Melbourne Magazine August / September 2015

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Melbourne
Your City of Melbourne magazine
August – September 2015
Contents
Lord Mayor’s Message ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Spending wisely and investing in our city ............................................................................................................. 3
Queen Victoria Market renewal update ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Your say ................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Letter of the month .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Email rates notices .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Participate Melbourne ........................................................................................................................................... 5
Reconcilliations Action Plan ............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
City Road master plan ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
City laneways go smoke-free ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Safety first for kensington community................................................................................................................... 6
Building a stronger connected Docklands ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
New haven for boating visitors ............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
A creative solution for empty spcaes .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Free winter firewords ............................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Robyne Latham: The Aborigine is Present ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The fine art of creating creativity .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Access all areas: Melbourne Open House ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
New MPavilion designer announced .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Winning indeas from wonderful writers ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Elm tree anniversary ............................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Events calendar .................................................................................................................................................. 16
Sport ..................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
A sweet story for community programs ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Making the most of every opportunity................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Great grants and sponsorships: Applications dates ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Grand music dreams come true ........................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
In brief ................................................................................................................................................................. 24
IBM Smarter Cities .......................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Green light for Urban Forests ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Blackbox showcases Melbourne innovation in Milan ...................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Plau On: AFL club songs ................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Stay healthy this winter .................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Your Council ....................................................................................................................................................... 25
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Robert Doyle .......................................................................................... 25
Deputy Lord Mayor Susan Riley .................................................................................................................... 25
Cr Richard Foster .......................................................................................................................................... 25
Cr Rohan Leppert .......................................................................................................................................... 25
Cr Kevin Louey .............................................................................................................................................. 25
Cr Stephen Mayne ......................................................................................................................................... 25
Cr Cathy Oke ................................................................................................................................................. 25
Cr Ken Ong .................................................................................................................................................... 25
Cr Beverley Pinder-Mortimer ......................................................................................................................... 26
Cr Jackie Watts.............................................................................................................................................. 26
Cr Arron Wood ............................................................................................................................................... 26
Postal address for all councillors ................................................................................................................... 26
Council meetings June 2015 .............................................................................................................................. 27
Council meetings July 2015 ................................................................................................................................ 27
Lord Mayor’s Commendations ............................................................................................................................ 28
Mackay Branson Design .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Contact................................................................................................................................................................ 29
National Relay Service .................................................................................................................................. 29
In person ........................................................................................................................................................ 29
Postal address ............................................................................................................................................... 29
Feedback ....................................................................................................................................................... 29
Audio version ................................................................................................................................................. 29
Lord Mayor’s Message
This time next year, work will be underway on the biggest project in Melbourne City Council’s history, the
Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal Project. This project will forever connect the market to the city and its
heritage.
Over the last year we have achieved a number of exciting project milestones. We’ve completed four rounds of
community consultation, approved a planning scheme amendment to guide development in the precinct, which
is currently on the Victorian Planning Minister’s desk for consideration, settled on the $76 million purchase of
the ‘Munro’ site and released the master plan.
Our planning scheme amendment will eradicate the ad-hoc, hodgepodge approach that has been applied to
development in the area until now. There will be certainty. There will be consistency. The city will be brought
right up to the market’s door, creating a new sense of vibrancy and connectivity.
The master plan will retain what we all love about the market, such as the fresh meat and produce and
speciality shops, while facilitating a contemporary retail offer and the realignment of Franklin Street to create
an important east-west connection.
Our growing community of inner-Melbourne residents will have a new public open space to enjoy when it
replaces the current car park. It will become the jewel in the crown of the market: a new meeting place where
people can socialise, enjoy their wares purchased from the traders or just relax and absorb the atmosphere.
Our vision is for the market precinct to play an active role in the life of the city from first thing in the morning
right through into the evening. That doesn’t mean that stallholders will have to work 24/7, but that there will be
an ever-changing, seasonal offer using interchangeable spaces that can be shared by permanent and shortterm traders over the course of the day and the week.
Shoppers won’t need a timetable: during the day, in the evening and even into the night you’ll go down to the
market and the lights will be on.
I am also committed to maintaining the market’s connection to our history which is imperative considering it is
the site of Melbourne’s first cemetery.
Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has nominated the Queen Victoria Market for inclusion on Australia’s
National Heritage List. This is the first step towards UNESCO World Heritage Listing.
The market has traded continually as a market since 1878 and predates Melbourne’s only current UNESCO
World Heritage Site, the Royal Exhibition Building and its surrounding Carlton Gardens.
In the last 30 years alone, half the city has been rebuilt or redeveloped, but for 137 years QVM has been a
constant in the story of our society and economy, a story which will continue well into the future.
Great Cities are Connected Cities
Melbourne is one of Australia’s fastest growing municipalities. More than 850,000 people move through the
city every day and this figure is expected to increase to almost 1.2 million by 2030. More people means more
movement in and around the city as people go to work, to university, to sporting events, or any of the city’s
many retail and hospitality options.
The City of Melbourne’s Transport Strategy acknowledges this anticipated growth and encourages the
increased uptake of walking, cycling and public transport. The new Melbourne Metro Rail Project will open up
a range of new transport options for residents, commuters and visitors, and when finished, will alleviate the
pressure continued growth puts on the existing public transport network. The project will see the construction
of two nine-kilometre underground rail tunnels that stretch from South Kensington in the inner-west, though to
South Yarra in the south-east.
New underground stations, located at Arden, Parkville, CBD North, CBD South and Domain, will improve
access to public transport and provide users with more options to interchange with other modes of transport
such as trams and buses. Major improvements in capacity, reliability and frequency of services on
Melbourne’s busiest train lines will be achieved through the project, with space created for an additional
20,000 passengers in peak hour.
The project’s delivery is being overseen by the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority, with the State Government of
Victoria committing $1.5 billion to the project in the 2015–16 State Budget to progress planning and
development for the project. The City of Melbourne will work in partnership with the State Government to help
communicate the project’s rollout over the coming years.
