Tonight’s Council meeting set new standards for waste management, open space and tree maintenance instilling new performance indicators and audit trails to improve contractor performance.
A petition seeking more frequent services on bus route 606, which connects Fishermans Bend/Port Melbourne to St Kilda via Albert Park and Middle Park was also tabled.
I also submitted a Notice of Motion requesting Port Phillip join Councils across Victoria in advocating for the State Government to reduce the harmful effects of electronic gambling machines and supported Cr Rod Hardy’s Notice of Motion to review car parking and transport across Port Phillip.
Petition: Bus route 606 Service Frequency
Bus route 606 provides the only direct connection for Fishermans Bend and Port Melbourne residents to Albert Park, Middle Park, St Kilda and Elwood within the City of Port Phillip.
Despite this service connecting residents, schools, recreation and employment opportunities it runs half hourly during the week and just hourly on weekends.
Tonight, I tabled a petition created by community members calling on the State Government to upgrade service frequencies and requesting that Council support these advocacy efforts.
Kerbside Collection Services
Strengthening contractor performance is a key priority of mine, particularly since the previous Council had numerous issues with waste management and kerbside collection.
While there were initially two tender submissions for Council’s kerbside collection services (the incumbent Citywide and Cleanaway), the acquisition of Citywide by Cleanaway left just one potential nominee. As a result, Council extended the tenure of the existing contracts reducing overall costs when compared to creating new arrangements. This approach reduces overall expenditure, while embedding stronger expectations and potential recourse if issues emerge.
Tonight’s contract with Cleanaway embeds key performance indicators covering missed bin collections, correct bin placement, and timely data reporting. In addition, there will be daily operational meetings between Council officers and Cleanaway, alongside monthly contract management sessions. In-field supervision will also increase enabling Council to oversee operations by waste stream.
The contract also strengthens Council’s recourse to resolve issues, since payments will be made on a monthly basis and subject to a detailed review, assurance and approval process.
I would like to thank the many of the community who scrutinised Council’s handling of waste management and helped maintain public pressure to strengthen Council’s oversight of its contractors.
Open Space Maintenance Contract
Open space maintenance was another area where Council had been underperforming, this evening a new contractor has been awarded the undertaking of open space maintenance and will commence from March 2026.
New performance indicators are embedded in the contract and undertaken work will be reviewed by Council, before payments are issued. The increased level of quality control will improve our open spaces and ensure ongoing delivery of this contract.
Tree Maintenance & Management Contract
Similarly, the tree maintenance and management contract now has the same level of oversight and performance expectations as these other contracts.
These improved standards will assist in the delivery of Council’s Urban Forest Strategy, with aim of increasing tree canopy and improving our streetscapes.
Notice of Motion – Parking Permits
Transport and parking are interlinked, so I supported Cr Hardy’s Notice of Motion in requesting a review of parking across Port Phillip by refreshing the Parking Management Policy and Integrated Transport Strategy.
That Council requests officers to:
- Undertake a preliminary desktop review of the current policy relating to the conversion of commercial properties to residential use, and provide a report back to council on potential updates to:
- 1.1. The definition and application of exceptional circumstances in determining eligibility for residential parking permits
- 1.2. The provisions that treat such conversions as an increase in dwellings, thereby rendering properties ineligible for permits
- Report back on the resourcing and implications on Council’s existing work programs required to:
- 2.1 Update the Parking Management Policy in the 2026/2027 financial year
- 2.2 Refresh the Integrated Transport Strategy in the 2026/2027 financial year to accommodate the updated Fishermans Bend Integrated Transport Plan and strengthen the strategic nexus between transport networks and parking
demand.
- Notes that aligning these updates will support Council’s broader objectives around sustainable mobility, equitable access, and infrastructure efficiency.
The aim of this motion is to provide consistency across Port Phillip, as well as accommodating the release of the Integrated Transport Plan for Fishermans Bend to strengthen our advocacy for much needed public transport improvements.
Notice of Motion – Victorian Carded Play Trial for Electronic Gaming Machines
This Motion ensures that the City of Port Phillip stands united with other Councils across Victoria in seeking to reduce the harm caused by poker machines. Several councils have expressed concern that the State Government is reducing its intent to regulate these machines.
I moved the following motion, which was seconded by Cr Bryan Mears and passed unanimously:
- Notes the advocacy undertaken by the Alliance for Gambling Reform regarding the State Government’s electronic gaming machine precommitment trial, which is running from September to November 2025, and specifically regarding its focus on harm prevention within this trial.
- Requests the Mayor writes to the Alliance for Gambling Reform outlining our support for their advocacy in relation to the electronic gaming machine precommitment trial.
- Requests that the Mayor write to the Minister for Casino, Gambling and Liquor Regulation, seeking recognition of Councils as an important stakeholder alongside industry, and calling for Councils to be involved in all significant decision-making processes related to the trial.
- Agrees to be a signatory to a joint letter of advocacy to the State Government with other relevant councils advocating for harm prevention to form a key part of the electronic gaming machine precommitment trial.
Agenda and minutes of the Port Phillip Council meetings are available at Meetings and Agendas – City of Port Phillip
Leave a Reply