It’s over!

Finally all votes have been cast and the counting for our next City of Melbourne council begins. There were some amazing policies, many of which cannot happen!

All we want from a Parkville perspective is for the new council to recognise the suburbs are as important as the CBD when setting policies!

Over the past four years we have continued to build a relationship with the council and to ensure decisions made were good for Parkville. We are not demanding, and we work with council officers to achieve the support we require for our major issues.

They are parking, traffic, streetscape maintenance, adherence to planning issues, and resident safety. We hear constantly about graffiti removal and the success in the CBD but sadly they have missed the rest of the City of Melbourne. 

Recently the greatest issue for us has been the Royal Park Masterplan. After this election we will have several new councillors, and I would like to invite the full council to Royal Park to see what we love about the natural environment and why we are opposed to changing the beauty of our local bushland!

Safety is another issue for us and “rat running” needs to be addressed, as does the promised 30 kph speed limit! Continuing on the subject of safety Trinity College students are addressing the tram stop issues at Morrah Street. As mentioned previously, since the super-stop was built the Morrah stop has become the main University stop. With constant cars running past stationary trams passengers are in danger.

Likewise, the whole crossing is not synchronised and this confuses many people who think they can walk across the full crossing during one light cycle. We need urgent action.

We also need a separate bicycle crossing to avoid drinkers and staff being at risk outside Naughtons!

Last week we met with Trinity College Theological School dean Bob Derrenbacker to see how the Parkville Association could help Trinity build more relationships with the local community. For those of us who know the Chapel it is a beautiful building and hosts Evensong during term times. The Trinity Choir is one of the best in Victoria if not Australia! We will be working closely with our friends across Royal Parade when students return early next year.

Many residents don’t realise the size of the suburb of Parkville. We are currently setting up a new website and last Saturday I took a photographer around Parkville for new site pictures. Do all realise that Melbourne University is fully within Parkville, as is the Melbourne General Cemetery, the State Netball and Hockey Centre, the Melbourne Zoo and of course our great biotech and medical precinct.

With Royal Park in the centre we live in arguably the largest inner-city suburb! Our photographer certainly agreed after a couple of hours around Parkville.

Finally on a social note we are having our Party in the Park on December 1 in Ievers Reserve. From 12.30 until 4.30pm it is a chance for all local residents and friends to get together and enjoy food, drinks and music! All are welcome.

Enjoy November! •