For more information, visit the Melbourne Metro Rail Project1.
1
www.mmrailproject.vic.gov.au
Your say
Letter of the month
I just wanted to write and let you know how much I enjoyed the tour of the Melbourne Town Hall. The fabulous
volunteer guide, Ray was extremely knowledgeable and had an obvious love for the building and its history.
The concierge on duty that morning, another charming gentleman, was also extremely helpful. It was a great
experience in a great city.
Anne Rout, Apollo Bay
Where can I find a map of taxi rank locations in Melbourne?
For an interactive map of taxi rank locations in the City of Melbourne visit maps.melbourne.vic.gov.au and
select ‘City Explorer’ from the menu on the left, then click on ‘Taxi Ranks’. A map of the municipality, pin
pointing taxi rank locations, will be created to match your request.
If you need a taxi late at night, the City of Melbourne also runs four Safe City taxi ranks. Each rank is staffed
by a security officer in uniform and is monitored by security camera. They run from 11pm Friday to 5am
Saturday and 11pm Saturday to 5am Sunday.
Safe City taxi rank locations:
Queen Street (between Little Collins and Bourke streets)
Flinders Street Station (on Swanston Street)
190 Bourke Street (near Russell Street)
8 King Street (near Flinders Street)
Participate Melbourne
Have your say online at Participate Melbourne2.
Join the conversation
Participate Melbourne makes it easy for people to learn about and join the conversation on some of our most
important projects. Register your interest on Participate Melbourne to stay informed.
Last kilometre freight
A growing city needs more deliveries to fill shops and offices with the things people need. Following our first
phase of consultation in March, a draft plan for last kilometre freight was developed. Consultation on this plan
will take place in August.
2
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/participate
Rail Project Takes a Look Underground
Site investigations for the Melbourne Metro Rail Project are now underway.
Information gathered on ground conditions and soil quality will help inform the alignment, depth and design of
the new rail tunnels, tunnel entrances and underground stations.
The investigation program includes approximately 140 boreholes at locations across the central city and along
the proposed rail line. The first stage began in April with the drilling of boreholes in the Arden and Lloyd Street
areas, central city and Swanston Street, Domain parkland and the Domain interchange.
The date and scope of the second stage of site investigations will be decided following the findings of the initial
investigations.
For more information, visit the Melbourne Metro Rail Project3.
Next Step for Market Precinct
Plans to revitalise the Queen Victoria Market precinct are now well underway.
To realise the vision outlined in the Queen Victoria Market Renewal Master Plan and meet our obligations set
out in the agreement with the State Government for the future of the market precinct, the City of Melbourne
has proposed a new planning scheme amendment.
The current planning controls for the area surrounding the market were created many years ago. Since then
the city has undergone significant change and new development has taken place in and around the area.
Development controls need to be updated to recognise that the market precinct is now very much a part of the
central city.
Planning Scheme Amendment C245 will help guide the use and development of the Queen Victoria Market
precinct, based on current and future needs.
The proposed amendment is respectful of the heritage and cultural significance of the Queen Victoria Market,
while acknowledging that the city will continue to grow up to and around the edge of the precinct.
To view the amendment, visit the City of Melbourne’s online engagement hub Participate Melbourne4.
3
4
www.mmrailproject.vic.gov.au
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/participate
Why Walking is Big Business
Walking is often overlooked as a major mode of transport, but in the central city, walking is how most people
get to where they need to go.
In 2010, the Department of Transport found that walking accounted for 66 per cent of all trips in the City of
Melbourne. This figure was even higher in the central city where 86 per cent of trips are on foot.
Councillor Cathy Oke, Chair of the Transport Portfolio said, ‘The main reason people come into the city is for
work and in the busy central city environment, walking is the easiest way to get around’.
According to research by SGS Planning and Economics, improving the City of Melbourne’s walking network by
10 per cent would add $2.1 billion to the local economy.
The City of Melbourne’s Walking Plan highlights the contribution walking makes to the municipality and the
economy, and outlines a practical plan to improve the pedestrian network and encourage more walking.
‘Melbourne’s current pedestrian network has many links through city blocks and more are being created as the
city grows.
Places like the historic Block Arcade have been echoed in recent developments like Goldsborough Lane on
the corner of Bourke and William streets, and Southern Cross Lane at 121 Exhibition Street, which runs
across the site of the old Southern Cross Hotel,’ Cr Oke said.
An intricate pedestrian network increases the amount of street frontage for businesses, which leads to
increased business and job opportunities generated by the increased number of potential customers walking
past.
The new Melbourne Metro train stations will also generate more walking trips. As new routes are established
the Walking Plan will help guide the development of walking in these areas.
For more information, visit the transport in the City of Melbourne5.
30 Years of the City Loop
This year marks 30 years since the completion of the City Loop, when Flagstaff Station opened on 27 May
1985.
Planning for the City Loop dates back as early as 1929. At the time Flinders Street was one of the busiest
railway stations in the world and suffered from high levels of congestion as the chief gateway to the city.
The depression and World War II saw interest in a loop wane, but the idea was revived in the 1960s and 70s
when Flinders Street Station recorded just 10 trains passed through the station per platform, per hour – or
roughly 1,700 trains a day.
The opening of the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop in 1985, provided capacity for increased passenger
numbers which underpinned jobs growth and opened up the northern end of the central city for high rise
commercial and residential development.
The number of jobs in central Melbourne has nearly doubled since 1985 and the City Loop is now at capacity
as the number of people catching public transport to work continues to grow.
5
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/transport
Mapping the future of cycling in the city
An interactive map has captured the attention and the feedback of thousands of Melbourne cyclists. With the
Bicycle Plan 2012–16 almost at an end, work has begun to develop a new four-year bicycle plan for the period
2016–20.
The first phase of public consultation took place in April and May, with an overwhelming response from the
community. More than 7000 contributions were made via an interactive Crowd Spot map on Participate
Melbourne – the largest response on the City of Melbourne’s online platform to date.
