6:03 pm - Meeting opened by Jamal Hakim (Co-President)
Acknowledgment of country.
Since the March forum, Community 3008 has continued advocating for the interests of Docklands residents, including providing a feedback submission to the City of Melbourne (CoM) in relation to their 2026/27 budget. Predominately, the feedback highlighted the need to increase the proportion of the budget allocated to Docklands.
An additional submission was made to CoM in relation to the ‘Urban Forests Renewal Plan’, highlighting the limited ‘green canopy’ and ‘understory planting’ and the need for a more comprehensive and targeted approach.
AFL (Ben Greenwood – Attractions & Tenancies Lead)
Ben spoke of having recently joined the AFL and will be working across commercial partnerships, precinct experiences, attractions and tenancy activations. Marvel’s ‘Precinct 5’ launch is commencing, which includes the Marvel Stadium 365 Tour and the Marvel Stadium 365 climb.
Ben invited questions
Concerns raised regarding traffic congestion pre and post events:
• Advised they are aware of issues, and works are underway to implement better traffic management.
Plans for temporary relocation of AFL Headquarters:
• Details still being confirmed.
Parks Victoria, CoM Waterways and CoM Active Melbourne Program
Parks Victoria (Stuart Lardner); City of Melbourne Waterways (Adam Buchholz); CoM Active Melbourne Program (Nic Andrew) did a joint presentation.
Parks Victoria spoke to what they had been doing to acquit tasks from the last Community 3008 community forum. This included having undertaken consultation with various community stakeholders associated with Docklands waterways. As a result, maritime exclusions zones have been altered to better serve community needs and recreational activities.Community 3008 - Meeting Minutes
They provided some role clarification in relation to waterway management. With Parks Victoria mainly responsible for safe navigation, whereas landside infrastructure being managed by COM. Refer to attached slide pack.
Active Melbourne detailed that preparing to launch a new campaign (Big Blue Backyard) in Spring with the aim of increased engagement in outdoor / water-based activities (e.g. sailing, dragon boats). A new website will be implemented relating to same.
CoM Waterways spoke to their efforts to enable greater community use of the City Marina building.
They invited questions
Concerns raised re loss of the Heritage fleet:
• The heritage fleet were offered moorings, however turned it down as they desired shoreline.
Concerns raised over issues with behaviour of fisherman:
• Advised they are aware of this issue, and that a multi-agency strategy is
underway to find solutions to the issues.
• New signage near floating wetlands is to be installed soon.
Concerns raised re waterway litter:
• Aware of this issue and looking at alternate cleaning methods.
Holiday programs requested:
• Advised they will pass this request onto the Active Melbourne team.
City of Melbourne (Nick Pecipajkovski – Neighbourhood Partner)
Discussed variety of programs and initiatives:
• Tai chi program underway at Yarra’s Edge.
• Docklands Community Wellbeing program commencing next week. This will include six weekly sessions on Fridays (10:00 am to 12:00 pm).
• Small neighbourhood grants available for residents wishing to start their own community programs or initiatives (e.g. sporting, community greening)
• Yarra’s Edge Community Action Group meet monthly. Next meeting on 31 July will focus on parking issues in the area.Community 3008 - Meeting Minutes
Nick invited questions
Request for greater focus on after-hours activities for working residents:
• Nick encouraged members to approach him with ideas and he will be happy to set some activities up and provide some support.
Where can members access details about activities:
• Docklands Community Portal https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/docklands
CoM Councillor Rafael Camillo
Encouraged members to approach him should they have any issues they want addressed with CoM.
Encouraged the use of the graffiti and waste QR codes, as well as the ‘Snap Send Solve’ app for reporting.
Rafael invited questions
Concern raised about overflowing bins following events at Marvel Stadium:
• Advised new bins being installed.
• Asked members to email him with details and he would follow up.
Concern raised over lack of community consultation concerning ‘Little India’:
• Rafael undertook to take this concern back to CoM, indicating that he would
support consultation on the concept.
• Rafael encouraged members to provide any specific concerns to him via email.
Concern raised over lack of sufficient public toilets available:
• Rafael indicated that if someone could send him an email with the detail he would ensure the issue was addressed.
Development Victoria (Niall Cunningham – Executive General Manager, Precincts)
Central Pier:
• Niall acknowledged Development Victoria (DV) are aware of the community preference to retain the area where central pier had been, as open water. He confirmed there are no plans to rebuild the pier at this time. Also confirmed the ‘Echo’ installation is only temporary.Community 3008 - Meeting Minutes
• DV will test different activities and installations on Harbour Esplanade, such as
‘The Street Social’ to gauge community preferences. Victoria Harbour:
• Confirmed structural issues with piles are still being investigated to better assess the issue and its magnitude.
