JULY 2012 ISSUE 77 PRICELESS WWW.DOCKLANDSNEWS.COM.AU : Docklands_News Sam oozes local's confi dence Docklands bomb scare See page 3 See page 5 Where the bloody hell are we? New academy is all for life See page 3 See page 7 Council is given planning powers Friday, June 29 was a massive news day for Docklands with Planning Minister Matthew Guy announcing that planning powers were being returned to the City of Melbourne. Mr Guy also announced approval for MAB “From today, the residents of Docklands Corporation’s revised master-plan which will have a direct connection through their includes new towers and a hotel at NewQuay council to planning decisions and will have Central (see our story on page 2). a stronger voice over decisions that impact upon their community.” Th e City of Melbourne has been lobbying for years for planning control of Docklands but Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said Mr Guy’s has had to be content with being asked for its decision was very important for consistency comments and recommendations only. of design in Docklands and for using the “great expertise that exists at the City of It will now be the arbiter of all developments Melbourne”. of less than 25,000 sqm – bringing Docklands into line with the planning rules that exist “Th is is a decision of great foresight and within the CBD. it will be of benefi t to the residents of Docklands, both present and future,” he said. For the fi rst time, Docklands planning application will be advertised and residents Docklands News understands that will be able to lodge objections. developers will still make their applications directly with Places Victoria, as stipulated Mr Guy pointed out that the transfer of by their long-standing and legally-binding authority to the council was from the developer agreements. Department of Planning and Community Development and that Places Victoria would In instances where the development is less retain its role as master developer. than 25,000 sqm, Places Victoria will in the future forward the application directly to the “Places Victoria has created the structure City of Melbourne for determination. plan for Docklands and they’ve done a wonderful job. Well this is the next stage – Th e change means developers will that of community focus,” Mr Guy said. have recourse to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) should “No developer or Places Victoria can get the they not agree with the council’s decision. nuances right like the City Council can.” Falling for the Chamber Docklands developers have not enjoyed this He said the developers had to accept the privilege in the past. decision as “a bold new way to move it Th e Docklands Chamber of Commerce turned it on at its monthly Developers were generally resigned forward”. to having the council determine their get-together last month at Wonderland Fun Park. “50 per cent is built, so the next 50 per applications. One was openly hostile, while cent will have a diff erent focus of how it others said it mattered little in the complex After the formalities, members and visitors were treated to comedy and aerial burlesque by integrates,” he said. labyrinth of bureaucratic overlay. Elise Joworowski in the historic Melba Spiegeltent under the wheel at Harbour Town. MADE HERE IN DOCKLANDS OUR iPAD APP BY MEDIATION COMMUNICATIONS IS HERE! mediacomms.com.au 108 / 198 harbour esplanade docklands, 3008 DOWNLOAD FREE FROM THE APP STORE P: 03 9602 2992 [email protected] 2 DOCKLANDS NEWS ISSUE 77 Plaudits for Suite 108, 198 Harbour Esplanade PO Box 23008 Docklands 8012 Tel: 8689 7979 Fax: 9602 2929 www.docklandsnews.com.au council over Advertising Tel: 8689 7979 Fax: 9602 2929 [email protected] Reader contributions are welcome. forum proposal Please send articles and images to [email protected] Th e question of “real infl uence” was always going to be tricky. Th e authorities were Deadline for the August edition is never keen to grant membership of their July 27. Editorial inner sanctum to outsiders but, without Follow us on Twitter Comment real infl uence, the forum will have limited @Docklands_News purpose and will not succeed. Shane Scanlan Th e bi-monthly community forum is Like us on Facebook proposed to meet every other month Docklands News between steering group meetings. So the Th e City of Melbourne and idea of each reporting to the other could Places Victoria have to be given work well. Ultimately, it will come down to good-will and the genuine desire of City of Master plan credit for their revised proposal Melbourne and Places Victoria decision- for a Docklands Community makers to listen to the community. Forum. Th e fi rst community forum is not forecast approved until September and it is expected that it will take