MARCH 2015 ISSUE 106 PRICELESS WWW.DOCKLANDSNEWS.COM.AU : Docklands_News Docklands workers Harbour Esplanade plea want local school Page 6 Page 3 Comedy collection looking Good luck Miss Docklands for new home in Docklands Page 4 Page 11 Dragon returns to Docklands Th e colour and excitement of Chinese New Year returned to Docklands last month, with the arrival of the Docklands Dragon on Harbour Esplanade. In celebration of the Year of the Goat an 11- day Chinese New Year festival kicked off in Docklands on February 19. Th e launch event saw the dragon accompanied by dragon dancers, traditional Chinese drummers, tai chi demonstrations, dance troupe performances, dragon boat demonstrations and an Asian-style food truck park. Continued on page 3. Don’t hold your breath on short-stays By Shane Scanlan Minister Richard Wynne by the end of May. Th e Greens also took an anti-short-stay building code but, after three years and more policy to the election and even former than $350,000 in legal costs, succeeded only Th e State Government has Former local member and failed Melbourne Coalition planning minister Matthew Guy in forcing operators to install extra smoke Labor candidate, Jennifer Kanis, went to the been quick to put the short-stay pledged but failed to regulate short-stays out alarms and notices in aff ected apartments. election pledging to retrospectively legislate of existence when in power. apartment rental issue into the the practice out of existence. Th at test-case action centred on the spotlight but, so far, has off ered Watergate building in Docklands and this But Ms Garrett’s current language indicates Th e short-stay industry, buoyed by the recent building continues to off er both sides a a more conciliatory approach and entry of global giant Airbnb into the local only a platform to talk about it. platform for battle, with the Watergate acknowledges the rights of property owners market, remains confi dent of its position. owners’ corporation (OC) taking operator as well as residents aff ected by disruptions. Consumer Aff airs Minister Jane Garrett Local operators have met every challenge Paul Salter to the Victorian Administrative last month announced a panel to look at “We need to fi nd the right balance, and so far – most signifi cantly beating the City of and Appeals Tribunal (VCAT) alleging the impact of short-stay accommodation the panel will take a common sense and Melbourne last year in the Supreme Court breaches of the OC rules. in residential apartments and make practical approach to minimise disruption,” of Appeal. Th e council attempted to tackle recommendations to her and Planning Ms Garrett said. the industry via alleged breaches of the Continued on page 5. Sp eciality Coffee Opening Hours We love our coffee & we do it well Monday to Friday – 7am to 4pm We offer 3 different single origin coffees every day plus our own signature LBD blend so we can cater to every taste 850 Collins St, Docklands 9614 7127 2 DOCKLANDS NEWS ISSUE 106 Recognition Suite 108, 198 Harbour Esplanade for businesses PO Box 23008 Docklands 8012 Tel: 8689 7979 Fax: 9602 2929 With the 10th anniversary of the www.docklandsnews.com.au Lord Mayor’s Commendation Advertising Shane Scanlan: 0419 542 625 Awards, this year is a special Tel: 8689 7979 Fax: 9602 2929 year for recognition of small [email protected] business owners in the CBD. Reader contributions are welcome. Please send articles and images to [email protected] Th e awards recognise the contribution that An artist’s impression of the proposed fountain and fl ame show. small businesses make to the prosperity Th e deadline for the April edition is and fabric of the city and the search is on for March 27. nominees. Published by Shane Scanlan Bronze award recipients nominations are Edited by Bethany Williams Support for sought from small business owners who have been conducting business in the City of Follow us on Twitter Melbourne for 10 years or more. @Docklands_News Businesses with 25 years under their belt Docklands qualify for a silver award, gold is awarded Like us on Facebook after 40 years and platinum after 50. Docklands News Families with more than three generations in the same business are recognised with the To download our iPad app, fountain show highest award. simply scan the QR code below: Th e chair of the advisory group, and Docklanders overwhelmingly agree that a one-of-a-kind founding member, Kay Craddock, said the award was unique in the world and had gone fountain and fl ame show in Victoria Harbour would put from strength to strength because it was not Docklands on