Reflecting on 2019

By Janette Corcoran – Docklands Representative Group

2019 has been a year of experimentation for the Docklands Representative Group (DRG) where different formats and venues have been trialled.

March saw the DRG host a community debate on the proposed tram bridge’s impact on liveability in Yarra’s Edge. This session featured Yarra’s Edge local Keith Sutherland, a neighbour from across the Yarra River, Montague Community Alliance convener Trisha Avery and public transport expert from Monash University Professor Graham Currie. While this issue elicits very strong emotions, this session provided an opportunity for neighbour to speak to neighbour, with the benefit of an expert to inform what is really feasible – thank you Professor Currie! With over 70 locals attending, this was a great christening of the Yarra’s Edge Neighbourhood Space, a new community facility located at 100 Lorimer St.

June saw a return to more traditional format at the Performance Space at Library at The Dock. The theme for this forum was “Sharing our vision for Docklands: Building Place” and featured sessions about projects that will shape the nature of Docklands.

In September, the DRG took a hands-on role in supporting the launch of a new Docklands community group - Love Our Street Docklands (LOS3008). Along with Rotary Docklands and Neighbourhood House, over 50 Docklanders came together to show that they cared about their neighbourhood. All were shocked at the amount of cigarette litter polluting their streets and this led the DRG to endorse the aim of a “butt-free Docklands.”

As the year draws to a close, the final event for 2019 will be different again. In conjunction with the City of Melbourne and other community groups, a Christmas gathering will be held at Library at the Dock. “This is an opportunity for all the community to come together,” DRG chair Jason Ting said. And there is an open invitation to all Docklanders – residents, workers and their children - to come to Library at the Docks on Thursday, December 12 from 5pm till 7pm to celebrate.

As for 2020, there are many significant changes in the pipeline for Docklands including the release of the long-awaited Marvel Stadium Plan, Harbour Esplanade Masterplan and activities around the West Gate Tunnel.  And already the DRG is planning activities to involve Docklanders around these changes, which makes very timely the City of Melbourne’s recommendation for a Connected Communities Impact Grant to help the DRG undertake activities of importance to Docklands.