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Campaign Articles
Explore ideas of what the Heart of Balaclava could be, what it could look like and the current state of play with Coles, COPP and the Victorian Government.
What if our streets were for the people?
Public space should be part of the plan, not leftover space. Carlisle Street is at the heart of everyday life in Balaclava. It is a place to shop, meet, eat, commute andspend time. As the area continues to change and develop, there is an opportunity to think not only about new buildings, but also about the quality of the spaces between them. What if public space wasn’t something left over after buildings, roads and parking were planned? What if it was considered from the beginning as an essential part of the neighbourhood?Looking overseas, Barcelona provides an interesting example of how
Meaningful Consultation — or Just Smoke and Mirrors?
After years of consultation between the City of Port Phillip Council (CoPP) and the community regarding the proposed Coles development in Balaclava, it is reasonable to ask a simple question: Was the community actually heard?| I am concerned that, despite extensive community engagement, meetings and submissions, there is little evidence that the concerns raised by residents have resulted in any meaningfulchange to the proposed development. Consultation should be more than an opportunity for residents to express their views. Genuine consultation should: provide an opportunity for community feedback to influence a proposal, with transparency about what was heard, how it was
How Did We Get Here? The Story of the Balaclava Car Park
If you’ve parked behind Carlisle Street lately, in the sunny asphalt lot, dotted with established native trees, locals making their way to yoga, gym or a local cafe or perhaps just chatting over a take-away coffee — you’ve been standing on land that’s about to change hands, and change use, for the first time in decades. We are talking about the land bounded by Carlisle, Camden, Alfred and Nelson Streets. Referred to variously as Balaclava’s defacto town square or a disgraceful mess. Understanding how we got to this point means untangling a messy patchwork of ownership, a fifteen-year-old planning document,