MelbourneYour City of Melbourne magazine

June – July 2015

ContentsLord Mayor’s Message........................................................................................................................................ 4

Spending wisely and investing in our city............................................................................................................4

Queen Victoria Market renewal update...............................................................................................................5

Your say.............................................................................................................................................................. 6

Letter of the month 6

Email rates notices 6

Participate Melbourne......................................................................................................................................... 6

Reconcilliations Action Plan 6

City Road master plan 6

City laneways go smoke-free.............................................................................................................................. 7

Safety first for kensington community................................................................................................................. 7

Building a stronger connected Docklands...........................................................................................................8

New haven for boating visitors............................................................................................................................ 9

A creative solution for empty spcaes................................................................................................................... 9

Free winter firewords......................................................................................................................................... 10

Robyne Latham: The Aborigine is Present........................................................................................................10

The fine art of creating creativity....................................................................................................................... 11

Access all areas: Melbourne Open House........................................................................................................13

New MPavilion designer announced................................................................................................................. 14

Winning indeas from wonderful writers.............................................................................................................14

Elm tree anniversary......................................................................................................................................... 14

Events calendar................................................................................................................................................ 16

Sport................................................................................................................................................................. 19

A sweet story for community programs.............................................................................................................20

Making the most of every opportunity...............................................................................................................20

Great grants and sponsorships: Applications dates..........................................................................................21

Grand music dreams come true........................................................................................................................ 22

In brief............................................................................................................................................................... 24

IBM Smarter Cities 24

Green light for Urban Forests 24

Blackbox showcases Melbourne innovation in Milan 24

Plau On: AFL club songs 24

Stay healthy this winter 24

Your Council...................................................................................................................................................... 25

The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Robert Doyle 25

Deputy Lord Mayor Susan Riley 25

Cr Richard Foster 25

Cr Rohan Leppert 25

Cr Kevin Louey 25

Cr Stephen Mayne 25

Cr Cathy Oke 25

Cr Ken Ong 25

Cr Beverley Pinder-Mortimer 26

Cr Jackie Watts 26

Cr Arron Wood 26

Postal address for all councillors 26

Council meetings June 2015............................................................................................................................. 27

Council meetings July 2015.............................................................................................................................. 27

Lord Mayor’s Commendations.......................................................................................................................... 28

Mackay Branson Design 28

Contact.............................................................................................................................................................. 29

National Relay Service 29

In person 29

Postal address 29

Feedback 29

Audio version 29

Lord Mayor’s MessageOn 7 May, Melbourne City Council endorsed the Draft 2015–16 Annual Plan and Budget which will be formally adopted on 30 June.

The Queen Victoria Market (QVM) Renewal Project, the ongoing biggest investment in our history, is the cornerstone of this budget.

In the current financial year, the Council paid $7.6 million as a deposit on the Munro site and this budget includes $76 million to settle the purchase plus $4.76 million in direct funding of the renewal project, bringing the total capital investment to $80.76 million in 2015–16.

In addition to amounts already committed, Council projects underlying surpluses from 2016–17 to 2018–19 of $42 million that will be available to fund the renewal of QVM. This brings our total capital investment in the 2015–16 financial year to $165.76 million: the largest capital investment budget in Council’s history.

In the coming financial year we will also spend $385 million on programs and services: $40.5 million to support business and economic development, city activation, tourism and events, $14.8 million on arts and cultural programs and $55.3 million on programs for youth, aged, families and children, people with disabilities, sport and recreation and city safety.

I am confident in the budget because I am absolutely sure that the direction the city is moving in is correct: it’s prosperous, it’s thriving and it’s certainly growing. Our Melbourne is the result of an ongoing commitment to create a smart, efficient and sustainable urban environment; a planned environment.

We are a city of 4.35 million people. More people walk along Swanston Street than Regent Street in London and it is also the busiest tram route in the world. Our retail and hospitality industries are flourishing. The recent addition of major central city shopping centres Emporium and The Strand has contributed to a $500 million boost into the city’s annual retail economy. Our retail vacancy is extremely low at 2.5 per cent.

The hospitality sector has seen similar success with a recent report showing spending on food in Melbourne increased 33 per cent in just one year.

We are a safe city which can be attributed, in part, to our extensive CCTV network and strong partnerships with Victoria Police, licensees, retailers, event coordinators and service providers including the Salvation Army. The most recent statistics show overall crime is down 20 per cent in Melbourne.

We are more sustainable thanks to the planting of 3000 extra trees a year, installation of large-scale stormwater harvesting facilities and the creation of new parks.

Great cities are liveable cities; places that encourage movement and interaction and create opportunities for their people. They are places where people want to be and where they thrive. This budget and plan for our future will help Melbourne continue to be one of those cities.

