Latest News
26 October 2012
See you at the Fiesta!
Gather your children, grandkids, friends (four legged on leads please) and neighbours. Head to Powlett Reserve on Sunday 25 November for a day absolutely jam packed with fun, competitions and entertainment to suit all ages and interests.
The East Melbourne Group with support from the City of Melbourne Event Partnership Program is hosting this Fiesta to bring our community together for a day of fun and entertainment in a village fair atmosphere.
Come with a picnic basket or buy food and drink from vendors but plan to stay for the day to join in all the activities on the program, which runs from 10am to 4pm.
For more information, including the program schedule, please see our EMG Community Fiesta page.
15 November 2011
Roundabouts modified to slow down traffic
The City of Melbourne has commenced works at two roundabouts in Powlett Street. An assessment of traffic speed through the roundabouts at Hotham and Grey Streets revealed that they exceeded the City of Melbourne's desirable minimum of 40km/h.
Kerb extensions on each corner of the intersections will provide lateral deflection on the approaches to the roundabouts and hopefully reduce traffic speed.
In 2008, the refurbishment of roundabouts at George and Gipps Street, on Powlett Street, included new kerb extensions at these intersections. Mr Haig Poulson, Principal Engineer at the City of Melbourne has informed the East Melbourne Group that the kerb extensions on the approaches will improve safety for all road users as well as pedestrians and cyclists.
1 November 2011
VEC is now receiving submissions for the Electoral Review
As reported below in May, a review of some areas of the current electoral structure of the City of Melbourne has been set in motion by Local Government minister Janet Powell.
Submissions from any interested parties or persons are now being received by the VICTORIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION. The closing date is Thursday 24 November 2011.
Changes to the electoral system for the Melbourne City Council in 2001, did not include the election of WARD Councillors.
The East Melbourne Group, together with other resident groups across the municipality, firmly believe the absence of the WARD system does not allow sufficient divisional representation on the Melbourne City Council and therefore should be re-instated.
For more information:
Victorian Electoral Commission www.vec.vic.gov.au/reviews/Melbournerr.html
Melbourne City Council www.melbourne.vic.gov.au
23 September 2011
Properties vandalised
Two prominent landmarks in East Melbourne have been targeted by vandals.
Late August, police apprehended a group of youths following a report that vandals were on the rampage at 'Mosspennoch'. Located on the corner of Clarendon and George Street, the old mansion is vacant and has planning approval for refurbishment and conversion into 6 aparments. The owner has since boarded up all the windows and surrounded the property with a high cyclone fence.
At the other end of Clarendon Street , a fire broke out in the vacant mansion 'Valetta' on the corner of Albert Street. The house was the former home of Sir Redmond Barry, and is also waiting to be restored to its former glory. A report in the 'Age' dated 2 September said fire investigators believe the fire was deliberately lit and that the offenders may have been squatting at the premises.
Both building are listed on the Heritage Register of Victoria.
10 August 2011
Works at Fitzroy Garden Depot
Council has informed the East Melbourne Group that works will commence this week at the Fitzroy Gardens depot near Wellington Parade. The works include demolition of most of the existing deport, installation of an underground water tank and water recycling system, construction of a new deport, visitor services and a new garden area.
Council is undertaking the works to improve water security in the Gardens, enhance facilities for visitors and protect the heritage values.
The project will take two years to complete and is part of the new Master Plan for the Fitzroy Gardens.
July 2011
New street tree plantings in Powlett Street
Residents in Powlett Street have received new street trees over the past few weeks. A total of 110 October Glory Red Maples (acer rubrum) have been planted as part of Council's Precinct Tree Planting Program.
19 July 2011
New Councillor for the City of Melbourne
A new councillor will fill the extraordinary vacancy created by the recent resignation of Peter Clarke earlier this month. Cr Jackie Watts who will be officially sworn in on Thursday 21 July has been an active member of the Carlton Residents' Association and Convenor of CoRBA (Coalition of Resident and Business Associations).
In accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1989, a computer countback of the votes received by Councillor Clarke at the general elections held in November 2008 was conducted.
Peter Clarke has been appointed chair of the State Government's new Urban Development Agency.
Pictured: Dr Jackie Watts.
14 July 2011
New parking technology arrives
Mystified by the little yellow signs tied to parking poles around East Melbourne and Jolimont?
The City of Melbourne is introducing new ways of monitoring and enforcing parking restrictions. Throughout the CBD, Southbank and West Melbourne, around 4500 inground sensors are being installed to detect cars that have overstayed in their parking bays. Signals are transmitted to the nearest officer's hand held device, after which the officer will then inspect the vehicle to determine if an infringement notice shoujld be issued.
Concurrently, new 'licence plate recognition' has commenced operating in East Melbourne and Jolimont. This technology enables parking officers to take photoes of number plates of parked cars using a device attached to the roof of the officers car. The officer will then be able to identify cars which have overstayed their parking limit and if need be, issue an infringement notice.
For more information:
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ParkingTransportandRoads/Parking
27 May 2011
Electoral Process to be reviewed
A long-running campaign to have 'attendance voting' and 'ward councillors' returned to the electoral system of the Melbourne City Council is gathering momentum.
CoRBA (Coalition of Resident and Business Associations), of which EMG is a member, has welcomed a decision by the Local Government Minister to conduct a review of Council's electoral structure.
After appealing to successive State Government Ministers, Councillors and the wider community over the past 10 years, CoRBA is gratified that progress towards comprehensive electoral reform in our municipality seems to be occurring at last.
In a media release dated 27 May 2011, Senator Janet Powell
"Following a request from the MCC and given that the Council's electoral arrangements have not been reviewed since 2001, it is appropriate that a review be conducted."
"The electoral review will assess whether the current number of councillors serves the demorcratic needs of the City of Melbourne and whether it should remain un-subdivided or be subdivided into wards."
A media release can be viewed in full on the link below.
http:www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/1055-electoral-review-of-melbourne-city-council.html
March 2011
Works commence in Yarra Park
The construction of a water recycling facility has commenced with excavation works being conducted in Yarra Park not far from the MCC entrance of the MCG.
A large area has been cordoned off where an underground tank will house 300 million litres of water. The project is expected to take 12-18 months to complete.
As the responsible authority of Yarra Park, the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust has committed to a three-pronged improvement plan: to protect, restore and enhance Park health, improve the Park for the community, and manager car parking responsibly.
In the MCC News, dated December 2008, the mCC chief executive officer Stepehn Gough said: "we are committed to a long-term solution for the management of Yarra Park on behalf of the whole community. A sustainable multi-use Yarra Park is our goal."
Whilst the EMG welcomes improvements to the welfare of the park, it maintains the view that the practice of car parking on this heritage is unsustainable.
