December-January 2020, Issue 170 The Voice of Postcode 3008 见 30 页 docklandsnews.com.au Forever Free Twitter @Docklands_News Stadium designs revealed, but scant details on harbour-side plans A $225 million Marvel Stadium revamp is set to feature a new “town square” and an expanded eastern side to overlook the CBD after plans were finally revealed in November. But what’s in it for Harbour Esplanade? words by David Schout would refurbish public and function PLANNING areas and provide views overlooking Wurundjeri Way and back towards the CBD. The upgrades, revealed by the state Development Victoria, which is government and stadium owner the jointly managing the stadium rede- AFL, will look to transform the area velopment with the AFL and Sport from a match-day precinct into a and Recreation Victoria, did not “seven-day-a-week community meet- comment on plans for the harbour ing place”. side of the ground when asked by However, it is still unclear how the Docklands News. government and league will redevelop Group Head of Precincts Geoff the harbour-side area of the stadium Ward simply said the revamp “offered concourse, despite a previous pledge the potential to reposition Docklands Opening soon! While some businesses in Docklands haven’t been able to weather the economic by league chief Gillon McLachlan of as Melbourne’s key waterfront storm brought on by the pandemic, William Comley of Harbour Coffee House is “opening it up to the water”. destination”. Photo by John Tadigiri. showing that new life is emerging. Continued on page 18. The designs by architects Minister for Tourism, Sport and Grimshaw with Smartform feature Major Events Martin Pakula main- a revitalised southern and eastern tained the upgrades — announced 20 entry points to the precinct, but little years on from the stadium’s opening detail on the western — or Harbour — would be a win for locals. North Wharf safety concerns Esplanade side — of the stadium. “This project will turn Marvel Both the government and AFL Stadium into a true community words by Sean Car however remained confident the asset — a fantastic place to watch CAPITAL WORKS walking and cycling, would be fenced off to the public for new town square, which they the footy or catch a big act but also a around five months while engineers carried out remedia- termed the “signature” aspect of the place to gather and enjoy being part tion works. revamp, would play a strong role in of Melbourne,” he said. Development Victoria’s (DV’s) recent decision to fence off While the works are believed to be part of a routine changing the stadium’s dynamics. “It’s a win for sports fans, for peo- the pier at North Wharf Rd to the public without notice maintenance and assessment program ahead of future The square, which would welcome ple who will come to the precinct to has added to existing uncertainty among the Docklands high-rise development by LendLease along North Wharf pedestrians arriving on the Bourke meet family and friends and for the boating community. Rd, the extent of damage to piles underneath the pier isn’t St footbridge from Southern Cross hundreds of workers who will draw More than a year since its sudden evacuation of Central known. Station, would see parts of the stadi- a wage working on another major Pier amid safety concerns, in October DV erected fencing Workers from one charter boat told Docklands News um walls removed to provide a visual stimulus project for Victoria.” around the northern edge of North Wharf, which is used that they’d been granted padlock access to their berth, but connection to the field of play. The AFL purchased Marvel as a berth for a number of charter boats, as well as heritage that vehicle access for deliveries and refuelling along the “Markets and community gath- Stadium (then Etihad Stadium) in vessels Enterprize and Alma Doepel. wharf’s edge had been restricted due to safety concerns. erings will fit naturally in the space 2016, and earlier this year the asset While operators and workers have been granted ac- Passenger access at the pier is also not permitted while while hospitality businesses on two proved a crucial safety net when cess to boats since the fencing went up, it’s understood works are undertaken. levels will be open to the public and securing a reported $500 to 600 many, including the Docklands waterways managers While those working on the Alma Doepel restoration able to be converted to ticketed areas million assistance package from the at Melbourne City Marina, were given less than a day’s and staff at theEnterprize are able to access their boats for AFL matches and concerts,” the banks to help it navigate through the notice of the closure. via the Ocean Education Centre, operator of Victoria Star government’s announcement read. COVID-19 downturn. DV told Docklands News that the wharf, which is nor- Leigh Doeg told Docklands News he had initially Along the stadium’s eastern side, In a 2018 deal, the Andrews mally well-used by local residents and office workers