• If areas of lower risk are identified, they will be reopened.
• Plan for more visually appealing fencing to replace the current temporary fencing.
• Timeframe unable to be confirmed, as dependent on results of testing. However, remediation works will not be completed until at best the end of 2026.
Niall invited questions
Concern raised over inspection frequency of piles:
• Advised issue identified during routine inspection of same.
• Concern raised over walking path surfacing issues:
• Advised that COM have primacy over management of paths. Encouraged to report to COM.
Greening Projects (Megan Healy)
Peter Lardner (Community 3008 Co-President) introduced Megan Healy as one of the great outcomes of the previous community forum. Megan at that time was not a member of Community 3008 but came to the forum with a passion to enhance the ‘greening’ of Docklands, increase local biodiversity and protect its wildlife. Community 3008 has provided Megan with a framework, network and support to progress this interest. She has passionately progressed these activities and supported Community 3008 more broadly, in the interests of Docklands residents. Peter stated she is a role model for other residents who may have an area of interest they wish to pursue in the Community interest.
Megan provided a brief overview on the new CoM ‘Garden City Community Guidelines’ encouraging residents and businesses to create gardens along their local streets, laneways, nature strips and tree plots, without the need for a permit. For further information please visit: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/garden-city-guidelines
In conjunction with the CoM ‘Gardens for Wildlife’ Team and Bili Native Nursery, Megan announced the inaugural ‘Balcony Gardening’ Workshop will be held on 12 September 2026 at the Library at the Dock, specifically for Docklands residents.Community 3008 - Meeting Minutes
Booking link: Balcony Gardening for Wildlife | Gardens for Wildlife Melbourne |
Participate Melbourne
Work is currently being undertaken to support the progression and expansion of the Docklands Community Garden in Geographe St. The Garden is seeking multiple ‘Garden Ambassadors’ to assist Greg Wise (Head Gardener) with managing the garden, as well as general Volunteers to assist with planting and maintaining the garden. Interested parties should contact Greg via email wiseguy873@gmail.com
Megan spoke to the advocating she had been doing with COM to increase ‘greening’ within Docklands, including the immense opportunity to make the Moonee Ponds Creek a beautiful green corridor for all Docklands residents to enjoy.
Moonee Ponds Creek Trail (The Hon. Kelvin Thomson – Chain of Ponds)
Kelvin spoke to the background and history of the 25km long creek trail and activities undertaken by the ‘Friends of Moonee Ponds Creek’ over the past three decades. Specifically, he spoke to the Docklands section at the mouth of the creek, expressing concern about the closure of the trail at the rear of Docklands Studios. He indicated that both CoM and DV are supportive of the trail being re-opened and expressed his appreciation of Community 3008 to help advocate for this. Kelvin called for support from the Docklands community for litter action around the creek via the Chain of Ponds ‘Adopt-a-Creek’ initiative.
Kelvin invited questions
Significant discussion occurred amongst attendees on the potential for both residents and Docklands located corporations to ‘adopt’ sections of the creek for the purpose of cleaning litter and more general support.
A number of attendees indicated they would reach out to their networks to seek corporate support. People were encouraged to provide details to Megan Healy megan.community3008@gmail.com
Closing Comments (Peter Lardner and Jamal Hakim)
The evening’s joint presentation by Parks Victoria, CoM Waterways and CoM Active Melbourne Program was held out as another very positive outcome from the previous community forum. Prior to which, there was no apparent collaborative approach between any of the agencies with responsibility for service delivery and infrastructureCommunity 3008 - Meeting Minutes within Docklands. There had also been an incorrect assumption by agencies that relevant community stakeholders were being engaged. The previous forum identified many gaps. So, it was positive to see subsequent improvements in engagement with relevant community groups on specific issues and that some of the agencies were proactively working together on enhancements.
Participants were encouraged to approach Community 3008 with any enhancement ideas they had for Docklands. It was indicated that good ideas also needed people to support them so anyone putting forward an idea should also indicate how it may be progressed.
The importance of membership was highlighted. The more members Community 3008 has, the greater its capacity to advocate.
Please visit https://www.community3008.org.au and select the
‘Join Our Community’ tab on the home page.
8:05 pm – Meeting Closed