There are opportunities to comment on the future of Melbourne on Participate Melbourne participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au

At the moment there is the Draft Walking Plan open till 1 July 2014.  I think this is very good.

On the other hand The Harbour Esplanade is another plan to use what is currently public open space for commercial activities.  There have been numerous business failures in recent years with the harbour side cafe/restaurants in Docklands and I don’t think Docklands needs lots more.

Unfortunately this one closes 6 June.

Two things of interest:

1. Some residents and National Trust and Melbourne Heritage Action  have made comments on Planning Scheme Amendment C198 which includes the Queen Victoria Market area.

The replies to our comments appear at this meeting.  Some small changes seem to have been accepted but the triangular car park on Franklin St will be excised from Heritage Overlay 7.

There is also a report about the “consultation” about the Queen Victoria Market.  No plans yet, but plenty of organisation.  Concepts are to be ready April 2014, Plans October 2014.

The other interesting item is the demolition of the AMP/Suncorp building but leaving the car park.  There seems to be no proposal as to what to build there yet.

Residents 3000 had its 2nd Committee Meeting on Wednesday 29th January where John Dall’Amico was elected President unanimously.  Gabrielle Pickering has been co-opted to fill the vacant position created by John Harvey’s resignation.

Committee members are:

• President: John Dall’Amico
• Vice President:  Eric Giammario
• Treasurer: Vacant
• Secretary: Merle Willis
• Web Site Manager:  Dr Sue Saunders
• Members: Dr John Price, Gabrielle Pickering, Robyn Bunting and Ann Barton.

The committee is meeting on the 10th February to set targets for 2014.

Watch out for new activities, issues and social events to be posted on this site into 2014.