DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 ISSUE 104 PRICELESS WWW.DOCKLANDSNEWS.COM.AU : Docklands_News Get ready for Jubilation School option for local families Page 2 Page 5 Docklands "vacancy Melbourne CEO refl ects on rate" in doubt seven years at the top Page 3 Page 9 Investigation into Docklands fi re apartments of Type A construction (more Material used in the than three storeys) the external walls of the building are not required to be fi re-resistant construction of a Docklands if they are non-loadbearing and are situated apartment building could be to three metres or more from a fi re source blame for the rapid spread of a feature,” the spokesperson said. Lacrosse was developed through a fi re last month, which caused partnership between Pan Urban and Charter more than $5 million worth of Hall and was designed by Elenberg Fraser. damage. Elenberg Fraser Associate director Reade Dixon said the company had little Th e fi re, at the Lacrosse building on LaTrobe information about the fi re and said it would St, started in the early hours of November 25 be premature to speculate further. after an air-conditioning compressor unit “As a leading designer of high-rise residential on a second fl oor balcony overheated due to buildings we are confi dent with our design equipment being “inappropriately” stored for the building. Our design and our behind it. selection of relevant materials was approved Th e fi re quickly spread vertically up the by the responsible authority as appropriate Alma Doepel restoration director Peter Harris with Joh Maxwell, Tim Horton and Bill Reid. building to 21st fl oor, with the combustible and compliant,” Mr Dixon said. source appearing to be the cladding on the “We cannot comment on what was actually balcony walls. installed in the building as decisions Chamber 'adopts' Alma Metropolitan Fire Brigade acting assistant would have been made by the building fi re offi cer and acting director of fi re safety contractor during construction. However, Michael Coombes said that, while the we would expect that the building was Th e Docklands Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the balconies were constructed of reinforced properly inspected and approved prior to Alma Doepel restoration team in an attempt to raise funds for the concrete, the side wall separating the occupation.” balcony from the bedroom of the same unit Apart from the material used in construction completion of the project. was not. of the building combustible items on the “We are currently investigating this matter balconies may have contributed to the With at least a further $1.7 million needed it’s very encouraging,” Mr Harris said. and are trying to develop the reasons spread of the fi re. to complete the project, the chamber will be In particular, the chamber will encourage its for the way the fi re appeared to use this promoting and educating the local business “We know that the corner where the business network and the local community construction to spread to the roof, and community about the restoration project in fi res occurred accommodated the air to take part in the “Buy a Plank” scheme. particularly the speed at which it occurred,” order to help secure more funds. conditioning cassette, which comprises Mr Coombes said. According to chamber vice-president Bill some plastic components. Th ere was also “Th ey’re the peak body for commercial evidence of other combustibles including organisations in Docklands so it’s very Reid, all businesses in Docklands should get According to a Victorian Building Authority behind the project by raising $500 to buy a spokesperson, the external walls of chairs and, on one level, a small gas exciting that they’ve decided to adopt us,” cylinder,” Mr Coombes said. Alma Doepel restoration director Peter plank for the restoration of Alma’s hull. apartment towers aren’t required to be fi re Harris said. resistant. “Th e chamber is so supportive and positive, Continued on page 11. “Under the Building Code of Australia, in Continued on page 7. 2 DOCKLANDS NEWS ISSUE 104 Season’s Suite 108, 198 Harbour Esplanade greetings PO Box 23008 Docklands 8012 Tel: 8689 7979 Fax: 9602 2929 Dear readers ... www.docklandsnews.com.au Advertising Welcome to the fi nal edition of Docklands Shane Scanlan: 0419 542 625 News for 2014. Tel: 8689 7979 Fax: 9602 2929 [email protected] It’s been another busy year in Docklands, with plenty of news to fi ll our pages. Reader contributions are welcome. Please send articles and images to We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about [email protected] all the news from your local community throughout the year as much as we’ve Th e deadline for the February edition is enjoyed delivering it. January 30. Some of the major news items we’ve Published by Shane Scanlan covered this