Participants were invited to highlight areas on an interactive map where they liked to ride and where they felt
conditions for cyclists could be improved.
One-thousand spots were identified, 1460 comments posted and 4700 indications of support made for other
comments. These contributions are now being analysed even further to uncover patterns, themes, gaps in the
bicycle network and priorities for the next bike plan.
Transport portfolio chair, Councillor Cathy Oke said: ‘Over the last three years there has been a significant
investment in our cycling infrastructure in line with the actions of the Bicycle Plan 2012–16. Improvements
include new on-road and off-road cycling routes, improved links and transitions between paths and increased
bicycle parking.
‘This growing network of safe and connected bicycle-friendly routes can only get better as we analyse and
respond to the feedback from those using the network’.
A draft of the new plan will be available for formal community engagement later this year.
For more information, visit cycling at the City of Melbourne6.
Good homes for lost bikes
Abandoned and unclaimed bicycles were given a new lease of life as part of a road safety initiative late last
year.
Bicycles abandoned in the municipality are held by the City of Melbourne for three months. Those which
remain unclaimed are sent to Good Cycles, a not-for-profit mobile bike repair service, to be reconditioned.
Good Cycles then works with cycling advocacy organisation Squeaky Wheel, on behalf of City of Melbourne,
to deliver Good Wheel, a program for local residents with limited access to bikes or knowledge of cycling.
Good Wheel participants were provided with a bicycle, which was theirs to keep upon completion of the
program, along with a helmet (donated by Nutcase), a lock (donated by Knog) and lights. The program taught
basic bike maintenance, road safety and travel planning.
Jette Achleitner, the Acting Executive Director of Squeaky Wheel said: ‘with this bicycle they get an affordable
form of transport, they gain mobility and the ability to connect with their community. The program also gives
participants the skills to ride safely in traffic’.
6
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/cycling
Behind the seams, MSFW: Designer runways
For fashion designers and fashion-conscious consumers alike, Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) is
the premier consumer fashion event of the season.
Presented by City of Melbourne, MSFW showcases our thriving fashion and retail scene with a unique
program of shopping, entertainment and hospitality experiences.
Every year the Melbourne Town Hall provides a dramatic backdrop for the annual MSFW: Designer runway
series. The runways are an opportunity for Australia’s design elite to showcase their spring/summer
collections, highlighting key colours and styles for the coming season.
For Kristy Barber, the creative force behind Melbourne based womenswear label Kuwaii, 2015 will be her fifth
time down the MSFW runway.
‘It’s always a lot of work. The days and the weeks leading up are always incredibly stressful; running around
procuring last minute samples, adjusting fits and tweaking looks and watching and analysing the dress
rehearsal. By the time the show comes around, I have had a champagne or two and I am pretty excited to
watch the show’.
In addition to the glitz and glamour, which goes hand in hand with such an event, MSFW also has another
side: to support and promote Melbourne’s fashion and retail industries to a broader audience and drive retail
trade in the municipality.
‘For us, MSFW gives us the chance to see our designs come to life down the runway and it’s always a great
way to introduce our customers to our new collection’, said Kristy.
Held over four evenings, the series of one-off, designer runways showcase the city’s talent and underline
Melbourne’s status as the fashion capital of Australia. Premium seating and hospitality packages are also
available to create a VIP fashion experience.
Other designers participating in the MSFW: Designer runways include Akira, Alexi Freeman, Aurelio
Costarella, Carla Zampatti, Craig Braybrook, búl, Manning Cartell and Thurley.
And what of the colours for spring? Kristy said: ‘in Kuwaii’s spring collection there’s green, including soft tones
of sage and moss, berry red, blossom pink and graphic black and white’.
MSFW: Designer, Melbourne Town Hall, 1 to 4 September
For more information, visit Melbourne Spring Fashion Week7.
Opening weekend MSFW: Shop the city
Shoppers get ready for MSFW: Shop the City, an entire weekend of exclusive offers and unique shopping
experiences in key retail precincts across the city, from 28 to 30 August. The weekend kicks-off on Friday, with
the debut of the international shopping event, Vogue Fashion’s Night Out, which has made Melbourne the first
stop, for one night only, on a circuit of 27 cities in 19 countries around the world. #shopthecity
7
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/msfw
Snapshot MSFW 2015

MSFW: Shop the City, 28 to 30 August

MSFW: Designer, 1 to 4 September

MSFW: Mr, 3 September

MSFW: Hub, 30 August to 4 September

MSFW: Emerging, 30 August

MSFW: Industry, 28 August to 4 September

MSFW: Curated, 21 August to 11 September
For more information, visit Melbourne Spring Fashion Week8.
8
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/msfw
The modern Melbourne man: spotlight on Melbourne
Spring Fashion Week label Godwin Charli
As a city known for its stylish residents, the current trend in men’s fashion and grooming has not gone
unnoticed by the men of Melbourne. Manicured hair, pocket handkerchiefs, shiny shoes and tailored trousers,
all point to a growing sartorial awareness.
Godwin Hili, the designer and owner of Melbourne-based clothing store Godwin Charli, is the epitome of the
modern Melbourne man. He takes pride in his appearance and is fastidious about fit. ‘I grew up with a natural
instinct of how fit works,’ said Godwin. ‘My mother was a dressmaker and would alter things for me at the drop
of a hat’.
These were skills Godwin would draw on when he entered the corporate world as a trainee accountant for
leading accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, in 2000. ‘It was an environment where I wore a suit every
day. Australia was very disconnected from Europe and the European scene at that point and off-the-rack suits
were very much the norm. I wanted things that fitted me and I started wearing my own creations to work’.
Soon Godwin discovered he was more interested in what he was wearing to work and helping others do the
same, than he was in corporate accounting.
A friend with connections to a local men’s tailoring workshop was the key Godwin needed to transition into the
world of fashion design. ‘I was not schooled in fashion and tailoring, so I spent a lot of time at the factory
studying the craft,’ said Godwin.
