SOUTHBANK LOCAL NEWS ISSUE 03 Season’S Greetings
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DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE 3 PRICELESS WWW.SOUTHBANKLOCALNEWS.COM.AU : SOUTHBANK_News The voice of Southbank Tram fi t for a Queen Southgate's spectacular return See Page 2 See Page 5 Stairway to heaven Happy birthday Polly See Page 3 See Page 7 Southbank ‘needs a post offi ce’ Local traders and residents alike are frustrated by the lack of a post offi ce in Southbank. Southbank lost its post offi ce last year when for companies and residents in the the Freshwater Place outlet was withdrawn. Southbank area. It came just weeks after the Southbank “Th ere are fi ve alternative post offi ces within Strategic Plan 2010 revealed the plan to 1.5km of Southbank including at Collins increase residential population in the area to St West, Flinders Lane, Melbourne GPO, 74,000 by 2040. Docklands and South Melbourne,” Ms Ward Th e closure of the Freshwater Place address pointed out. means there is now no post offi ce within the Despite this, Th e Knight Alliance Owners 3006 postcode. Corporation manager George Martin (who Commercial and tenant services manager at managed the section of Freshwater Place Freshwater Place Trish Finnegan says there that was occupied by Australia Post) said: was angst at the time of the closure, and this “I understand that some people (local has continued throughout 2011. residents) would have preferred the post offi ce to have remained in the arcade.” “Th e commercial tenants at Freshwater Place were not happy about the closure. Th e post Freshwater Place resident Keith Wood wants offi ce had a variety of services it provided to a post offi ce to be reinstated in the local area. our tenants in addition to the private boxes,” “We’d like a post offi ce but, at the very Ms Finnegan explained. least, we should have permanent red and “Tenants have had to look for alternative yellow boxes to send mail for the amount of options to ensure continuity of their residents and businesses around Freshwater business once the post offi ce service ceased Place,” Mr Wood said. operating,” she added. Mr Wood also runs a small business from Asked if she thought there was suffi cient home, so he has particularly missed the use business available for a local post offi ce, Ms of a private post box. Finnegan replied: “Yes, indeed.” He also suggested that, despite the other Ophelia's grand return But Australia Post refutes this claim, locations being close, they were diffi cult to suggesting that a major reason for the get to and often very full. original closure was a lack of business. “Th e easiest from here is Collins St West, but Artist Deporah Halpern was on hand to unveil a rejuvinated Media and communications manager Mel it is nowhere near as convenient as having Ophelia last month. Ward said: “Southbank Post Offi ce closed more one here, especially late at night,” he said. than 16 months ago due to a range of factors, Australia Post confi rmed that at this stage including declining customer numbers.” Placed in her most prominant position yet, She can now be found on the prominade there were no plans to open a post offi ce in Ms Halpern said Ophelia was much happier between the main entrance of Southgate and She also said there were several Australia Southbank, but it would continue to monitor being back in the spotlight. the river. Post offi ces within a reasonable distance the use of postal facilities in the area. WE ARE YOUR LOCAL GROCER! 182 City Road, SOUTHBANK P: 9686 1561 2 SOUTHBANK LOCAL NEWS ISSUE 03 Season’s greetings Suite 108, 198 Harbour Esplanade It’s been a whirlwind start for the paper and dominating the social calendar. Th e WTC PO Box 23008 Docklands 8012 we have been greatly encouraged by the Wharf’s grand opening and the launch of the Tel: 8689 7980 Fax: 9602 2929 EditorialEdit number of residents and businesses who rejuvenated Southgate were headline acts. www.southbanklocalnews.com.au have complimented and supported the CommentCom Both openings have been timed perfectly Editor: Sean Rogasch Southbank Local News. to utilise the warmer weather and entice [email protected] SeanSean Rogasch Th e most obvious thing we’ve learnt about people to get down along the Yarra River and Advertising Manager: Greg Hackett Southbank in our three editions has been enjoy the upgrades. [email protected] just how exciting the area is. Th ere is always something happening, changing and never a Th ere was no expense spared for either Advertising You may not want to think dull moment. launch, with spectaculars at both sites, again Tel: 8689 7980 Fax: 9602 2929 highlighting