Spending wisely and investing in our cityA vision to reinvigorate the Queen Victoria Market, while continuing work on infrastructure and community initiatives, is at the heart of Council’s third budget.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said: ‘the Queen Victoria Market is the ongoing biggest investment in our history, an investment that will contribute to our city’s liveability for decades to come.

‘This Council is coming to the end of our term and we want to ensure we deliver on everything that we have promised you. ‘I am confident in the budget because I am absolutely sure that the direction the city is moving in is correct: it’s prosperous, it’s thriving and it’s certainly growing’.

The important role the City of Melbourne plays in service delivery will be recognised with $385 million in spending, while close to $90 million has been allocated to capital works projects.

More than 60 per cent of the 2015–16 capital works budget will go into street maintenance. Above ground funds will go towards annual renewal works on roads and footpaths, while below ground a significant investment will be made in flood mitigation works and drainage system renewal.

Projects like University Square and the Southbank Boulevard upgrade will see unused roads transformed into green open space for the benefit of residents, workers and visitors. Meanwhile, work will also continue on a number of major Council projects.

The new budget will also include the completion of several community projects: Carlton Baths Family Resource Centre and Docklands Family Services and Community Boating Hub. Gaps in the cycling network will also be connected as part of the final year of the 2012–16 Bicycle Plan.

There will also be a 3.6 per cent rate rise next financial year. Councillor Stephen Mayne, Chair of the Finance and Governance portfolio, said the rate rise was one of the lowest in the state and reasonable if Melbourne was to maintain its position as one of the world’s most liveable cities.

Public submissions on the Draft Annual Plan and Budget close on 5 June. A special meeting will be held on 18 June to hear from those who made submissions. Council will meet on 30 June to adopt the final Annual Plan and Budget 2015–16.

For more information, visit the Draft 2015-16 Annual Plan and Budget1.

Queen Victoria Market renewal updateThousands of Melburnians have shared their views on the renewal of the Queen Victoria Market over three distinct phases of community engagement.

More than 4000 traders, shoppers, residents and visitors responded to a draft master plan of the renewal in the third phase of community engagement, conducted in March.

This feedback will inform the final master plan, a draft of which will be available on the Participate Melbourne website from 10 June to 10 July.

1http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/budget

Your sayLetter of the month

Today I had needed to clarify the rules about parking motorcycles on the footpath directly adjacent to disabled parking places. This problem greatly restricts the access and safety of transferring from a vehicle to a wheel chair. Your customer service representative, Nina, handled my call with speed, cheer and diplomacy. Well done and thank you Nina.

Karen Walker

Can I have my rates notice sent to my email address?

Yes. Simply register to receive your rates notice at your nominated email address on the City of Melbourne website. Once you register, complete the form on the website to request your rates notice be sent via email to your nominated email address. Other notices, such as animal registration, will still be sent to your postal address. It is important when registering to enter your full name and assessment number as it appears on your rates notice. For example, John Andrew and Mary Citizen would be shown as J A Citizen and M Citizen. The property assessment number is located on the top right hand corner of the rates notice.

For more information visit Rates and valuations2.

Participate Melbourne Have your say online at Participate Melbourne3.

Reconciliation Action Plan

Join the conversation on the City of Melbourne’s draft 2015–18 Reconciliation Action Plan and find out about our reconciliation journey. Through meaningful symbolism and actions we seek to show how true reconciliation can take place between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the broader community.

Join the conversation online at Reconciliation Action Plan4.

City Road

To ensure City Road in Southbank is a safe and welcoming place, a draft City Road master plan has been developed. The plan presents a number of improvements to the road and public space to achieve this, including changes to footpaths, traffic lanes, tree canopy and speed limits.

Join the conversation online at City Road master plan5.

2 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rates3 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/participate4 http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/projects/reconciliation/

5 http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/projects/city-road/

City laneways go smoke-freeThe number of designated smoke-free laneways in the central city has risen to four with the addition of Block Place, Howey Place and Equitable Place to the first smoke-free trial site in The Causeway.

The decision to designate these laneways as smoke-free took into account feedback from businesses, patrons, residents and the community in these areas, as well as their location, total number and type of businesses, adjoining buildings and properties, traffic and any existing smoking controls.

Rachel Mursalo, owner of Blahnik cafe in Equitable Place, said although it’s still early days, people had been very accepting. ‘It’s great from a food perspective. It’s nice to not have people blowing smoke over your food’, she said. ‘What I also like is that the laneway is a lot cleaner’.

The new smoke-free areas are aimed at fostering a more inclusive and family-friendly atmosphere in Melbourne’s laneways and to protect the city’s many residents, visitors and workers from the harmful effects of passive smoking. City Square on Swanston Street is the next site to be considered as a smoke-free area. Public consultation opened in May with recommendations due to go before Council in August.

