Docklands Community Forum on safety and policing 

On Wednesday evening, August 9, the Docklands Representative Group (DRG) hosted a community forum on local policing in Docklands. 

In attendance were our Neighbourhood Policing coordinator Senior Constable James Vass; City of Melbourne director of City Safety, Security and Amenity, Dean Robertson (pictured above) and two representatives from Liquor Control Victoria.  

The purpose of this forum was to offer the community an opportunity to engage with those responsible for safety in Docklands. 

Attending on the evening were a small group of concerned and invested Docklands residents who raised various issues of concern. 

While many of these issues were not new, this forum provided the opportunity to let the authorities know how necessary their actions are to our quality of life in our homes and suburb.

In particular (and not in order), these were some of the issues raised as of most significant importance:

• Safety of pedestrians with the increase of e-bikes and e-scooters along Harbour Esplanade (east footpath) and NewQuay.
• Lazy and/or illegal parking of e-bikes and e-scooters at the end of a ride e.g., blocking driveways, entrance doorways and footpaths. 
• The unruly behaviour of some Marvel Stadium patrons – mostly post-game or event
• Theft and/or damage by tailgating into private car parks – theft from cars and storage cages, motorbikes, bicycles, and letterbox mail and parcels.
• Loud and unruly behaviour of some of the party boats and private boats. This issue was largely unnoticed while ATET was operating.
• Several incidents of loud, abusive, and overly intoxicated patrons exiting late-night venues with seemingly little or no regard for nearby residents.

Feedback from attendees was that they felt their concerns were understood by Victoria Police and the City of Melbourne, but that regular conversations should be held. 

President of DRG Ben Ball said it was pleasing that several direct actions came of the evening, such as the tasking of bike patrols on Harbour Esplanade and NewQuay Promenade to promote more responsible micro vehicle operation.  

A second forum on safety will be held later this year. •

docklands.org.au