Article in the Sunday Age - are cyclists and related
groups aware of this plan for the Yarraville area?

cheers,

Chris


Anger at port plan to close off waterfront
By Clay Lucas May 15, 2005
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Anger-at-port-plan-to-close-off-waterfron\
t/2005/05/14/1116024408514.html?oneclick=true

Related: The area under consideration

Walkers and bike riders could be locked out of a key
section of Melbourne's waterfront if a push for the
State Government to seize greater control of
Melbourne's ports goes ahead.

In February, the Port of Melbourne Corporation began
circulating a draft plan for the waterfront. The draft
Port Environs Plan calls on the Government to take the
unprecedented step of cutting at least one local
council out of a say in the port's future.

This week, Maribyrnong Council lashed out at the plan,
branding it a "land grab".

"This is expansion of the port at all costs," acting
Mayor Gerard White said. "We're disgusted by it."

The council has attracted arts groups and the travel
publisher Lonely Planet to the Maribyrnong riverfront,
and wants to promote it as a recreation and business
centre.

But the Port of Melbourne's plans would ruin the
council's hopes, Cr White said. "Bike paths and
walking paths along the riverfront opposite Coode
Island will be abolished under this plan," he said.

The buffer zone plan served the needs of chemical
storage companies and heavy industry. "We've been told
ever since the 1991 fires that Coode Island is safe,"
Cr White said. "So if it's so safe, why do we need
these buffer zones?"

The report proposes removing planning controls from
the council (which controls the western side of the
Maribyrnong River) and giving them to Planning
Minister Rob Hulls.

It also points to future conflict with the other
councils - Port Phillip, Melbourne and Hobsons Bay -
if the port expands as a result of the controversial
$545 million Port Phillip Bay dredging.

Kristin McCourtie, organiser of the Fight For
Footscray group, said the scheme was nothing short of
a chemical industry wish list. "How is it that this
industry has the capability to have their wishes
drafted and tabled by the Government when we can't
even get our phone calls returned?" she said.

The Port of Melbourne stressed that the plan was a
preliminary draft, but it expected a final plan by the
end of this year. Mr Hulls said further consultation
was needed before any plan was finalised.

But the state Labor MP for Footscray, Bruce
Mildenhall, said he was now torn between pressure from
his local community and industry demands.

Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association chief
Michael Catchpole said the Port of Melbourne plan
would prevent incompatible development along the
Maribyrnong and elsewhere. "The Government has stated
it very simply," he said. "The plan is there to
protect the viability and future operations of
Australia's largest container and general cargo port."






Yarra Bicycle Users Group
------------------------------------------------------
Abbotsford, Alphington, Burnley, Carlton North,
Clifton Hill, Cremorne, Collingwood, Fairfield,
Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Princes Hill, Richmond
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yarrabug

www.yarrabug.org

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