two or three meetings for the group to Th e new proposal, released on June 13, Planning Minister Matthew sort itself out. addresses many of the concerns raised by the Ministerial Guy has approved MAB local community at the last Docklands Co- Th is is a reasonable expectation as this ordination Committee meeting on March 20. type of community participation is brand Corporation’s revised master new and there are no existing rule books or It proposes a seriously-representative story time conventions. plan for NewQuay. membership base, with as-of-right membership for the Docklands Chamber of Still to be defi ned are issues around how the Local Government Minister Included in the master plan are fi ve new Commerce, Destination Docklands and the 12 permanent members interact with the towers for NewQuay Central, including a Docklands Community Association. broader community and how community Jeanette Powell took story- 15-storey hotel at the front of the Waterfront forum meetings will be conducted and how It also seeks membership from young time at the Docklands Hub on City Piazza – a proposal which has upset its decisions are made. some residents who would prefer the Docklanders, Docklanders with children, June 22 when she announced It has already been determined that an building at the rear along Docklands Drive. commuter workers, waterways operators, corporates and small businesses operators “impartial facilitator” will chair the meetings $400,000 funding for books for But Mr Guy’s announcement should not be who are not members of existing and that the City of Melbourne will support the Docklands new library. confused with permission to build the hotel representative groups. forum by providing secretarial services to it. or any of the proposed towers. All up, the forum is seeking up to 12 Th e suggestion is that the forum will remain Th e funding is over and above $8.2 Permission must still be granted to build permanent members and the City of in place until Docklands is completed and million the State Government has each of the buildings in the master plan. Melbourne has called for expressions of is no longer shared between the council and already committed to build the library via interest from interested parties. Expressions Places Victoria. Mr Guy told Docklands News that there Places Victoria. Th e City of Melbourne is of interest close at 9am on Monday, July 16. would be changes to what MAB was seeking One of the roles of the forum is to “model contributing $4.75 million. and promote a collaborative working at NewQuay Central. But, while the representational mix is good, Construction of the 2900sqm library and the council and Places Victoria have stopped relationship between Places Victoria and the “Th ere is obviously a way to go with the community centre is due to start this month short of granting Docklanders admission to City of Melbourne”. approvals. Th is is just the master plan that at Dock Square on the corner of Collins their Docklands Steering Committee. has been approved,” Mr Guy said. “Th ere are Th e importance of this role can’t be and Bourke streets and is expected to be a few changes around where the buildings Membership of the steering committee was overstated. It has taken the council completed by October next year. will be. Th ere certainly are some changes.” and Places Victoria fi ve years to build a requested so that Docklanders had real Th e facility will feature a variety of library infl uence over decision-making. reasonable working relationship. “Obviously they’ll have to go through the spaces including children, youth, seniors, next round which is approvals for the actual Instead, the proposal is for members of each multimedia, music/media, fl exible activity buildings. Th ere’s still a way to go. Th is is group to report to each other at the start of space, community meeting rooms and an just about the structure plan.” each other’s meetings. entertainment hub. Big Sunday Brunch Three Courses Select any Entrée, Main & Dessert $69 Per Person Add $20 For an Unlimited Beverage Package (Includes Wines, Beers & Coffee) $19 For Special Kids Menu 737 Bourke Street, Docklands (Opp. Gate 3, Stadium) First-Class Venue for Functions In Docklands Bookings - Call : 9642 3350 Function Packages Starting $49 www.bobs-steakandchop.com.au ISSUE 77 DOCKLANDS NEWS 3 Sam oozes local’s confi dence side was simply too good for the opposition. Dockland’s Sam Newman was “I predict an easy victory,” he said. “Frankly, confi dent of coaching Victoria to we don’t have much opposition and we’re very good at kicking for goal.” victory in its EJ Whitten Legends Th e Legends game is an annual charity game against the All Stars at fundraiser for prostate cancer research, Etihad Stadium on July 3.