Out with the old and in with the NEW

The first residents are moving into some of the shiny new apartments in one of the many new medium-rise buildings completed, or coming to completion in Thistlethwaite St.

Plants are beginning to appear on the balconies, varying depths of light emit from windows in the evenings and the local coffee shop is selling a lot more pastries than normal!

South Melbourne Primary School (when not in lockdown) has full use of Montague’s only green space, Kirrip Park. After school, on weekends and during the lockdowns people and dogs are also enjoying the open space.

It is worth noting that there is still a strong push by existing residents, that include those on Whiteman St, Southbank for Kirrip Park to be an off-leash park at certain hours, such as after 5pm and on weekends.

You may have noticed that there has been an exponential explosion in dog ownership across the municipality – we call them COVID puppies.

The apartments in Thistlethwaite St, those just over the tram line on Normanby Rd and the apartments being built on corner of Ferrars St and City Rd (market side), will all have residents with dogs. Where will they be walked and exercised?

Perhaps the Fishermans Bend Taskforce and the City of Port Philip can look to the City of Melbourne which is currently creating three new off-leash, purpose-built dog parks in and around the City Rd, Kavanagh St and Queensbridge St area.

I understand this is Crown land and that most of Montague is privately held, but surely there are smart enough minds who could think innovatively about how to use parts of the precinct to accommodate the increase in dog ownership in Montague, South Melbourne and parts of Southbank that are adjacent to the precinct.

Much more real community consultation must recommence, whether through us the Montague Community Alliance, or other community groups, or just individual residents or businesses.

We would urge the council, the taskforce and other stakeholders to talk to the community to share your data modelling and PLEASE release the Precinct Plans for comment and understanding.

It might be that the Montague Community Alliance needs to hand over these communications to a newer shinier group, but whomever it is, will still need to be communicated with …

The photo is of the almost-completed Montague Square on Ferrars St and we look forward to seeing how this imposing development integrates with the community and uses the precinct’s amenities and opportunities.

The foreground of the photo is the area where the building that burnt down has been demolished, this is still under investigation by Victoria Police.

Before we finish, we just want to send our deepest condolences to Sean Car, editor and publisher of this paper, on the passing of his beloved mother. All our thoughts are with you •