Armed with his new skills and an understanding of the needs and requirements of the modern professional,
Godwin opened his first shop in the boutique fashion enclave of Little Collins Street in 2007. Named Godwin
Charli, in an affectionate nod to his father Charles, the brand caters to both men and women with sharp
tailoring and interchangeable pieces.
‘Guys are now more open to experiment with textures and combining separates. They’re also more savvy.
New technology means customers are being fed trends more readily and they want to dress like the people in
Europe’.
When it comes to spring/summer Godwin says shades of blue still dominate for men, while for women he
prefers warmer wine colours like tawny port. For those keen to stay a step ahead of the pack, the Godwin
Charli spring/summer collection will be centre stage during Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, as part of the
MSFW: Mr program.
The designer runway program at Melbourne Town Hall will showcase key menswear pieces from designers
such as Arthur Galan AG, Brent Wilson, Calibre, Dom Bagnato, Et Al, Jac+Jack, MJ Bale, Joe Black and
Bassike.
MSFW: Mr, Melbourne Town Hall, 3 September
Use #MSFW to start or follow conversations on social media during the event.
For more information, visit Melbourne Spring Fashion Week9.
9
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/msfw
Urban renewal: Planning for future growth
Managing population growth efficiently is an important challenge for the City of Melbourne.
Melbourne is now Australia’s fastest growing city, with the municipality’s current residential population of
122,000 set to almost double to 202,000 by 2030, while the total daily population is estimated to grow from
854,000 to 1.18 million.
Councillor Ken Ong, Chair of the City of Melbourne’s Planning portfolio said, ‘How we manage Melbourne’s
rapidly growing population is all about planning and good planning is all about people. This means we must
consider how people use the city and understand where and how they work, move about, live and socialise’.
A common response to population growth is to open up housing development on the urban fringe, releasing
more land for development. ‘The flaw with this approach is the huge investment required in new infrastructure
including roads, public transport, community services, parks and gardens, which all need to be built to support
newly established communities,’ said Cr Ong.
A more sustainable option is to increase the capacity of underutilised space within established municipalities.
These areas are already serviced by the necessary infrastructure such as public transport and community
services. They are also within close proximity to the central city and other services, making them ideal for
urban renewal.
Potential growth areas near the central city were identified in Future Melbourne, the City of Melbourne’s longterm plan for the future direction of all aspects of city life, which was endorsed by Council in 2008 (work is now
underway to update the plan in 2016). The nominated areas were then refined for inclusion in the City of
Melbourne’s Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS).
The MSS is a statement of the city’s key strategic planning for the next 40 years and governs planning and
development strategies and objectives in the City of Melbourne. The current MSS was approved by the
Planning Minister in 2013 and among its priorities it identified a number of areas suitable for urban renewal:
City North, Arden-Macaulay, E-Gate and Fishermans Bend.
Of course urban renewal is not new to Melbourne. The central city is surrounded by examples of past renewal
projects, which transformed underutilised areas into high-performance, densely-populated hubs.
St Kilda Road is a prime example. In the 1960s, local planning agencies changed the zoning from residential
to commercial, opening the way for the local financial industry to grow in an area that was close to the city,
close to residential areas and well-serviced by public transport.
In the 1980s and 1990s it was the light-industrial warehouses of Southbank that came under scrutiny.
Following significant redevelopment, including the addition of the Southbank Promenade in 1990, the area
was invigorated with retail and hospitality offerings, as well as high-rise office towers and apartment buildings.
Docklands was the next candidate for renewal. With its prestigious Collins and Bourke Street addresses,
dramatic residential views and waterside retail premises, Docklands has become a natural extension of the
central city.
Similar potential lies in the urban renewal areas currently designated in the MSS. The City North urban
renewal area, which stretches from the Queen Victoria Market in the south towards the University of
Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital in the north, has all the characteristics to meet the future needs of a
growing population.
Ideally positioned alongside major health, education and research institutions, the area is also close to the
central city and aligned with the new Melbourne Metro Rail Project, which will provide residents and workers
with excellent transport options. The rail project will also open up additional former industrial areas for urban
renewal around the proposed Arden Station in the southern portion of Arden-Macaulay.
A structure plan for City North was developed by the City of Melbourne in 2012, following extensive community
engagement. The plan acknowledges the area has the capacity to accommodate a large proportion of
Melbourne’s increasing population and identifies key directions for its long term renewal. Urban renewal in the
area will also complement the increased employment opportunities presented by the ongoing expansion of
organisations in the burgeoning knowledge precinct.
‘Council’s objective in planning for future growth is to ensure we have clear planning rules in place to inform
the public and the property development industry of the city’s vision, rules and guidelines, as well as the
requirements for protection of areas of heritage significance,’ said Cr Ong.
‘While there has been a lot of focus on the building heights and densities, it is important to acknowledge that
these issues can be managed by planning rules and guidelines and design standards, as well as internal
amenities and services provided within high density developments.
‘What is really important is where these buildings meet the street and how they provide interfaces and
activation, while respecting neighbours higher up.
‘Our city is growing rapidly. This growth enhances our profile and boosts the economy, but we need to be
smart about how we manage it. We have an opportunity with City North, and similar urban renewal areas to
develop something special that will add to our city’s future’.
A fresh start for a forgotten laneway
Kids, spray paint and a dark city laneway could be a recipe for disaster, or an ingenious plan with broadreaching outcomes.
Flinders Court, a sad and forgotten lane that runs between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane, at the western
side of Elizabeth Street, was recently identified as a site that would benefit from increased activity, by the City
of Melbourne’s Love Your Laneway program.
To improve existing perceptions about safety in the area and make the laneway more welcoming as a
pedestrian thoroughfare, a group of young people from the St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre in North
Melbourne were invited to paint colourful murals in the laneway, under the guidance of local street artists.
