Latest articles by Jon Fleetwood
The South Melbourne pickleball facility at the forefront of the game
In 2023, Dylan Ventura Ho co-founded The Jar, Australia’s first indoor pickleball facility, in South Melbourne alongside a group of friends he’d known since high school.
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A sneak peek at South Melbourne’s new sex-on-premises venue
Melbourne has its share of sex-on-premises clubs. However, local businessman Emmanuel Cachia believes the city has been calling for a venue that offers a safe and respectful space for people to explore their sexuality.
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Melbourne unveils ambitious new economic strategy to cement global standing
The City of Melbourne has adopted a bold new economic roadmap designed to future-proof the municipality.
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Miles and Dodds upgrade raises questions about the City of Melbourne’s approach to greening Southbank
After three rounds of community consultation, the City of Melbourne has approved the expansion of Southbank’s Miles and Dodds Street Reserve, despite a divided community response.
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City of Melbourne accused of weak City Rd advocacy efforts
The City of Melbourne has come under scrutiny for its “flimsy” approach to advocacy for the City Road Master Plan, which according to some locals, has set a “dangerous” precedent.
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MCEC unveils new Changing Places facility to enhance accessibility
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has unveiled a new Changing Places facility, furthering its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity for people with high support needs.
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“Kafkaesque madness”: tenant left baffled by Consumer Affairs investigation
In 2024, Consumer Affairs Victoria received more than 7000 requests for rent investigations, and one Southbank tenant has found themselves caught up in this statistic more often than they would have liked.
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“Inconsistent” and “unclear”: Crown concerned about council planning strategy
Crown Resorts has raised concerns over the City of Melbourne’s Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS), labelling it “contradictory” due to conflicting visions for Southbank and what Crown considers a failure to recognise the casino’s significance.
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Council to form People’s Panel to boost its 2050 vision
To shape the strategic plan for Melbourne over the next 25 years, the City of Melbourne has announced the formation of a People’s Panel, which will be held alongside its 2050 Summit to help make its vision for the city’s future.
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Southbank to get new build-to-rent project
Melbourne-based build-to-rent developer, Local, has announced a new project in Southbank as it continues to expand its portfolio across the city.
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Council divided over cat crackdown
The City of Melbourne will implement a cat curfew between dusk and dawn and enforce mandatory desexing, despite the proposal being met with strong opposition from several councillors and experts.
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Greenline works recommence
Major construction activity along Birrarung Marr has recommenced as part of stage one of the City of Melbourne’s Greenline project.
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The reasons behind Southbank’s ghost towers
At 18 Moray St in Southbank, a 38-level apartment tower stands fully constructed. However, there’s one problem – it is completely vacant and has been for several years.
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Could this new e-scooter be the answer for Melbourne?
A safer e-scooter has recently been developed by Singapore-based company Ario, and its executives believe they have found a “solution” that addresses the City of Melbourne’s concerns.
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“Champion for local business”: The Clarendon and Coventry Streets Business Association
The Clarendon and Coventry Streets Business Association is continuing its efforts to support local traders in South Melbourne and breathe life back into one of Melbourne’s most iconic precincts.
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IGA site next to rise on Sturt St
ASX-listed developer Cedar Woods has lodged an application for a 20-storey tower on the current site of the IGA supermarket on Sturt St in Southbank
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Livestock trial commences through Citylink tunnels
A 12-month trial has begun that will help remove cattle trucks from Southbank streets by allowing them to use the Burnley and Domain tunnels.
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Bike and scooter registration and engraving comes to Southbank
A bike and scooter registration and engraving event will be held this February in Southbank to help combat bike theft.
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Meet your Macnamara candidates for the 2025 Federal Election
With the federal election to be held before May 17, the campaigns of the candidates vying for the seat of Macnamara are now heating up.
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The man behind Southbank’s very own card game
Throughout the COVID pandemic, repeated lockdowns changed the way we socialise. FaceTime and Zoom became the norm, and conversations tended to centre around the virus.
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