year include the Watergate Lady Cutler engineer Nikolai Toropov. Th e crew have decked out the boat’s interior with decorations and have placed a Edited by Bethany Williams short-stay case, Harbour Esplanade’s future festive wreath at its front in preparation for Christmas. development, the sale of Harbour Town and Follow us on Twitter the Fishermans Bend tram bridge. @Docklands_News Docklands News also reached a major milestone in August when we published our Like us on Facebook 100th edition. Jubilation is just Docklands News It’s only due to the continued support of our To download our iPad app, valued advertisers that we were able to reach simply scan the QR code below: this milestone and we’d like to say a special thanks to the local stakeholders who have around the corner invested in this community asset. Get ready for three days of Christmas celebrations when the fi rst Th anks also to our regular columnists, who each month supply us with interesting annual Jubilation festival comes to Docklands this month. perspectives to share with the Docklands’ community. Kicking off on Friday, December 12, the will be on hand for Christmas photos. To our readers - thanks for picking up a festival will bring music, entertainment, Th ere will also be night markets and a food copy of Docklands News each month and for food, markets and fun to Docklands all while truck park with 18 diff erent trucks over the sharing your stories with us this year. raising money for the Country Fire Authority three days. (CFA). We wish all of our readers, contributors and Th e waterfront will also be lit up, with a advertisers a happy and safe festive season Th e Destination Docklands event will extend Christmas decoration competition being with friends and family. from NewQuay Promenade, along Harbour Esplanade and down Victoria Promenade, held. We’ll be back with our fi rst edition for 2015 with a range of activities to keep everyone By entering your Christmas-themed in February and we look forward to bringing entertained. boat, corporate window, show window or you more news from postcode 3008 next residential balcony into the competition year. Th e Jubilation stage at the NAB forecourt will host a range of performers ranging from the you’ll go into the running to win an Atlantic Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy Captain Koala & Friends show, to the Red Group catering voucher of up to $2000 new year, Austins, and Th e Bamboos. (depending on the category). Bethany Williams Meanwhile the CFA zone on Harbour Visitors to the festival can also make their Editor Esplanade will feature CFA demonstrations, own lanterns to fl oat on the harbour. CFA trivia and roving entertainers. Th e full Jubilation program can be found at Of course Santa will also be stopping by and www.jubilationmelbourne.com.au BUFFET LUNCH $28 CHRISTMAS EVE LUNCH SPECIAL HAPPY HOUR ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT LOBSTER $99 Fri to Sun 11:30am - 2:30pm $9 MENU International cuisine, fresh seafood, $5 turkey, Brazilian BBQ & dessert BBQ Roast On Rice BUFFET DINNER Curry Beef or Chicken on Rice CHRISTMAS LUNCH $56 Asian Stir-fried TAP BEER Mon - Fri Vietnamese Soup Noodles $53 (closed Tues) HOUSE SPIRIT 6pm to 10pm NEW YEARS DAY Mon to Sun (closed Tues) ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT LOBSTER $99 11:30am to 2:30pm HOUSE WINES Sat - Sun International cuisine, fresh seafood, Mon to Sun (closed Tues) $56 5:30pm - 10pm turkey, brazillion BBQ & dessert 5pm to 8pm 2 sittings Bookings essential 9670 9209 51-53, Victoria Harbour Promenade (Corner of 111 Merchant St) | Bookings 9670 9209 | www.iggbuffetbar.wordpress.com Please support our advertisers because without them we would have no Docklands News ISSUE 104 DOCKLANDS NEWS 3 Docklands ‘vacancy rate’ in doubt By Bethany Williams “Th e published vacancy rate in the Claims that Docklands’ Docklands is currently 4.4 per cent (SQM Research). However in 2013 it was as high as residential vacancy rate is 10 per cent. It is hardly a reliable indicator.” close to 30 per cent have been Th ere are a range of variables that could put in doubt after Docklands aff ect water usage rates, which do not necessarily indicate vacant properties in News’s investigation of Prosper Docklands. Australia’s report. Docklands’ transient nature, the use of apartments as city escapes and the high- Prosper’s Speculative Vacancy 2014 report proportion of single person households are last month claimed the alarming statistic, just some of the factors that could result in which was based on average water usage low water usage. fi gures in 2013. Docklands has a particularly high After more than two weeks of conversations Prosper Australia’s Speculative Vacancy 2014 report says close to 30 per cent of residential properties in Docklands could be vacant.