Student Tyson Lyons, 15, said: ‘I was a little bit scared my first time, but I did it. All the artists were really
helpful and it turned out better than I thought’.
Tyson wanted to do a cartoon for his painting and he had been thinking through different ideas when he saw
the familiar rectangular figure of American cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants and chose it for his
design.
Freya Casey, 13, took inspiration from Alice in Wonderland for her grinning Cheshire Cat surrounded by
playing cards. ‘I’ve always loved the Cheshire Cat because he’s just so funny and purple is my favourite
colour. I like that it’s a bit scary in the dark lane’.
Asked about the challenges of spray painting Freya said: ‘it’s difficult to get all the outlines and the details. It’s
really hard to get the shading effect around the eyes. Height is a challenge too. I could only just reach the ears
standing on the crate.’
The spray painting took place during National Reconciliation Week in late May to celebrate young people from
different backgrounds coming together for a positive cause.
The initiative, part of a City of Melbourne Public Space Improvement Project, drew on urban design principles
relating to improved safety through environmental design and local community partnerships.
ArtPlay for Artists: It’s child’s play
Conducting art-based workshops with children might sound like child’s play, but as in any field of work, there is
always room for improvement.
The ArtPlay for Artists program was developed by ArtPlay in 2012 as one of several initiatives to support
artists working with children. The sessions are a mixture of hands-on workshops and presentations to inspire
artists and stimulate discussion and ideas around children’s art and its place in society. The program is open
to anyone engaging with children and the arts, including artists, parents, producers, art therapists and
educators.
Puppeteer Jenny Ellis, who conducts workshops with children, has attended many ArtPlay for Artists sessions.
Jenny was recently inspired by an ArtPlay workshop run by installation artists, Ken and Julia Yonetani, in
which children created 240 Japanese-inspired lanterns.
‘This is the time when I can learn and find new inspiration for my practice, and each time I walk away from the
ArtPlay sessions I find myself thinking about new ways of approaching my work with children,’ said Jenny. ‘It
was through ArtPlay that I gained a lot of insight into how other artists work with children’.
The ArtPlay for Artists program also aligns with the City of Melbourne’s Arts Strategy vision to support artists
in the creation and development of new work.
Get involved in ArtPlay for Artists with Playful Spaces. A panel of artists will discuss the different ways they
create spaces that encourage children and families to play and express themselves. Wednesday 12 August,
5.30pm to 7pm ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr. For more information, visit ArtPlay10.
The Dirty Dozen
Art pops up in the strangest places in Melbourne. Indeed, Campbell Arcade, the pedestrian subway which
connects Flinders Street Station to the north side of Flinders Street, is home to twelve eye-catching art-filled
glass display cases.
The cases were recently restyled as exhibition spaces for artists, as part of the City of Melbourne’s Creative
Spaces program. In keeping with Melbourne’s love affair with hidden spaces, the display cases will both
surprise and attract people to one of Melbourne’s oldest commuter underpasses with quirky and innovative art
work.
Named the Dirty Dozen, in a wry nod to the location and number, the space was opened in June with
Prevaricated Frequencies, an installation by a group of science and engineering graduates from Victoria
University who go by the name, Skunk Control.
The works use filters and polarised light to throw colour on the intricate plastic feathers, flowers and dried
leaves that make up the displays. The space is available to artists from all disciplines through an application
process. Successful applicants will be selected on the strength of their proposal, how well the work addresses
the space and its capacity to attract public attention.
For more information, visit Creative Spaces11
10
11
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/artplay
www.creativespaces.net.au
Events calendar
A few of our favourite things.
Until 16 August
Melbourne International Film Festival
Experience the festival buzz as you immerse yourself in the year’s most extraordinary contemporary cinema,
revel in rarely seen repertoire and participate in provocative discussion panels. Now in its 64th year, be moved
and inspired at MIFF.
7, 14, 21 and 28 August
Friday night fireworks
Light up your Friday nights with free fireworks in Docklands. Arrive early to enjoy the roving entertainment from
6.30pm, or to get a prime view at one of the waterfront restaurants. Fireworks start at 7.30pm.
8 August
Errol’s Angels: A night of swing
Dance the night away at North Melbourne’s Meat Market with swing dance lessons, to the tune of Dr Crask
and His Swingin’ Elixir band and the silky sounds of the Errol’s Angels themselves. All proceeds go to the
Asylum Seekers Resource Centre and Nepal Earthquake Appeal.
9 August
Signal: Nomad Cinematic
A curated film and discussion session to inspire dialogue and creativity around the African Australian diaspora
experience. The session will start by looking at the global African diaspora and the role of African-Australians
in shaping this culture.
14 and 16 August
City Science
Boggle your brain with amazing science at one of the many events taking place around Melbourne during
National Science Week. Then head to the Queen Victoria Market on Sunday to explore the links between
food, and science and technology.
14 to 27 August
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
See the best cinema from India and the subcontinent, or be dazzled by the Bollywood Dance Competition,
Awards Night and Fashion Gala. There is also a short film competition, master classes and panel discussions.
19 to 22 August
Arts House: SDS1
Former professional soccer player, turned performer Ahilan Ratnamohan combines his artistic and sporting
talents in SDS1, a dance-inspired work described by Ratnamohan as ‘football dance theatre.’ SDS1 explores
not only the physical aspect of sport, but the psychological as well, delving into the mental vulnerability of
sporting warriors.
20 to 29 August
Mudfest
Mudfest is the longest running student arts festival in Australia. Marking its quarter century this year, Mudfest
aims to be the most accessible and sustainable student arts event, with more than 500 emerging artists
presenting 100 plus projects at the University of Melbourne Parkville campus.
20 to 30 August
Melbourne Writers Festival
Melbourne’s annual celebration of writers, readers and thinkers draws out talented people from Australia and
around the world, for a vibrant program of storytelling, conversation, discussion, debate and more
26 to 30 August
Arts House: Confusion for Three
Melbourne choreographer Jo Lloyd presents this contemporary dance performance in which three dances
negotiate a dysfunctional system of choreography using a set of highly physical and mentally demanding
tasks.