for Continued on page 2. a “City Edge” stadium extension Continued on page 3. SAFETY & SECURITY, PAGE 05 BUSINESS, PAGE 09 COMMUNITY, PAGE 12 EDUCATION, PAGE 13 More hoon stings New Year’s feasts in Double the Docklands Meet the teachers at A planned B Docklands C Probus! D Docklands Primary! FOR ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS Whether you're looking for the perfect Christmas gift, groceries and 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands fresh food for your Christmas day feast or you need a day thedistrictdocklands.com.au out this holiday season, The District is your one-stop destination! The Voice of Postcode 3008 2 North Wharf safety concerns CONTACT Continued from page 1. Suite 108, 198 Harbour Esplanade docklandsnews.com.au been locked from his boat. Tel: 8689 7980 “The first notice I received was that it had been locked off,” he said. “Access was a complete EDITOR afterthought but it was worked out within a Sean Car day or two. The first person to work it out was myself.” PUBLISHER “I’ve got a combination padlock and there are Hyperlocal News Pty Ltd about six padlocks so that the people who need ABN: 57 623 558 725 to get on the wharf can do so. I had to buy my ADVERTISING own lock.” Hyper-local print works for advertisers Currently undertaking maintenance works in our digital world because local people on his boat along North Wharf in prepara- ▲ Fencing erected along the edge of North Wharf Rd. are interested in local news. tion for a return to service by March from To sell to the Docklands community, his home berth near Dock 5, Mr Doeg said contact Jack Hayes on 0401 031 236 or the fencing wouldn’t impact his business. [email protected] But while noting the issues caused by the fencing off to the public remains a mystery, sudden fencing off of the pier had been easily with boating operators still unclear about what Reader contributions are welcome. resolved, he said that people in the boating exact areas were of concern. Send letters, articles and images to: community were “pretty annoyed” by what was President of the Melbourne Passenger [email protected] a “completely avoidable” situation. Boating Association and operator of the Lady Group head of precincts at DV Geoff Ward Cutler Jeff Gordon said the actions of DV The deadline for the Feburary edition told Docklands News that it was undertaking showed that charter boats in Docklands were is January 29. repair work on “a number of timber piles” un- “invisible”. derneath the concrete deck at North Wharf as “It’s just another step in the easing out of SOCIAL MEDIA part of its overall maintenance of water infra- charter boats out of Victoria Harbour,” he said. TwitterFollow us on Twitter structure in Docklands. “They’d rather have plastic fantastics growing @Docklands_News “We have had ongoing communication with weeds at marina berths.” FACEBOOK-SQUARELike us on Facebook tenants of the sheds and boat operators to facil- “During COVID times it [North Wharf] was Docklands News itate safe access to allow them to continue their everybody’s walk but it’s like they [DV] don’t work during the maintenance and will continue see the boats.” instagramFollow us on Instagram to keep them updated,” he said. “It’s part of the amenity to walk along there @docklands_news “While the work is being undertaken, there to enjoy the boats and the harbour. You can do will be no public access to North Wharf to that in any great harbour in the world but they Opinions expressed by contributors are not allow the maintenance and repair work to just don’t get it. They’re only focused on high- necessarily shared by the publisher. continue safely. Signage and fencing have been rise and marina berths.” • installed to prevent unauthorised access.” hyperlocalnews.com.au DV said that while timber piles were a small [email protected] component of the overall concrete structure of Sean Car North Wharf, which had recently been assessed as being in good condition, they had recently EDITOR been assessed and required remediation to “en- [email protected] sure longevity”. But what specific engineering advice or ▲ Hoarding blocks access to North Wharf Rd. works carried out to date leading to the sudden There’s been many ups and downs in 2020, but one thing that has remained steady THE NUMBERS SPEAK is our results in both sales and rentals! FOR THEMSELVES Considering selling or simply looking for an up-to-date valuation of your property? Speak to our award-winning team today to receive a realistic guide on how we can help you! 103 SOLD 514 LEASED vicky leong cary thornton lynn lum thomas tregonning serena su kong tran eva christodoulou 0452 486 860 0437 204 556 0474 044 293 0413 317 304 0499 083 362 0408 650 128 0438 431 345 lucasre.com.au Stats from 01/01/20 to 27/11/20 Please support our advertisers because without them we would have no Docklands News December-January 2020, Issue 170 3 Stadium designs revealed, but scant details on harbour-side plans Continued from page 1.