The Council meeting this evening endorsed the Draft Domestic Animal Management Plan and upgrade works for Smith Street in Fishermans Bend/Port Melbourne to accommodate the new Fishermans Bend Primary School.
Smith Street Upgrades
Smith Street situated off Williamstown Road is the location of the new Fishermans Bend Primary School, which has been built to accommodate the future residential population of this precinct.
Fishermans Bend is undergoing urban renewal transforming form warehousing and industrial usage into inner urban residential living. One of the challenges of this transition is accommodating both current needs and future needs.
This evening Council considered two options for Smith Street. The first, which would have transformed Smith Street into a one-way street, was voted down.
The second option which I moved before the Council retains the two-way street, while also incorporating a shared bike and pedestrian path on the western side – providing transport choice for school children and their families:
3.1 Endorses the staged delivery of Smith Street, with Stage 1 identified as an immediate priority to deliver upgrade works along the school frontage.
3.2 Endorses the Option 2B concept design for Stage 1, which retains two-way access along Smith Street, and includes a new footpath, linear park, and pick up drop off zone including new kerb on the eastern side and safer crossing across Smith Street to connect to the new traffic lights. It also includes a shared (bike/pedestrian) path on the western side.
3.3 Advocates to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) for priority delivery of the planned nearby intersections along Williamstown Road, including Salmon Street, Prohasky Street, Beacon Road and Graham Street
3.4 Notes the community engagement undertaken and that community feedback has informed both the concept design and delivery approach.
3.5 Notes changes to truck movements will be required on Smith Street including time restrictions.
This adopted option is a suitable compromise for Smith Street as Fishermans Bend undergoes urban transformation – we retain existing access, while also ensuring sustainable transport options exist along both sides of the street.
Domestic Animal Management Plan
There is a statutory requirement for local councils to update the Domestic Animal Management Plan every four years and tonight’s meeting endorsed the draft plan for community consultation.
The original motion for the Domestic Animal Management Plan excluded the consideration of trialling council provided dog waste bags, despite an earlier Council resolution from 21 August considering this option.
As a result, I moved a motion reiterating the dog waste bag trial in consultation with community. It is fair to note there is diverse opinion on whether council should provide dog waste bags, but I do believe we should at least provide a trial of selected community chosen sites to properly evaluate their effectiveness.
The adopted motion includes:
3.1 Endorses the draft Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029 to be released for community consultation.
3.2 Notes that consultation on the draft Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029 will occur in May 2025, and that feedback will be considered prior to finalising the Plan.
3.3 Notes that findings from consultation will inform the final version of the Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029 which will be presented to Council for adoption in August 2025.
3.4 Notes the Council resolution of 21 August 2024 to understand costs, scope and time frames for a trial of the provision of environmentally- appropriate dog waste bags and identifies suitable trial locations based on community involvement through the Domestic Animal Management Plan.
Agenda and minutes of the Port Phillip Council meetings are available at 2024 Meetings and Agendas – City of Port Phillip
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