28 August to 4 September
Melbourne Spring Fashion Week
Get up-to-date with the latest fashions at Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. With a unique program of designer
runways, shopping, entertainment and hospitality experiences, it’s the best way to be the best dressed next
season.
30 August
Melbourne Day, Regatta and Concert
Celebrate 180 marvellous years of Melbourne with a day of celebrations, starting with a flag raising ceremony
at Enterprize Park, where John Batman landed on 30 August 1835. The festivities continue with the
spectacular Melbourne Regatta. See a colourful flotilla at Victoria Harbour, headed by the schooner
Enterprize. Bring the whole family for the Blessing of the Fleet, followed by a free concert at the Docklands
headlined by Daryl Braithwaite and Russell Morris.
5 September
Singapura
Singapura is a food festival and community day. Highlights include a hawker style food festival with food
vendors selling local Singaporean cuisine and a live cooking demonstration by a local celebrity chef.
5, 12, 19 and 26 September
Signal: Perform Your Own Groove
Discover your inner performer with this series of live electronic music workshops run by music producers and
performers. Learn about the creative process and experiment with a variety of techniques and styles. The
workshops culminate in a live electronic music gig on 10 October.
10 to 13 September
Arts House: A Drone Opera
Renowned visual artist Matthew Sleeth explores the developing technology of unmanned aerial vehicles
(drones) and their social and cultural impact. This experimental multimedia performance features drones and
opera singers, with music and laser lighting.
11 to 13 September
Arts House: Dance of the Bee
Composer Martin Friedel uses a live swarm of bees to demonstrate the fragile connection between humanity
and the honey bee. Three pianists and the Astra Choir complete this intense and unique musical performance.
12 and 13 September
ArtPlay: Paper Tape Torch
Create an atmospheric sculptural world using lashings of butcher’s paper, masking tape and the architecture
of a massive room. What kind of environments can you make? Suitable for children aged 10+.
16 September to 4 October
Melbourne Fringe
See emerging and established artists take risks, safe in the knowledge that their audience wants to discover
something only the Fringe Festival could unearth.
21 September
United Nations World Peace Day
Olive trees will take centre stage in City Square to mark United Nations World Peace Day, from noon. Write a
message of peace on a card stamped with a Michael Leunig Peace Duck and tie it to an olive tree branch to
wish for peace in places of conflict.
Sport
30 August
A Walk in the Park
Get walking and help to create positive change for people living with Parkinson’s disease. A range of fun,
family activities create a memorable experience for thousands of enthusiastic participants and every dollar
raised helps to support people living with Parkinson’s in Victoria.
30 August
Sofitel Girls’ Day out Melbourne Cup Carnival
Celebrate the return of spring racing at Flemington with the Sofitel Girls’ Day Out. The day features four Group
races, including the headline $400,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes. It’s a world-class event that
encompasses the finest racing, entertainment, fashion, culture, food and wine.
30 September to 3 October
2015 Foxtel Footy Festival
This year, grand final fever will move to the MCG and surrounding Yarra Park as Melburnians count down to
the big day. Events include the Toyota AFL Grand Final Parade, family-friendly activities, food, music and
social zones for the after-work crowd.
3 October
AFL Grand Final
It’s not often the AFL Grand Final is played in October, but there is an easy way to remember with the help of
footy-anthem-writer Mike Brady’s reworked classic: ‘There’s one day in October. Footy’s almost over...’
Discover all that’s happening in Melbourne on What’s On12.
12
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/whatson
Sports clubs invited to play at Docklands
The City of Melbourne is seeking expressions of interest from Docklands residents to form new community
sports clubs in the Docklands’ newest open space.
Ron Barassi Senior Park includes a grassed area suitable for numerous sports and activities such as soccer,
AFL 9s, rugby, yoga and ultimate frisbee. There is also a community pavilion, a children’s playground and
plenty of space to kick a ball or walk the dog.
The new park, due to open later this year, will provide plenty of space for people to exercise and get together
in the open air.
The name Ron Barassi Senior was chosen by public vote and honours the former Melbourne Football Club
rover who left for World War II just days after the club’s 1940 premiership.
Barassi Senior was also a City of Melbourne employee and was killed in action in Tobruk in 1941. His name
appears on a marble memorial in the Melbourne Town Hall listing the officers and employees who served in
the World Wars of 1914–18 and 1939–45.
The park was funded by the Victorian Government, constructed by Places Victoria and once complete it will be
owned and operated by the City of Melbourne.
Interested residents contact recreation@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Attention all music maestros
The Federation Bells in Birrarung Marr are truly the people’s bells. Anyone with the app can play the bells with
a smart phone or tablet.
Both budding and accomplished musical maestros can take the interaction one step further with the
Federation Bells composition competition.
More than 70 compositions were received for last year’s competition, with the $2000 prize awarded to
engineer John Coutts.
The judges said: ‘John created a spacious work of beautiful shimmering textures that ebbs and flows. It makes
excellent use of the Federation Bells’ dynamic sensitivity and has an extra mesmerising quality when standing
amongst the bells’.
Compositions can be created with a smart phone, or via the composition website at
www.federationbells.com.au. Composers with more technical skills can download a patch to use in their own
studio.
The 39 computer controlled bells, created for the centenary of Australia’s Federation, play more than 100
compositions each week. Take up the challenge and make Federation Bells in Birrarung Marr some noise.
Melbourne puts out the welcome mat
When Satyaveni Poornima Veni Ghanta arrived in Docklands from India last October, she felt a little lost.
Accompanied by her husband and two-year old son, she had no other family and very few friends in
Melbourne and felt trapped in her small apartment.
‘I had butterflies in my stomach,’ Poornima said, ‘I couldn’t even get out and ride the free tram, I needed a
gentle push’.
