YOUR CITY OF MELBOURNE MAGAZINE JUNE - JULY 2014 A CITY FOR PEOPLE 2 4 HOUR CITY VIBRANT SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE AIDS 2014 STEPPING UP THE PACE SPOTLIGHT ON DOCKLANDS A TOP DESTINATION MELBOURNE.VIC.GOV.AU LORD MAYOR’S MESSAGE If begging is done by professionals or Last year, 11 people were diverted to the involves violence or the threat of it, it is diversion program; six of them accessed obviously a police matter and there are support through the Salvation Army. legal consequences. Begging is a criminal offence in Victoria. A recent month-long operation of this kind in the City of Melbourne resulted in Of course it’s no crime to be homeless, 24 people being referred to the diversion mentally ill or down on your luck. However, program. Of those, 15 people accessed those genuinely in need in Melbourne can support through the Salvation Army which always get a free meal and usually a bed to has helped to provide them with a pathway sleep in. to a better life. Most beggars are either known to police The program has achieved a 45 per cent or welfare agencies such as the Salvation success rate. This is an outstanding result. Army. The money they collect usually funds drugs or alcohol. They need help. None of us likes to think there are people on our streets, in our city, who desperately Around this time last year, after a flood of need our help but get none - or, worse, get complaints, I convened two meetings of a criminal and legal response to a health police, magistrates, the City of Melbourne, and life problem. the Salvation Army and the Public Interest Legal Clearing House in which we initiated In this way, with all agencies working Lord Mayor Robert Doyle at the Lord Mayor’s together, perhaps we can help those who Commendations 2014. To find out more visit page 7. a new approach. It was clear we needed a new approach. need primary health or mental health services and basic support. Surely that is We agreed on a plan. All beggars would worth a try. In every project the City of Melbourne be charged and required to attend court undertakes, we have our people in on a nominated day, but then be put on This issue of Melbourne is dedicated to mind: our residents, our business a compulsory diversion program by a many other initiatives and projects which owners, our workers, our students, magistrate. Legal representation would be make Melbourne a better place for all people to enjoy. I hope you enjoy reading it. our visitors, our tourists and our less available in a timely and effective way. fortunate. The diversion program would be pretty basic: attend at the Salvos, and get a One issue that affects everyone in health check with some counselling and Melbourne is begging. advice; take advantage of the available health, training and employment There are three types: the aggressive, opportunities; and stay off the streets. whose confronting and threatening Robert Doyle, Lord Mayor approach is often to women; the assertive; and the passive, who sit with a little sign, @LordMayorMelb motionless, for hours. CONTENTS FEATURES REGULARS 06 2014 MELBOURNE AWARDS 02 LORD MAYOR’S MESSAGE 05 YOUR SAY Acknowledging our inspirational Melburnians Letters, tweets and a little love from our friends 08 AIDS 2014 05 CITY NEWS STEPPING UP THE PACE Next steps for the Queen Victoria Market precinct renewal, revitalising city retail All eyes will be on Melbourne as we host the 20th International AIDS Conference 12 EVENTS CALENDAR 17 YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 09 SPOTLIGHT ON DOCKLANDS Find out about the weird and wonderful classes that Laneway Learning has hosted A top destination for visitors and residents 18 MELBOURNE LOVE Discover a different side to taxi life at 10 24 HOUR CITY City Gallery’s latest exhibition Hello Yellow Our vision to create a vibrant, 19 YOUR COUNCIL safe and accessible city 20 YOUR OFFER Cover: Youth Projects outreach team members (left to right) Emilie, Chito and Julie in Hosier Lane preparing for another night out on Melbourne streets. Youth Projects outreach teams make sure counselling, support and health care are available to people sleeping rough on our streets. 2 READ ONLINE AT MELBOURNE.VIC.GOV.AU YOUR CITY OF MELBOURNE MAGAZINE $3M DRAFT 2014-15 Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre CONTINUE THE ROLLOUT OF PROJECTS UNDER THE BICYCLE ANNUAL PLAN PLAN 2012-16 AND BUDGET A greener, better connected Melbourne that supports and inspires its residents, workers and visitors is at the heart of the second year of Council’s four-year vision for the city to be delivered through the draft 2014-15 Annual Plan and Budget. ‘Last year, Council unveiled its vision for a bold, inspirational and sustainable Melbourne. In 2014-15, we’re getting on with delivering on that vision,’ Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said. $6.96M ‘STREET BY STREET, WE ARE GREENING TO CREATE NEW AND OUR CITY BY CREATING NEW PARKS AND IMPROVE EXISTING GARDENS AND INCREASING TREE COVER ...’ PARKS AND OPEN SPACES Creating new and improved open spaces across the city, continuing the expansion of the city’s bicycle network, and completing new community facilities such as the Our draft 2014-15 Annual Plan and Budget will keep delivering Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre are the highlights quality infrastructure for a growing city and the services residents of a $99.3 million investment in infrastructure set out in the draft and ratepayers expect, while keeping spending growth below CPI. 2014-15 Annual Plan and Budget. ‘In 2013, the City of Melbourne welcomed 11,000 new residents, ‘Street by street, we are greening our city by creating new parks making us the fastest growing municipality in Australia,’ the and gardens and increasing tree cover. Block by block we are Lord Mayor said. ‘This is a disciplined budget that recognises making the city safer for cyclists by installing new bike lanes, the challenges and opportunities of providing for a booming and suburb by suburb, we’re providing the very best community population.’ facilities,’ the Lord Mayor said. The City of Melbourne will deliver $374 million in services and To find out more about Council’s many programs almost $100 million in infrastructure in 2014-15 while paving the and services go to page 10 and 11. way for the largest investment in Council history, the renewal of the Queen Victoria Market. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT www.bit.ly/MELBbudget14 MELBOURNE JUNE - JULY 3 YOUR SAY LETTER OF THE MONTH GARDEN CITY I just wanted to offer feedback on my delight with the meadow on the river side of Flinders Street and Exhibition Street. I have recently moved to working in the city from St Kilda Road and just love looking out the window at the meadow every day, and walking next to the flowers and up to the pop-up veggie patch on Federation Square at lunch time. I just wanted to say thank you, and please keep this garden going in the future. It’s so lovely to see such abundant nature so close to the city. Laura Benson, St Kilda Road We feature letters from our readers, so please share with us at [email protected] Good morning Melbourne! What a @cityofmelbourne awesome stunning sunset & sunrise you’ve #shareourstreets is a great How can I update my greeted me with! (@Melbourne message! Thx As #Dutch person I - @cityofmelbourne) http://4sq. find it hard being a#cyclist AU - rates mailing address? com/1hfWWop so much negativity @JOSHCHAFFEY @GRETHAOOST The most convenient way to update your rates mailing address details is online. To complete the request online, you must first enter the City of Melbourne property address you wish Surely the @cityofmelbourne is @RockefellerFdn to change. You will then need to know the greatest place to study. @RMIT @cityofmelbourne @ecocityforum whose name the notice is currently pic.twitter.com/MnUq0k1LbZ fantastic news to hear #Melbourne will be one of the #ResilientCities mailed under, the relevant rates @KRISVANSTON assessment number, current mailing @BRIARLLOYD address and new mailing address. You can pay your rates in a variety of ways including online, by mail, BPAY, direct debit, by phone with a Visa The Melbourne community @cityofmelbourne is already the or MasterCard, or in person at the heatwave action plan seems to be Sport Capital of Aust, welcome the cashier’s desk at the Melbourne Town evolving by the second!! Fat Duck, you can add the Food Hall between 7.30am and 5pm Monday @ecocityforum @cityofmelbourne Capital of Aust! #sport #food to Friday. #wherearethehorses #adapt #melbourne Go to melbourne.vic.gov.au/rates @ALI_RANCE @DAMIENZUCH to find out more. CONNECT WITH US www.facebook.com/cityofmelbourne www.twitter.com/cityofmelbourne www.google.com/+cityofmelbourne PARTICIPATE MELBOURNE HAVE YOUR SAY ONLINE NOW AT PARTICIPATE.MELBOURNE.VIC.GOV.AU BEYOND THE HOMES FOR 10 YEAR SAFE CITY PEOPLE FINANCIAL PLAN We want our city to be a Our population is growing Planning the next 10 years place where everyone feels quickly, with 11,000 new is an important pathway safe, connected and able to be part of our residents last year alone. for us to manage growth and provide a community at any time of the day or night. financially sustainable city for everyone. It is expected to nearly double by 2031 Don’t miss your opportunity to comment and we will need well-designed homes our The City of Melbourne will be holding a on our draft strategy. Public feedback is residents can afford. We began a housing number of activities to hear your thoughts open from 11 June.