Election result is locally significant

Labor’s success at the Victorian state election is likely to have a significant impact on Docklands’ future.

Short-stay regulation and ministerial planning power reform is expected and the Fisherman’s Bend Tram Bridge will be ruled out.

Planning for a school in Docklands will also recommence under Labor.

Sitting member for Melbourne and ALP candidate Jennifer Kanis made various pre-election promises relating to Docklands.

At the Meet the Candidates forum in Docklands on November 5, Ms Kanis announced, if elected, the Labor party would commit to retrospective short-stay accommodation regulation and would remove the planning minister as authority for buildings over 25,000sqm.

She said the party would be making further announcements about the plans pre-election, but this did not eventuate.

At the time of printing, the result in the seat was unclear, despite victory being earlier claimed by Greens candidate Ellen Sandell.

In September, Ms Kanis told Docklands News that if the Labor party was elected, it would restart the planning process for a school in Docklands.

A feasibility study into a school in Docklands was commissioned four years ago but was never released.

Ms Kanis said the Labor Party would release the report and would re-start the planning process for a school in Docklands. She stopped short of saying a school would definitely be built in Docklands under a Labor government.

Plans for a tram bridge from Collins St, through Yarra’s Edge and into Fishermans Bend will also be scrapped under the new Labor Government.

The concept had been listed as a potential long-term project in the Fishermans Bend Strategic Plan, released earlier this year and has appeared in various other documentation.

In a letter sent to residents on November 18 member for Albert Park MP Martin Foley said Labor would not support the proposed bridge from Yarra’s Edge to Collins St.

“Instead, Labor will ensure the dedicated office works with the community and transport operators to deliver alternative public transport options that work,” Mr Foley said in the letter.

Former planning Minister Matthew Guy had also contacted residents of Yarra’s Edge in late October, saying the project was unfunded.

The letter stated the concept was one the Metropolitan Planning Authority (MPA) had for consideration beyond 2040.

Docklands maintained its conservative leanings at the polling booth on election day, with most first preference votes going to the Liberal party.

1328 people cast their vote at the Library at the Dock on November 29.

The primary vote in the lower house was:

Ed Huntingford (Liberal) - 533
Ellen Sandell (Australian Greens) - 393
Jennifer Kanis (Australian Labor Party) - 276
Kate Elliot (Animal Justice Party) - 42
Kerry Sutherland (Family First) - 15
Neville Chisholm (Australian Christians) – 13
Tehiya Umer (Voice for the West) – 7
Informal - 49

The primary vote in the upper house was:

Liberal – 516
Australian Greens – 314
Australian Labor Party - 251
Sex Party - 81
Animal Justice Party - 31
Liberal Democrats - 30­
The Basics Rock ‘N’ Roll Party - 13
Democratic Labour Party (DLP) - 13
Australian Cyclists Party - 11
Family First - 11
Voice for the West - 10
Palmer United Party - 6
Shooters and Fishers Party Victoria - 5
Voluntary Euthanasia Party (Victoria) - 4
Vote 1 Local Jobs - 3
Rise Up Australia Party - 2
Group N - 2
Australian Country Alliance - 1
Australian Christians - 1
Darren M Bain - 1
People Power Victoria/No Smart Meters - 0
Tiffany Harrison - 0
Informal - 22