JUNE 2013 ISSUE 20 PRICELESS WWW.SOUTHBANKLOCALNEWS.COM.AU : SOUTHBANK_News The voice of Southbank King Kong promo causes stir CEOs prepare for night out in cold See page 2 See page 4 Getting chilly for a cause Wine tasting heaven See page 3 See page 9 Designated bike lane unveiled By Sean Rogasch Th e long-awaited council bike-lane plan for Princes Bridge was unveiled last month, with the most drastic changes happening northbound, on the Southbank side of the bridge. Th e north-side will be reduced to one vehicle Princes Bridge in particular is a key transport lane and have a full bike lane incorporated. interchange for people travelling in and out Th e existing split path will become a full- of Melbourne,” Mr Doyle said. time footpath. “You only need to observe Princes Bridge Th e decision has raised concerns that the for a short period to spot the pinch points already-congested St Kilda Rd city-bound created by the high level of congestion in traffi c at peak hour will become diabolical. this area. Th ere are 30,000 pedestrians and Th e southern side of the bridge will continue tens of thousands of bikes, trams and cars with two motor vehicle lanes and the shared that travel along Princes Bridge every day,” path between foot traffi c and cyclists. he added. Th e northbound bike lane is being installed “More than 80 per cent of these on a trial basis. pedestrians are using the Flinders Street Station side of the intersection, which makes Lord Mayor Robert Doyle was defi ant, saying it essential that we address the confi guration the north-side bike lane plan had addressed of the northbound traffi c to improve safety all modes of transport. and fl ow.” “Increases in population and visitation are Councillor Cathy Oke said the plan would creating a busier and more congested city. not impact the number of cars travelling across Princes Bridge northbound. “While these works will provide one traffi c lane for motor vehicles travelling north on the bridge there will be two right turning traffi c lanes and one left turning lane adjacent to Flinders Street Station, allowing the same number of cars to get through the lights,” Cr Oke said. Time to kick start your day! Construction on the bike lane has begun and, to ensure minimal hindrance, is being Active Melbourne City Sports' Peter O'Rourke is ready, are you? carried out at night. His team, in conjuction with Southbank Local News and the Yarra What do you think of the Princes Bridge bike lane plan? Let us know on our Facebook River Business Association, are launching Get Active Melbourne! page or via Twitter @Southbank_NEWS at Queensbridge Square this month. Find out more on page 5. WE ARE YOUR LOCAL GROCER! 182 City Road, SOUTHBANK 2 SOUTHBANK LOCAL NEWS ISSUE 20 Suite 108, 198 Harbour Esplanade PO Box 23008 Docklands 8012 Tel: 8689 7980 Fax: 9602 2929 www.southbanklocalnews.com.au Editor: Sean Rogasch Tel: 8689 7980 Fax: 9602 2929 [email protected] Reader contributions are welcome. Please send articles and images to [email protected] Deadline for the July edition is July 11. CONNECT Keep up to date with local news & events. King Kong promo causes stir Follow us on Twitter @SOUTHBANK_News It was the publicity stunt that garnered more publicity than anyone could’ve imagined. Th e gorilla hand that hung suspended became embroiled in the racism in football Th e hand was suspended for most of Like us on Facebook against the Eureka Tower last month was controversy, after comments from Eddie the month and was a spectacular way to supposed to be a promotion for the new McGuire on his radio show about the promote the upcoming show. Southbank Local News King Kong stage show, but inadvertently promotion. ISSUE 20 SOUTHBANK LOCAL NEWS 3 YRBA making worldwide connections Yarra River Business Association (YRBA) executive offi cer Tim Bracher turned globe-trotter last month as he embarked on a fact-fi nding mission in Auckland, New Zealand. Mr Bracher was hosted by Waterfront Auckland. space. Compared with the 15 government He attended several meetings with many of its agencies and organisations with a say over stakeholders and visited many of the sites along Melbourne’s waterfront, it cuts through a lot of the waterfront of New Zealand’s largest city. the red tape and political problems. Mr Bracher also addressed 18 members of Mr Bracher said the trip provided the perfect Waterfront Auckland about the potential of opportunity to give the YRBA some perspective Melbourne’s waterfront areas and the issues on Melbourne’s waterfront and get the ball it has, and continues to face. rolling on some new ideas for the future. Th e visit was