The Victorian Government has recently announced additional outdoor smoking bans which apply outside of entrances to children’s indoor play centres, public hospitals and some government buildings such as courts, Parliament and police stations.

Under the Activities Local Law 2009 it is an offence to smoke in a designated smoke-free area. A public education program is in place to raise awareness of the new designated smoke-free laneways.

For more information, visit Participate Melbourne6.

Safety first for Kensington CommunityA 40km/h speed limit in Kensington is being investigated by the City of Melbourne in response to public feedback.

Consultation with Kensington residents, which took place in April and May, will be reviewed with industry partners to determine whether a 40km/h speed limit is suitable for the area. A report will be presented to Council in August.

The proposed reduction in Kensington’s speed limit follows the successful introduction of a 40km/h speed limit in the central city in 2012 and Parkville in 2013. Lower speed limits can protect vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. Studies have shown a pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at 50km/h is four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than if hit at 40km/h.

6 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/participate

Building a stronger, connected Docklands The evolution of Docklands over the past 15 years has been enormous. The new precinct has transformed the shape of our city in significant ways, connecting the city to the water and creating new enclaves for living, working and entertainment.

In 2010, the City of Melbourne and Places Victoria asked the community for their views on the future of Docklands.

More than 3,700 people responded and the resulting feedback formed the basis of the Docklands Community and Place Plan, which was launched in 2012.

The plan outlined priority community and place projects to ensure Docklands would continue to evolve as an area to live, visit and do business.

Three years on from the plan’s release, 56 of the 73 community priorities identified have been delivered. These include major infrastructure projects such as Library at The Dock, Jim Stynes Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists, and Buluk Park, a communal lawn located next to the library. It also includes creative arts initiatives such as 5 Short Blasts, a musical encounter with the city by boat, and First Friday Dance Club, a free street-based dance class for the public.

Local resident and business operator Dr Yvonne Zhou Grundy said most of the ‘Docklanders’ would agree that Docklands has grown greatly over the past decade with more people, businesses, events and community facilities available.

‘The new Library at the Dock has generated a sense of belonging and ownership for our community’, said Yvonne. ‘It is a new social hub for residents and visitors to pop in for a cup of coffee while reading books, papers and magazines, browsing internet, playing ping pong, or doing group activities. We had our Docklands choir open there in April too’.

And what does Yvonne like best about Docklands today? ‘Docklands is in walking distance of the central city, yet we can retreat from the hustle and bustle of the central city to a tranquil waterfront for some peaceful time when we want to’.

For more information, visit the Docklands7.

New haven for boating visitorsWater weary sailors can now find their land legs in a new marina lounge in Docklands. The Melbourne City Marina lounge is located on the waterfront at NewQuay Piazza and includes shower and laundry facilities, an outdoor deck with barbecue and a view overlooking the water and city skyline.

These world-class facilities are available for boating visitors berthed at Melbourne City Marina. The marina lounge is also designed to create a hub of activity on the waterfront, encourage boating interests, return visits and year-long use for marina customers.

The investment in the marina also demonstrates the City of Melbourne’s commitment to Docklands’ future as a thriving community with imaginative, well-designed places.

7 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au//Docklands

A creative solution for empty spaces

Cameron Joss had a great business idea and loads of enthusiasm when he started his healthy, gourmet meal-kit business Kelly Cube.

All he needed to complete the picture was a retail frontage, somewhere to test his idea, without the risk and commitment of a long-term lease. Then he discovered Docklands Spaces.

For more than two years, Docklands Spaces has matched new businesses in need of space with property owners and real estate agents in possession of an empty shop front, office or studio space in Docklands. The opportunity is mutually beneficial for everyone. Property owners can see their property come to life with a welcoming and active business demonstrating the benefits of the property’s best features, while creative projects and business ideas get to experiment without a big financial commitment.

‘Start-ups have a lot of risk. Everyone tells you, it takes time. You can have the best product in the world, but it still takes time to get it off the ground’, said Cameron. ‘The support of finding a place and helping set up your first shop means you can focus more on your business and spend less time worrying about how to get exposure, without tying yourself into a long contract that could potentially be broken’.

‘I never wanted a shop. It was dead rent. However, with such a new concept we have benefitted from the strong local culture and it is a great way for us to connect face to face with some of our regulars’.

Cameron has now incorporated a retail presence into the Kelly Cube business plan. ‘We have learned a lot about the consumer’s real needs from feedback. We have also learned a lot about the retail industry’.

To date the program has helped activate 21 retail spaces in Docklands, assisted 20 start-up businesses and opened three gallery spaces for local artists. Docklands Spaces is a collaboration between the City of Melbourne, Places Victoria, Renew Australia and developer MAB Corporation.

The City of Melbourne also supports participants with grant information and business listings.

