Minutes from the 11 March Community Forum on Enhancing Docklands Waterways and Strategic Infrastructure
18:15 Meeting Commenced with Acknowledgement of Country (Co-President Jamal Hakim)
- Expressed appreciation for attendance of representatives from:
o City of Melbourne
o Development Victoria
o Parks Victoria
o Docklands Yacht Club
o Numerous Dragon Boat clubs
o Melbourne Outrigger Canoe Club
o Docklands Residents
18:17 City of Melbourne Community Partner Update (Fadi Qunqar)
- Focus for 2026 is building community engagement programs
- Two walking clubs to be launched for New Quay and Yarra’s Edge
- On 29 March there will be a Neighbour Day BBQ at the Marina Lounge
- Farmers market to return; anticipate update in next few months
- The Cauldron Craft Connect at The District continues to be well utilised
- CoM has a focus on greening programs. Anyone who would like assistance in applying for a grant to support establishment of a community garden within residential buildings can reach out to Fadi on 0481 484 891 or fadi.qunqar@melbourne.vic.gov.au
18:22 Victoria Police Update (Sergeant Nick Parissis)
Explained role and that main issues facing Docklands being:
- Theft from motor vehicles with theft of registration plates anticipated to rise. Residents can obtain SafePL8 screws from Melbourne West Police Station. Reinforced not to leave personal belongings in vehicles
- Retail theft
- E-bikes, scooters and hoon behaviour are being targeted by the highway patrol
- CoM’s Community Safety Officers are being used in Docklands and assist with people causing trouble and rough sleepers
Indicated that residents could ‘challenge with kindness’, ie engage in conversation, ask if new to building etc. where concerned that someone should not be in their foyer or similar. Contact could be made via ‘000’ to report such disturbances. To clarify how to engage police:
- If something happening then and there – call 000
- Non-urgent / after event – Police Assistance Line
- Persistent problems / suspicious behaviour – Crime Stoppers
- In response to a question raised about e-scooters travelling at speed on Victoria Harbour, who are believed to predominately be construction workers, Sergeant Parissis indicated he would engage with Lendlease to warn workers in relation to same.
- Indicated that a CCTV register is maintained, and he encouraged residents/owners corporations to provide details of any CCTV cameras to assist police in locating footage of offenders. He circulated forms for enabling this registration.
18:45 Development Victoria Update on Victoria Harbour and New Quay Promenades (Jay Gleeson)
- The fenced off areas of Victoria Harbour Promenade and New Quay Promenade are due to pile issues. Investigations are underway to inform next steps. DV is not in a position at this point to provide timelines
- DV are instigating activities to attract visitors to Docklands but they are not in a position at this point to provide any particulars. They will update in due course
- Attendees raised concerns about the lack of proactive maintenance / inspection of piles previously. DV advised there have been regular inspections, which resulted in these issues being identified. It was explained that there are thousands of piles, and they are trying to find the best way to address the issues with them all
- DV were requested to provide regular updates to community, noting the widespread frustration
- In response to questions about plans for the old Central Pier area, DV advised there are no plans yet. They are aware many are happy now that pier is gone. Advised there are heritage issues that need to be addressed. Communications in future about plans. DV indicated that a temporary ‘surprise’ is in the pipeline
- Representatives from Docklands Yacht Club and dragon boating community raised concerns about increased maritime exclusion zones in Victoria Harbour impeding their operations. Parks Victoria representative (Stuart Lardner) advised of plans to meet with these stakeholders in the next fortnight to address their concerns. Parks Victoria encouraged people to reach out if they wished to be involved or have questions in relation to exclusion zones
- Concerns were raised by attendees about plans for new piers along North Wharf and the potential for these to inappropriately narrow the mouth of the harbour and create safety issues. DV advised they would enquire further into this matter and provide the group with a response.
- There were positive discussions about the floating wetlands. CoM confirmed the trials have been successful and they will be remaining. Maintenance of the floating wetlands is being transitioned to CoM who will consider associated impacts in relation to fishing in the vicinity. The CoM waterways team will be made aware of the issues.
19:15 Facilitated Discussion on Docklands’ Waterways and Infrastructure (Peter Lardner)
· Through an open floor approach the following main strategic themes were identified:
o There was a very strong and unchallenged view that Victoria Harbour should remain a broad open waterway, which creates an enhanced visual amenity and provides for recreational water-based activities
o There was a strong sentiment that Victoria Harbour should reflect Docklands’ unique maritime history
o There was strong opposition to any further infrastructure that intruded on the open waters of Victoria Harbour
o Broad support for the floating wetlands and potential to expand them. The expansion was seen to be most appropriate on the Yarra River, especially within the protected areas around Webb Bridge
o Strong support for a strategic plan aligning areas of Docklands’ waterways with themes, ie the floating wetlands focus in some areas, maritime history in another and recreational water-based activities in others
o Strong support for more greenspaces both around the waterways and more generally across the suburb. This included the need to protect the limited current land used for park like activities, through zoning
o Available parkland needed to include dedicated off-leash dog parks and dedicated areas for children to play where dogs prohibited
o Strong support for Harbour Esplanade to have shade through some means, whether it be trees or some form of infrastructure coverage
o Strong support for a secondary school that is readily accessible for the increasing number of young Docklands families
· Through the process the following further matters were raised:
o The need to improve rubbish removal from the waterways. Litter traps to be emptied more often
o Parking arrangements to be reviewed (agreed to be done by CoM) to:
§ better meet needs of boating club users (potential to increase to four hours) around The Dock Community Hub
§ provide for drop offs and short-term (potential 15 minute) parking outside tower entry points
§ ensure enforcement occurs to prevent abuse of parking (ie construction workers occupying on street parking all day)
o The need for more public toilets, especially around Harbour Esplanade. CoM indicated that they were considering potential to open existing bathrooms (eg. NAB building)
o Building a public swimming pool in or near Docklands, but not one within the Victoria Harbour waterway
o The potential to enhance Ron Barassi Senior Park towards the Moonee Ponds Creek through gardens and walking spaces
o The need for more effective traffic management, particularly when major events are hosted.
o The potential to facilitate increased organic waste and glass disposal sites. (CoM advised they are doing a lot of work in this space, including trialling of organic waste drop off sites within buildings and in community)
· Two overarching areas of concern were:
o the lack of clarity on which body (CoM, DV, Parks Victoria or other agency) has responsibility for what, in relation to infrastructure, strategies or issues within Docklands. Attendees identified that the scope of this issue extends from who is responsible for keeping Docklands waterways clean, to who is responsible for redesigning Harbour Esplanade
o the lack of community consultation on proposed changes to infrastructure within Docklands
19:55 Meeting closed