place if it can be so easily reversed now, and why weren’t the public consulted if they are going to reverse the policy for Circus Oz?” Mr Rankin said.

Mr Rankin said he had no problem whatsoever with Circus Oz and thought it was a great organisation, but he couldn’t understand how the policy could be so easily reversed.

“My problem isn’t with Circus Oz, it is that VicUrban has never reversed the policy for Docklanders but is happy to reverse it for an outsider who will be utilising the area purely for commercial reasons.”

Programming director for Circus Oz, Matt Hughes, said VicUrban had been wonderful in helping them find a location which would also help attract people to the area.

“It is a partnership between VicUrban and ourselves as they wanted to activate Central Pier and I have no doubt that it will help bring people to the area,” Mr Hughes said.

Mr Rankin said he wanted to know how the tent would help activate Central Pier and bring people to the area.

“It will not draw people onto Central Pier. They will stay on Harbour Esplanade. If you are going to try and activate Central Pier as an event space you need to put something on Central Pier,” Mr Rankin said.

Mr Hughes said erecting the tent on Central Pier was discussed, but VicUrban did not want the pier tied-up with a permanent fixture.

“I’m not privy to all the information, but I believe they are in the process of development plans for the area and did not want a permanent fixture, but I believe the site we have will work just as well,” Mr Hughes said.

Circus Oz will hire out the tent when not using it itself.  The tent will be a permanent fixture on the waterfront until after Christmas.

Mr Rankin said he did not know how another events tent on crown land would bring people to Docklands and be successfully utilised.

A VicUrban spokesperson said the land fell under the jurisdiction of the Department of Sustainability and Environment but was under the management and control of the City of Melbourne.

“We don’t utilise the events spaces we have in Docklands currently so how will another help?” Mr Rankin said.

Mr Rankin is also concerned that the tent will add further to the problems Central Pier businesses are facing with parking and access.

“What are they going to do about the parking problems for Central Pier and the access problem? Something needs to be done.”

Mr Hughes said: “There will be a range of events from straight music concerts, to cabarets and we will also be hiring it out for awards nights and as a corporate events space.”