just how special this place can be. [email protected] about it, but Christmas is just For us, that means there is always plenty of More information and pictures on both Reader contributions are welcome. over a month away and so is news to report. events feature in this edition. Please send articles and images to the completion of 2011. Th e observant among our readers will [email protected] notice that this edition is our fi rst 20-page To all our readers and advertisers, I’d like to newspaper, proving there’s plenty happening wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe Deadline for the Feb edition is Jan 12. Th is is our fi nal edition for the year and, within the area for our team to report on. and happy holiday period. altough it may be just our third, I feel like we are well on the way to establishing ourselves Speaking of which, the festive season came We’ll be back mid-January for our February as an integral part of this unique and ever- early last month in Southbank and the Southbank Local News and, with two months Setback changing suburb. surrounding areas, with grand openings worth of news it’s sure to be a bumper edition. for men’s shed Th e organising team for the Southbank Men’s Shed had a turbulent month in November, suff ering a funding setback but bouncing back with great progress in creating the community space so many crave. Unfortunately the group just missed the deadline to apply for a resource grant from the City of Melbourne. Community partnerships co-ordinator John Harris said the timelines just didn’t quite match up. “We just had too much to do in too little amount of time,” he said. Far from letting the setback kill off the project, organisers have introduced a website to help educate and inform all interested residents in the men’s shed project. Adding to the momentum the Southbank Residents Group (SRG) agreed to become Tram fi t for a Queen the legal auspice for the project, until the men’s shed group can become incorporated. waved to the thousands of royal watchers crowd who were becoming concerned that Southbank had its very own who lined the street to catch a glimpse. the Queen was having some trouble with It gives the group a far greater chance to her MYKI card as the tram was running late. Th e tram ride was part of the royal tour’s obtain a council grant which, according to brush with royalty in October, All was forgiven when the specially-painted Mr Harris, is the next step. as Queen Elizabeth II and stop-over in Melbourne, a whirlwind visit royal tram did arrive and crowds were which included opening the new Royal treated to that customary wave. Prince Philip took a tram ride Children’s Hospital, a meet-the-people Most believe this was the last time the walk at Federation Square and lunch at Comment on this story online: down St Kilda Rd. Queen will visit Australia and this helped Government House. www.southbanklocalnews.com.au produce massive crowds all around Australia Th e royal couple were all smiles as they School children were among the St Kilda Rd for the tour. Unrivalled care for your pet .JMMT4USFFU t)FBMUIDBSF "MCFSU1BSL t4VSHFSZ 1 t1VQQZ1SF4DIPPM &JOGP!QQBIDPNBV t$BU#PBSEJOH 8XXXQQBIDPNBV ISSUE 03 SOUTHBANK LOCAL NEWS 3 Voting changes voted down City of Melbourne postal voting electoral system will remain after the Future Melbourne Committee last month narrowly voted against changing it. At the November meeting the proposed change was put forward by Cr Brian Shanahan, suggesting attendance voting as well as postal voting would further engage local residents in the electoral process and align the voting system to that of both state and federal spheres of government. Cr Shanahan and all speakers agreed it would be ideal for every newly-elected council to debate this issue at the start of its term. Th e vote was split fi ve to four – showing the issue was worth talking about, and that many Stairway to heaven thought it was time for change. Even a smattering of superheroes were up Issues that rose from the discussion around A colourful and enthusiastic for the task, including Supergirls, electoral reform included: Spiderman and even a gender-confused crowd was drawn to Eureka It was diffi cult for some aspiring candidates to Xena: Warrior Princess. get their names out there via letterbox drops. Tower on November 13 for the Eureka building manager Peter Jones was Many questioned the value or point of pleased with the turnout, saying: “Th e 2011 2011 Eureka climb. changing the system. Eureka Climb was the biggest and best to date with just under 1900 competitors Th e possibility of electoral fraud under the Th e fi tness fanatics were sent up fi rst.