News from the DCA

Greetings everybody

Hope you were one of the many who attended our mid-year “meet and greet” party on July 25. It was a great night!

Council recently launched a national project called Smart Blocks which is an initiative to use resources, particularly power, more efficiently in common areas of apartment buildings, to save owners corporations a lot of money and reduce environmental impacts. You can read more under the title Smart Blocks on the net. It contains a number of very useful ideas.

We continue to get complaints from pedestrians about cyclist behaviour especially on the stretch along the water-side of Harbour Esplanade and NewQuay Promenade.  I’ve reported it to council and Victoria Police saying during peak periods to and from work  cyclists race like they’re in the Tour de France. Some don’t stick to the bike lanes. Some take a short cut down NewQuay promenade. The scary thing is they come up and race past without warning. The bikes are quiet and most don’t use bells. If you walk across a bike lane you do so at your peril.

A senior level police instruction has since been issued for the area bicycle patrol to attend to the issues. We thank the police for that, given it is not easy. Council replied that unfortunately the problem is widespread and they do what they can but enforcement of regulations is in the hands of the police.

I replied saying: Currently there is no sign warning cyclists off the pedestrian area along the western side of the Esplanade between Victoria Harbour (NAB) and Footscray Rd.  As there are the dedicated bicycle lanes alongside, could a sign be installed on the pedestrian area please.

Also cyclists should be told to use bells – they rarely do despite bells being compulsory. Bells warning of close approach would be a big help.

We would hope that police increase patrols of the cycle lanes and surveillance especially in peak periods.

Regarding serviced apartments, Minister Guy stated on the 7pm ABC TV News on Friday, July 19 that he opposed serviced apartments being in residential buildings and would regulate against it this year.

This “came out of the blue”. At the request of the ABC, I commented in the news segment on behalf of affected residents, referring to problems with serviced apartments. The segment can be viewed on the ABC News website. A lot of support has been received for Mr Guy’s statement including from interstate where similar situations apply and are being pursued with governments.

Liaison with other community groups is growing, especially with inner-city areas which have common problems such as high-rise density, lack of adherence to planning guidelines and open space. The chairs of Southbank group and City East, together with myself, are scheduled to meet with Minister Guy on August 13 at which we will take the opportunity to address these issues.

I recently met with an architect who proposes that representatives of inner suburb community groups get together to develop submissions to the State Government to have input into planning for new projects such as Fishermen’s Bend and E-Gate and development guidelines generally. I am to organise.

It is great to see that council has allocated $11.1 million in its 2013-14 Budget for Docklands projects including completion and fit-out of the new community centre and library, plus construction of the boating hub and family services.

Remember the suggested options put out by Places Victoria a year or two ago for development of Western Park – the vacant land at the end of Docklands Drive? There was also a suggestion that the Melbourne Football Club might set up a training ground there. Well nothing’s happened and it’s now a dump for soil and rubble with, at the time of writing, large rubbish bags hanging on the fence. This needs fixing. We’ve raised the matter with Places Victoria but without response as yet.

If any reader would like to become a member of the DCA or has any suggestions they wish to put forward regarding activities or issues, they are welcome to contact us on [email protected]

If you would like to talk to me about any aspect you are welcome to call me on 0412 097 706.  You can also keep up with things on our website http://www.docklandscommunityassociation.com

Regards to all
Roger Gardner
President DCA