Tonight’s Council Meeting is the final meeting of Council for the year and had several items on the agenda, including Council’s Community Safety Plan, the Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy and proposed changes to Council’s Local Law.

In addition, tonight’s meeting progressed plans for new netball facilities after previous Councils failed to advance this project.

Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy

Council’s Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy supports community service providers and homelessness providers to reduce rough sleeping.

The Strategy continues the work of Port Phillip Zero, a targeted response to rough sleeping and the fostering of collaboration between community housing providers. In addition, Council will advocate for updated planning controls to uplift housing affordability in areas like Fishermans Bend.

The Strategy also enables Council to identify locations for affordable housing in partnership with community housing providers to support requests for State and/or Commonwealth funding.

Community Safety Plan

The Community Safety Plan focuses on crime prevention through continuing the Community Safety Roundtable, bringing together a coordinated response from service providers and Victoria Police.

Furthermore, the Plan commits Council to uplifting safety through improved lighting and safer design principles. The Plan also supports the investment and renewal of CCTV cameras to improve visibility and safety of key precincts.

Proposed Local Law Amendment Update and Draft Protocol with Police

Council has been working with Victoria Police on a protocol which will support joint response between Council’s Authorised Officers and Victoria Police. The Protocol was a key recommendation through the Community Safety Roundtable and follows a similar approach to the City of Melbourne.

Alongside this work has been the consideration of revising Council’s existing local law. Currently the City of Port Phillip Community Amenity Local Law (2023) s42(2) allowing camping on public land if someone is homeless or has complex needs.

Several options had been considered around changing this approach, including the removal of these exemptions and exclusion zones.

The option, however, (option B) focuses on adverse behaviours, rather than situations. As a result, the current exemptions remain in place, but it is proposed to add behavioural triggers where removal could occur if there are adverse amenity impacts or risks to safety and wellbeing.

Consultation will commence in the new year, prior to Council considering the finalised changes to the Local Law.

Port Melbourne Netball Infrastructure Project

The Port Melbourne Netball Infrastructure Project involves the delivery of four netball courts, leveraging State Government funding that was available from 2018.

Unfortunately, the previous two Councils failed to progress this project since they selected the unsuitable location at Elder Smith Reserve, which is not only remote from other sporting facilities, but also is impeded by underground utilities.

Tonight Council endorsed to proceed with delivery of netball facilities at JL Murphy Reserve, which will embed JL Murphy as a multi-use sporting hub.

This will result in a loss of open space at JL Murphy; however, I have the expectation that additional space will be identified to support recreational open space usage.

Agenda and minutes of the Port Phillip Council meetings are available at Meetings and Agendas – City of Port Phillip