Poornima had previously lived in the US and UK with her husband, who works for Ericsson, but there was a
major difference with her move to Melbourne. ‘This time has been more difficult because I have a child,’ she
said: ‘I need to get out with Suhas every day’.
Looking for a helping hand, Poornima discovered the Docklands Hub and was introduced to a range of
activities and services in Melbourne.
Soon she was sitting around cushions and wooden blocks with other mums and children, chatting and playing
as part of a family program at the Hub. ‘I instantly felt a sense of belonging and now I feel liberated knowing
everyone here,’ Poornima said.
Many recently arrived residents have little knowledge of the social and cultural landscape. The New to
Melbourne Program offers seven free information sessions to support families who have just moved into the
municipality. The program explains where to find services and activities including childcare and kindergarten
programs, playgroups, and maternal and child health nursing.
The hub has also become a place for mums and their children to get together and plan activities. Several
families have even banded together to buy in bulk and share the shopping load.
In a back room, a circle of mums and youngsters take part in a session led by two bright guest speakers from
Library at The Dock. With hand clapping, singing, hugging and crayon smearing, it’s a happy place.
In January the program will move to a larger space and cater for more people to drop in, develop friendships
and share information.
Encouraged by her positive experience mixing at the Hub, Poornima has discovered more activities in the city
such as Thai cooking classes and the Melbourne walking tours.
‘My calendar is full’, she said.
For more information, visit City of Melbourne13.
Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre now open
Carlton residents got their first chance to experience the new Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre
following its opening in July.
More than 1000 people attend the community open day to see how the redevelopment had transformed the
1870s primary school building into a beautiful 21st century resource centre.
Members of the Syme family, including former editor of The Age Ranald Macdonald, also attended a special
ceremony to see how the centre had changed.
Not just a repository for its 40,000 lending books, CDs and DVDs, the building is also a thriving hub for the
community complete with training rooms, a computer lab, recording studio, meeting rooms, activity spaces and
free Wi-Fi.
Wurundjeri artist Mandy Nicholson was commissioned to develop an artwork for the building, which is situated
in the main entrance to greet visitors as they enter the building.
A social enterprise cafe also ensures a quality Melbourne coffee is never too far away.
For more information, visit Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre 14.
13
14
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/families
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/kathleensyme
RMIT and MSFW celebrate 10-year anniversary
Associate Professor Karen Webster started working at RMIT University in 1992 and has held senior positions
in fashion since 1994. After a five-year secondment as the Director of the Melbourne Fashion Festival, Karen
returned to RMIT where she is now Deputy Head of School, Fashion and Textiles.
How did the collaboration with RMIT and Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) first come about?
In 2005 we started discussing how vital fashion was to the culture of our city and two key things contributed to
that. Firstly, the spirit of MSFW and its commitment to emerging designers, which was intrinsic since its
inception. Secondly, that RMIT University was part of the ethos of the city with its focus on design, creativity
and innovation. It was logical that we should combine our commitment to Melbourne and its creative soul by
working together.
What benefits do the RMIT graduate runways have for students?
This is an exceptional opportunity for students to share the same catwalk as some of our leading designers.
MSFW provides a showcase of RMIT Fashion to the media and industry in a highly polished, professional
experience.
What was the most memorable moment from a graduate runway?
Oh, there are so many and every year it just gets better and better. One experience that will always stay with
me was actually off-runway, but facilitated by MSFW to support our students. The year that Danni Minogue
was the ‘face’ of MSFW she came into RMIT to meet the students. It was meant to be a brief visit and she
stayed for hours. Danni is incredible, at the time she had her own label and was astutely informed on the
industry and understood the detail that went into the creations. She had a genuine interest in the students and
provided sound and professional advice.
How has the RMIT graduate runway program evolved over the years?
We are so lucky to have access to Melbourne’s best venue (the Melbourne Town Hall) and over the years
leading stylists, production companies, choreographers, DJs and the whole behind-the-scenes teams that
make this event happen. We have moved from being an off-site event to being embedded into the main
schedule. This year as we celebrate ten 10 years together, RMIT Fashion will present looks in the first of the
runways in the Melbourne Town Hall launching an exciting week of Melbourne’s best fashion offerings.
What do you like best about the graduate runways?
I love the energy. I personally feel so proud of the incredible talent of our students and the effort and support
contributed by our staff to make this happen. On the night the Town Hall is filled with supporters who are keen
to see what the next generation of fashion designers represents. The excitement is electric. My hands are
almost raw from all the clapping at the end of the show.
For more information, visit Melbourne Spring Fashion Week15.
15
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/msfw
In brief
Collins Street floral displays
Decorative flower boxes were installed on the south side of Collins Street, between Exhibition and Russell
streets, in June as part of a six-month trial. The flower boxes are similar to those outside the Melbourne Town
Hall and are intended to brighten the area for local traders. The displays will be monitored to gauge their
impact and maintenance levels.
New Asset Management Strategy
A draft Asset Management Strategy has been developed as part of a long-term plan to create and obtain the
assets that will be needed by the City of Melbourne in coming decades. By managing our assets carefully we
aim to meet future challenges and ensure long-term sustainability and liveability.
Looking after our furry friends
When out and about with your pet in the City of Melbourne, remember your pet needs to be registered and
wearing their current registration tag. If you’re with your dog in an open space, please remember to carry a
plastic bag or pooper scooper and dispose of their droppings appropriately.
Go green and get rewarded
City of Melbourne residents can now earn exclusive discounts from local businesses for recycling and living
green. GreenMoney is our rewards program for the environment. Earn points for eco-friendly activities and
redeem for free meals, movie tickets and discounted groceries. Sign up at greenmoney.com.au or download
the GreenMoney app today.
Are your immunisations up to date?
Children under the age of six years living in the municipality can get vaccinations at our community
immunisation sessions and at their regular check-ups with our maternal and child health nurses. Stop by one
of our open community sessions or contact us to discuss options for your family.
