News from the DCA

Greetings everybody

The official opening of the community centre and library was held on Saturday, May 31. Everyone was invited and I hope there was a good turn out for this iconic event for Docklands. I had to miss it unfortunately due to being overseas.

Places Victoria and council released their concepts for the Esplanade redevelopment, which shows their plan to fill it over a period with up to a dozen or so buildings including old cargo sheds and pavilions for activities.

You can catch up with details on our website. Eventually the only open space would be laneways between buildings. Comments from residents indicate opposition to that, with preference being for open space. To establish the extent of preferences we are running a simple on-line survey and we urge you to complete it if you have not already done so.

Places Victoria and council have given us until the first week of June to respond to their plans, which is ridiculously short time considering the long-term nature of the project.

I attended a meeting of a few community representatives with Planning Minister Guy in mid-May. He was criticised on issues including the Metropolitan Planning Scheme, where inevitably residents are out to protect their suburban neighborhoods from excessive and random development.

In response to my concern regarding the Esplanade redevelopment he indicated he supported the Places Victoria and council plans which confirms that, despite conducting “community consultation”, they’ve already agreed on the scheme. That may be so, but nothing is immutable.

He commented that open expanses are windy to which I replied that it’s the buildings that cause wind tunnels and people wouldn’t go and sit on open beaches if it was that bad.

I suspect they are wanting to save money by not having to rip up the concrete left over from the wharves, but so what!

We’re redeveloping the old wharf areas and the concrete should go. If the worst came to the worst they could lay fake grass over the concrete in order to have open space as has been done in Waterfront City. We’d be grateful for small mercies, pathetic as it may be.

Council has advised they will be running a winter program of fireworks every Friday night from July 4 through August 29 in Victoria Harbour, which is great for the area.

On the owners corporation network front, with the help of the OC chair of Freshwater Place in Southbank,  I have been campaigning amongst chairs of buildings in the CBD and surrounding areas to form a representative committee.

I was given the opportunity to address a group of OC Chairs from various areas on May 22 about the OCNV and its objectives. A number of chairs expressed interest in taking part, which was encouraging. Once the committee is set in place we’ll be able to proceed with general membership development and activities.

I’m in the North East of the US for a few weeks where the worst of the bad weather and flooding seems to be over and summer is starting. It’s good to have a break but I will have to get back to work.

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