the map. a competition. “It’s recognition for a job well done – a pat Some 46 of the 52 people (88 per cent) would actually bring people to Victoria on the back from your contemporaries,” Ms surveyed by Docklands News supported the Harbour and surrounding areas.” Craddock said. concept. Just fi ve respondents (10 per cent) said “We know how hard it is to survive in small Th ose who backed the plan commented no to the proposal, while one person said business. So it’s saying ‘congratulations’ that the show would give Docklands an they didn’t know if the idea would be coupled with a civic recognition for international profi le, that it would “ignite” successful. making it.” Docklands, and that Victoria Harbour was One respondent described the show as a Ms Craddock called on readers to encourage the perfect location for the spectacle. “gimmick” and said they would prefer to small business proprietors to put themselves forward for the award. Other comments included: see a cultural space such as a theatre. She said, at the very least, it would be a “A bold concept of an elegant, artistic Another said the idea would put useful marketing tool but, more signifi cantly, installation.” Docklands on the map for all the wrong reasons. “Th is new idea is awful in every it was an opportunity to join a growing group “It’s unique ideas like this that will put aspect of its concept,” the respondent said. of surviving small businesses in the city. Docklands on the map.” Mr Ryan presented the concept to Nominations offi cially open on March 18 “Docklands is in dire need of something the Docklands Community Forum on and close on May 22. See www.melbourne. like this. It would be truly amazing to have February 25 and received a positive vic.gov.au/enterprisemelbourne for this feature on Melbourne’s Waterfront and response from attendees. further information. LUNCH SPECIAL $5 HAPPY HOUR BUFFET LUNCH $28 FUNCTIONS Fri to Sun 11:30am - 2:30pm AND EVENTS $9 MENU We cater for all AT HARBOUR VIEW CAFE TAP BEER BUFFET DINNER $53 kinds of functions, BBQ Roast On Rice Mon - Fri (Closed Tues) big or small, Curry Beef or Chicken on Rice HOUSE SPIRIT 6pm to 10pm business or leisure. Asian Stir-fried and so much more HOUSE WINES Meetings BUFFET DINNER $56 Conferences Mon to Sun (closed Tues) Mon to Sun (Closed Tues) Weddings Present this voucher to receive Sat - Sun, 5:30pm - 10pm 11:30am to 2:30pm 5pm to 8pm 2 sittings Birthday parties 10% OFF your total buffet bill 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 106 DOCKLANDS NEWS 3 Workers want a local school According to most of the participants (75 A primary school in Docklands per cent), enrolling their children in a Docklands-based primary school would would service not only make life easier. residents but also local Most commonly, participants commented workers, according to a survey that a local school would reduce travel time, pick-ups and drop-off s would be easier and conducted by Docklands News. that they would be able to spend time with Th e Chinese New Year food truck park proved to be very popular. their children. Some 98 Docklands workers completed the survey, with just over 70 per cent saying they One worker even said a local primary school would enrol their children in a Docklands would prompt them to buy an apartment in Dragon returns to Docklands Docklands. primary school. Continued from page 1. “I would be very keen to have the option of However, a small number of local workers City of Melbourne was one of the enrolling my child in a Docklands school, life said they would not enrol their children in a Entertainment continued on Friday and sponsors of the dragon and at the would be so much easier for our family,” one Docklands primary school in case their work Saturday nights throughout the festival, launch of the festival Lord Mayor Robert participant said. situation changed. which also saw Victoria Harbour lit up with Doyle said the council was delighted 1000 good luck lanterns. to celebrate Chinese New Year with Analysis of the need for a local primary Many of the parents also commented that Melbourne’s Chinese community. school in Docklands has so far excluded the before and after school care would be Th e 100-metre-long dragon was handmade local working population, instead focusing necessary in order to make a Docklands by Chinese Culture Works and was “When we decided to invest in the on the residential population. primary school a viable option for their constructed using eight tonnes of steel, 1500 Docklands Dragon we wanted to activate families. metres of silk fabric and 800 LED globes.