Your Council
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Robert Doyle
Future Melbourne (Major Projects), Committee Chair
Phone 9658 9658
Email lordmayor@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Deputy Lord Mayor Susan Riley
Future Melbourne (Marketing Melbourne), Committee Deputy Chair
Phone 9658 9043
Email susan.riley@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Cr Richard Foster
Future Melbourne (People City), Committee Chair
Phone 9658 9056
Email richard.foster@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Cr Rohan Leppert
Future Melbourne (Arts and Culture), Committee Chair
Phone 9658 9051
Email rohan.leppert@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Cr Kevin Louey
Future Melbourne (Economic Development) Committee Chair, Docklands Coordination Committee CoChair
Phone 9658 9170 or mobile 0413 960 811
Email kevin.louey@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Cr Stephen Mayne
Future Melbourne (Finance and Governance) Committee Chair
Phone 9658 9636 or mobile 0412 106 241
Email stephen.mayne@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Cr Cathy Oke
Future Melbourne (Transport), Committee Chair
Phone 9658 9086
Email cathy.oke@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Cr Ken Ong
Future Melbourne (Planning), Committee Chair
Phone 9658 9704
Email ken.ong@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Cr Beverley Pinder-Mortimer
Future Melbourne (Marketing Melbourne) Committee Chair
Phone 9658 9038
Email beverley.pinder-mortimer@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Cr Jackie Watts
Future Melbourne (Knowledge City), Committee Chair
Phone 9658 8580
Email jackie.watts@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Cr Arron Wood
Future Melbourne (Environment), Committee Chair
Phone 9658 9630
Email arron.wood@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Postal address for all Councillors
City of Melbourne,
GPO Box 1603, Melbourne VIC 3001
Fax for all councillors 03 9658 9613
All committee meetings are held in: Council Meeting Room, Level 2 Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street,
Melbourne, except the Docklands Coordination Committee, which is held at: Goods Shed, 710 Collins Street,
Docklands, Melbourne.
All council meetings are held in: Council Chamber, (Public Gallery, Level 3) Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston
Street, Melbourne.
On occasion, council meetings are rescheduled or special meetings of the committees and council are called.
For upcoming council and committee meeting dates and times, visit melbourne.vic.gov.au
Changes to the meeting schedule are published at melbourne.vic.gov.au and on the notice board at the front
of the Melbourne Town Hall administration building.
Council meetings August 2015
Meeting
Date
Time
Future Melbourne Committee
Tuesday 4 August
5.30pm
Future Melbourne Committee
Tuesday 11 August
5.30pm
Council
Tuesday 25 August
5.30pm
Council meetings September 2015
Meeting
Date
Time
Future Melbourne Committee
Tuesday 1 September
5.30pm
Future Melbourne Committee
Tuesday 8 September
5.30pm
Docklands Coordination Committee
Tuesday 15 September 6pm
Council
Tuesday 29 September
Lord Mayor’s Commendations
David and Jean Beanham Modak Motocycles
The interior of Elizabeth Street’s Modak Motorcycles hasn’t changed much in the five decades it has served
motorcycle riders and enthusiasts. The specialist parts shop has a rustic appearance with a well-trodden
wooden floor, enduring wooden cupboards, wooden shelves and wooden cabinets filled with neatly arranged
motorcycle parts.
An ex-Australian army BSA B40 motorcycle stands at the entrance as a symbol of the business the family has
operated for the last 60 years. David Beanham, 59, has served customers since the age of five, helping out
after class and on Saturday mornings.
‘I guess it’s in my blood. My father, uncle and grandfather, were all in the motorcycle trade,’ David said.
During the Second World War David’s father, Robert and uncle, Harry, began working together selling
motorcycles and parts in Elizabeth Street. In 1955 his father bought the Modak business at 342 Elizabeth
Street. Seventeen years later the business moved across the road when the Melbourne Underground Rail
Loop authority acquired the block to build Museum Station, now known as Melbourne Central Station.
Robert died aged 90 in 2001, but David’s ninety-one year old mother Jean, still works beside him, five and a
half days a week. David, who rides a 1956 BSA Gold Star in rallies, laughs when he is quizzed about the good
and bad about working with family. ‘The good is that you trust the person you are working with. Don’t ask me
what the bad is’.
Customers who walk through the open door often have a back story to their motorcycle parts needs. David is
happy to engage but he says, ‘there’s not too much I haven’t heard’.
Over the years Modak has catered for a range of traditional bikes including Harley and Indian, but principally
the British BSA, Norton and Triumph models, which had all stopped production by the early 1980s. Since then
Modak has specialised in parts for motorcycles from the 1940s to 1980s.
‘People aren’t keeping their old bikes going (anymore), they don’t ride to (commute), it’s more of a hobby,’
David said. ‘They are restoring them, wanting them to look right. Gone are the days of the long run. When did
you last see an old bike on the road?’
It’s a love of the bikes themselves and attention to detail that keeps customers coming through David’s door.
In 2013 David Beanham was recognised with a silver Lord Mayor’s Commendation and his mother Jean
received a platinum commendation. Modak Motorcycles is located at 299 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. The
businesses featured on this page are all recipients of Lord Mayor’s commendations. The commendations
recognise the long-term commitment and contributions of Melbourne’s small business proprietors and familyrun businesses to the City of Melbourne.
For more information visit Lord Mayor’s Commendations16.
16
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/commendations
Contact
03 9658 9658 (7.30am to 6pm)
City of Melbourne website17
Contact the City of Melbourne18
National Relay Service
Teletypewriter (TTY) users phone 13 36 77 then ask for 03 9658 9658
Speak & Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 9658 9658
In person
Melbourne Town Hall Administration Building
120 Swanston Street, Melbourne
7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Postal address
City of Melbourne
GPO Box 1603
Melbourne VIC 3000
Feedback
To subscribe, update your address, unsubscribe or provide feedback, contact the City of Melbourne or email
melbournenews@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Audio version
To receive a copy, email john.rojas@visionaustralia.org at Vision Australia or phone 03 8378 1252.
17
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au
18 www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/contactus
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