The mornings are getting cooler but we have had a great autumn!

Greetings everybody

The DCA is planning a mid-year “Meet and Greet” party for July 25. Stand by for further details in the next issue.

The next meeting of the Docklands Community Forum is scheduled for May 29. We hope that our suggestions are being heeded by Places Victoria and the City of Melbourne. We are given a number of presentations by them on relevant topics such as progress with community facilities and expenditure on Docklands.

The forum needs to be less of a classroom and more of a discussion group. Forum representatives have varying priorities but there is agreement on some items such as the need for a school and for waterways activation. The DCA has asked for the provision of a ferry service and update on the Esplanade redevelopment to be put on the agenda.

As reported in the last issue, Docklands has lost two major events so far due to the replacement of the Waterfront City Piazza with a hotel to be built on the site. Minister Guy approved the hotel going at the front despite community opposition with the general agreement being that it should be built at the rear where the big tent was. As there appears to be no other suitable central place in Docklands for these major events, the event organisers have had to find other sites in Melbourne. This is a regrettable loss due to another bad planning decision.

Arrangements have been made for representatives of combined inner city resident groups to meet with Minister Guy later in May on planning issues particularly high-rise development and infrastructure. A specific agenda is to be decided on at the next CoRBA (Coalition of Resident and Business Associations) meeting on May 8.

I met with Peter Seamer, the CEO of Places Victoria, on April 24 to give him a run-down on DCA and other matters. Peter, a long standing personal friend of mine, has been seconded to Places Victoria by Minister Guy for a period of six months.

He will then return to his position of CEO of the Growth Areas Authority. Amongst other things, he confirmed the Esplanade from NewQuay to Victoria Harbour has been fenced off for public safety preparatory to extensive repair works. This work has to be done before the redevelopment phase is started.  Given also the high cost, the project will take a long time, but needs to be given priority for the sake of Docklands’ vitality.

It will be good to see the Jim Stynes  bridge constructed to add to development down on the Yarra. The boating hub is due to be constructed later. The library building is due for completion by the end of the year with the opening scheduled early in 2014. So provision of amenities is happening-gradually.

We’d like to see tennis courts at some stage. I believe the new multi purpose sports courts near the Hub are being used extensively for basketball and football. My wife and I attended the official opening of the Melbourne International Dragon Boat Festival at Victoria Harbour on April 7.

Following the win by residents against serviced apartments in the Watergate complex, we understand that action will be progressively taken in other buildings.

A letter objecting to additional high-rise density in NewQuay has been forwarded by owners corporations to Places Victoria with copies to the Minister, Lord Mayor and local MPs.

Following the demise some time ago of the police and community co-ordination committee for the Docklands area, I am following up with Victoria Police to seek attendance at another existing security committee.  It is desirable that we keep track of level of offences and policing activities in Docklands and have the opportunity for input as appropriate.

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