Putting the ‘‘community’’ back into the forum

The community has claimed ownership of the Docklands Community Forum, with forum representatives now facilitating the meetings.

Forum representative Andrew Ward led the June 25 forum and said it was a great step forward for the community forum.

When the forum first met in September 2012 a council-appointed facilitator ran the session, while more recently council officers have managed the meetings.

Mr Ward said the forum had been effective in delivering information to the community and fostering discussion but so far hadn’t been particularly action-based.

Mr Ward hopes this will change through the representative group facilitating the forum.

“I’d like to see some action come out of the meetings,” Mr Ward said.

According to Mr Ward members of the representative group who want to take on the position will rotate the role of facilitating the forum.

This could include the forum’s three new representatives, who were announced at the June 25 forum.

City of Melbourne CEO Kathy Alexander named Docklands resident and worker Darcy Ingliss, business owner and resident Mark Scholem and resident Yvonne Zhou-Grundy as the new representatives.

Former representatives Ani Linton and Lauren Basser had resigned from the forum over the past year, requiring new representatives to be selected.

Mr Scholem was the only new representative able to attend last month’s forum and has been involved across Docklands residential and business community since 2006.

According to Mr Scholem, local residents want Docklands to be modern and efficient, have a plan, and have the support of a government and council who understand the issues and communicate the plan.

“Retail businesses need the commercial and residential developments completed quickly to engage those communities to make their businesses work,” Mr Scholem said.

He said green spaces and infrastructure were also the key and pointed to examples including Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour and the Highline in New York.

“I think we are very close to being a great place for Melbourne, and our direction is mostly correct. Let’s just get going,” Mr Scholem said.

“People want the neighbourhood to be a destination and a busy, interesting place to work and live.”