organised through the “Waterfront Auckland is a role model of what Waterfront Connections Committee, which can be done with limited budgets, creative was formed after last year’s Melbourne minds, a fully supportive council and an Waterfront Forum, which featured integrated waterfront organisation,” Mr Waterfront Auckland’s marketing and Bracher said. communications manager, John Gundesen. “Melbourne often misses the mark because it In Mr Bracher’s report on his trip, he makes tries to get things aesthetically perfect, which many observations about Auckland’s usually involves expensive consultancies and big ticket solutions. We might win waterfront and how Melbourne could learn international solutions and pick some of the from its experiences. ‘low fruit’ to activate and enliven spaces.” Getting chilly for a cause Some of his key fi ndings were: “For example, key locations like Th e authenticity of the Auckland waterfront. Queensbridge Square could be lively, If you thought you were feeling the cold as winter hit hard, spare Mr Bracher compares the use of its heritige to attractive public spaces if small business and a thought for former Olympian Tamsin Lewis, who last month the minimal eff orts in Melbourne to maintain residents had been involved in its planning historical relevance on the waterfront. and delivery from the outset,” he added. braved the freezing conditions of Chill On Ice lounge … while Th e everyday activation of the Auckland wearing a bikini! waterfront thanks, in part, to the embracing of everyday elements of the area. Th e use of Ms Lewis was in town to promote the nothing compared to that of people with a fi sh market and boat repair stalls maintain Leukaemia Foundation’s Sunfl ower Club leukaemia. activation on a practical and daily basis. “Speedo Dash”, which will be held at “Leukaemia touches so many people’s lives Queensbridge Square on June 30. Th e integration of water transport in every day and personally I’ve known so many children life. Th is has been a constant talking point for She was joined by radio host Dan Anstey, but who’ve had leukaemia, that I’m willing to Melbourne’s Yarra, with no solution in sight. he, somewhat more suitably, donned the full freeze in the middle of winter to encourage ski suit. Th e ability of one integrated entity to plan, Th e YRBA’s Tim Bracher with Alex Swny, CEO of Heart of people to support the Sunfl ower Club’s control and execute the vision for the waterfront Auckland promotional agency. Ms Lewis said the discomfort she felt was Speedo Dash,” Ms Lewis said. You HAPPY TO Are Here GOING TO THE SNOW? PICK YOU UP Budget now offer a pick-up service to our rental car facility. Budget offer Snow Cover onon selected selected vehicles vehiclees ffor an additional daily fee which Call Budget Southbank and book your FREE pick up within a allows you to drive above the snow line. Call Budget today to find out more! 5km radius today.* Budget Southbank 295 City Road 9299 2222 *Conditions apply. Contact Budget for more details ^Valid for car groups C, D, E, G, K, P and W only. Conditions apply. Contact Budget for full details. CT9563 4 SOUTHBANK LOCAL NEWS ISSUE 20 CEOs prepare for night out in the cold Carrera Partners CEO John Davies is pulling out his winter warmers as he prepares to spend a long cold night, all for a good cause. Mr Davies is one of several CEOs from St Vincent de Paul Society Victorian Southbank-based companies taking part in president, Tony Tome, said the idea of the the St Vinnies CEO Sleepout on June 20. Sleepout had really struck a chord and had become one of its most impactful initiatives. Now in its third year, the Sleepout at Etihad Stadium in Docklands is an initiative that “It’s hard to understand just how challenging gives CEOs a real perspective on the trouble it is for the 22,000 Victorians sleeping rough homeless people face on a daily basis and every night, however the Vinnies CEO Mr Davies is looking forward to the real life Sleepout provides business and community experience. leaders with a small glimpse of life out in the cold,” Mr Tome said. “I’m doing it just to make a small diff erence. Th e best way to make a small diff erence is “Th is event not only raises vital funds to to experience what the homeless people go support our homelessness services, it puts though,” Mr Davies said. the spotlight on the issue to remind us that it’s everyone’s responsibility,” he added. He also explained that he was happy to take part in what was a novel awareness raising “No child, woman or man should be living campaign, compared with just asking for in such dire conditions, and the support of money.