Around the Bay 12 April 2017
Cherry Lake Ward
Altona • Altona North • Brooklyn • Seaholme
Draft Budget 2017-18
Hobsons Bay City Council has adopted its draft 2016-17 Budget, which includes capital works projects to the tune of $35.13 million to improve local infrastructure and will continue to provide more than 100 important community services. In Cherry Lake Ward, highlights include: $4.59 million to build the Altona Early Years Centre; $2 million on the Foreshore Renewal Program, including $1.4 million to replace the sand from Sarros Street to Apex Park; $1.78 million on stage three of the Kororoit Creek Shared Trail; $500,000 to demolish and construct new toilets at the Altona Boat Ramp and Ransom Reserve and $200,000 to refurbish Altona Library. The draft 2017-18 Budget is now available for public comment. Submissions close at 5pm, Wednesday 24 May 2017. To view the document, visit or the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, 115 Civic Parade, Altona. For more information, call 9932 1000.
Pedestrian beach access
Over the next 10 years, Hobsons Bay City Council will be upgrading coastal infrastructure to reduce the impacts of sea level rises and storm surge events to the Altona and Seaholme community. Gaps in the seawall compromise the functionality of the seawall, resulting in inundation and localised flooding. To mitigate these risks, Council is proposing to “close” these gaps and construct access points for pedestrians at heights that meet the predicted rise in sea level by 2070. The Correa Street pedestrian beach access point is the first of these projects and includes a raised platform with an accessible ramp and stairs leading to the beach, a viewing platform extending into the beach and tiered seating to deflect waves during storm and tide events. Works are expected to start this month and take eight weeks to complete. Detours will be on site to direct around sections of the shared trail that are closed and Council is working to minimise disruption to local residents and community members.
Detox your Home
Do you need to safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals? Detox your Home is a safe, free and easy-to-use service to dispose of unwanted household chemicals without harming your health or the environment. The collected items are recycled for recovery and diverted from landfill. Hobsons Bay residents can dispose of their household chemicals free of charge at the upcoming Detox Your Home event in Altona on Saturday, 27 May 2017 from 10am to 4pm. Sustainability Victoria coordinates the event in partnership with Council. Registration is required prior to the event at or by calling 1300 363 744. Registration is required to manage the traffic flow on the day. The address will be provided once registered.
Strand Ward
Newport • Spotswood • South Kingsville • Williamstown
Draft Budget 2017-18
With the adoption of Council’s Proposed 2017-18 Budget, Strand Ward’s highlights include: $770,000 to repair Hudsons Road, Spotswood, between Booker Street and Hall Street; $680,000 to build JT Gray Reserve’s new pavilion; $675,000 to renew Lenore Crescent, Williamstown; $630,000 to fix Electra Street, Williamstown, between Parker Street and Ferguson Street; $610,000 to replace the existing gravel car park with asphalt at Newport Lakes; $600,000 to upgrade Charles Street, Williamstown; $600,000 –on Williamstown Mechanics Institute renewal works; $500,000 to renew drainage at Challis Street, from Woods Street to Mason Street, Newport; and $450,000 to upgrade sportsground Oval 1 at Loft Reserve, Newport. All road works are part of a long term maintenance plan.
Town Hall Forecourt
The renovation of the Williamstown Town Hall precinct will soon be complete with works on the Town Hall forecourt, carpark and Lenore Crescent to begin this month. The works will be the final piece of the puzzle in this major redevelopment project, which began in 2009, and will bring the surrounding amenities up to scratch with the renovated Town Hall. The existing forecourt will be demolished to make way for a new public space with seating, bike racks and landscaping to reflect the style of the restored Town Hall building. The 25 space car park will be resurfaced and Lenore Crescent, the street adjacent to the carpark, will undergo rehabilitation works including road resurfacing, tree maintenance and the installation of an underground drainage system. The library and Town Hall will remain open for the duration of the renovation but the carpark will be closed for approximately 4 to 5 months.
Hatt Reserve
Council expects to have all the necessary approvals to reconstruct the Williamstown Beach Shelter at Hatt Reserve in coming weeks. The shelter suffered structural damage during the October 2016 storms and has been closed ever since for safety reasons. Investigations revealed the timber structure needs replacing. The shelter is historically significant and forms part of the Esplanade Foreshore Heritage Precinct. Works will begin mid-2017 ahead of the shelter reopening later in the year. Until this time the shelter will remain closed. Alternative picnic tables can be found in the Pinetum, in front of the Williamstown Botanic Gardens. For project updates visit
Wetlands Ward
Altona Meadows • Laverton • Seabrook
Proposed Budget 2017-18
In Wetlands Ward, the Proposed 2017-18 Budget delivers several big ticket items, including: $400,000 to construct the second stage of the Comben reserve/Cooraminta Kindergarten car park; $300,000 on the Laverton Stormwater Harvesting rectification works; $320,000 to upgrade the Skeleton Creek Shared Trail; $270,000 for stage one of the footpath renewal program at McCormack Park; $165,000 to design the extension of the Altona Sports Centre; $100,000 to resurface Victoria Street, Altona Meadows, between Queen Street and Trafalgar Street; $80,000 to renew the playground at Woods Street Reserve, Laverton; and $60,000 for the future plan of the Laverton Swim Centre.
Dogs at AB Shaw Reserve
To better maintain the sporting ovals and improve safety for families using the playspace, Hobsons Bay City Council is trialling changes to the dog on and off leash areas at AB Shaw Reserve, Altona Meadows. Changes include the implementation of dog on leash areas on sportgrounds and within the playground to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all park users. All other nearby open space areas will remain off-leash for dog owners to let their dogs run. The trial will be in place until March 2018 and will be reviewed following its completion. Signs will be in place to outline the changes and Council’s Local Laws Officers will be monitoring the site with regular patrols. Council encourages dog owners to abide by the trial and to keep their dog on a leash at all times within the designated areas. It is also the perfect time to remind dog owners to always pick up after their dogs. For detials, visit or call 9932 1131.
Solar panels
Work began this week to install solar panels at the Altona Meadows Library and the Laverton Community Hub. The project, together with others at Altona North and Williamstown Libraries, will result in the installation of over 243kW of solar and a reduction of over 393 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, which is 17 per cent of 2265, the target in our adopted Target 2265 plan. The installation will be complete by 30 June.