For more information, visit Enterprise Melbourne8.

Free winter fireworksDocklands will once again be illuminated by the distinctive pop and crackle of fireworks this winter. Every Friday night in July and August, Victoria Harbour will provide a dramatic backdrop for the displays. Those who arrive early to get a good position will be rewarded with free entertainment from 6.30pm. Roving performers will keep both kids and adults enthralled until the moment the fuse is lit.

The fireworks start at 7.30pm, leaving plenty of time to explore the local culinary scene before, or after the event.

For more information, visit What’s On9.

8 http://ww.melbourne.vic.gov.au/enterprisemelbourne

9 http:www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/whatson

Robyne Latham: The Aborigine is PresentAboriginal Australia takes centre stage at Federation Square with an exciting new exhibition and a new location for the Koorie Heritage Trust.

The creative process is different for every artist. For Robyne Latham, the inspiration for her latest work struck as she sat in her studio one day. Thoughts about the place of Aborigines in contemporary Australia, the media debate about the right to identify as Aboriginal and the daily stereotyping of Aboriginal people were swimming around in her head. It was set against this backdrop that the idea for The Aborigine is Present first came to her.

The title alludes to performance artist Marina Abramovic’s pioneering work, The Artist is Present, a 736-hour silent piece, performed at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 2010. Visitors who entered the famous gallery’s second-floor atrium encountered a small plaque which read: ‘Sit silently with the artist for a duration of your choosing’. Out in the centre of the atrium Marina sat at a simple wooden table, her face immobile, as a stream of visitors took turns sitting opposite her – being present with the artist.

In contrast to Marina’s original performance, The Aborigine is Present is a product of Aboriginal culture, which is, at its core, a collectivist culture. The ‘artist’ is no longer the focus of the work, instead the performance is about the interface between cultures: Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. Robyne will share the role of the Aborigine with other Aboriginal participants, who will sit opposite a non-Aboriginal participant. ‘They will sit in silence, in full presence of each other, in recognition of their shared humanity’, she said.

It was a story Robyne’s partner told her about his limited exposure to Aboriginal people, while growing up in a white middleclass Melbourne suburb in the late 1960s and early ’70s, which helped stimulate her thinking about the stereotyping of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For Robyne it brought up a lot of questions: ‘How many Australian non-indigenous people have actually met an identified Indigenous person? How many nonindigenous Australians would be able to identify an Indigenous person in the street? How many non-indigenous’ Australians have a stereotyped image of what an Indigenous person looks like?’

‘People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait descent share with non-indigenous Europeans, a wide range of skin colour, shape and size, eye and hair colour, social status, wealth and educational level. We are comprised of nations. And like all cultures, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are of mixed descent.

‘So The Aborigine is Present is my attempt, as an artist, to help dismantle the stereotyping of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a way that is free of guilt, shame, and blame’, she said.

Robyne also received endorsement for The Aborigine is Present from Marina Abramovic herself. In an email response Marina wrote: ‘Your letter about the work you want to create touched me very deeply. I’m very honored to be contacted by you, an Aboriginal woman, because living with Aborigines in central Australia literally changed my life. I was living there with my partner at the time Ulay, and living with those people really changed my approach to the concept of reality and my artwork. They lived completely in the present in the real sense of the word and the entire dream time stories were not happening in the past, or future, but always happening in the here and now ... You have my blessing and support’.

Robyne’s instinct about the timeliness and relevance of the performance was reinforced when she pitched the idea to the CEO of the Koorie Heritage Trust, Tom Mosby. ‘For us The Aborigine is Present works so well with our vision, which is to promote, support and celebrate the thriving contemporary Aboriginal community in Melbourne and regional Victoria, despite all the injustices that have happened to us in the past and despite the invisibility of our community because of the misplaced assumption that Aboriginal people and communities are only to be found up north’.

The Koorie Heritage Trust, which has long been tucked away at the northern end of King Street, was also planning a relocation to the beating heart of Melbourne, with a piece of prime real estate earmarked for them in Federation Square. ‘Looking at our move to Federation Square, The Aborigine is Present is also about announcing our presence on the site’, Tom said.

Robyne Latham’s The Aborigine is Present is the first exhibition in a program of new work for the Koorie Heritage Trust, funded by the City of Melbourne’s Triennial Arts Grants. The performance will take place over several weekends in July to coincide with the opening of the Koorie Heritage Trust’s new gallery space and Naidoc Week – a celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Aborigine is Present will be performed in the Yarra Building, Federation Square, from 1 to 15 July.

The fine art of creating creativityImagine a city without art. A city of blank laneways, empty galleries, deserted theatres and echoing concert halls. It conjures visions of a bleak world. A far cry from the city we all know and love. But what is a creative city? What does it look like? How should the City of Melbourne encourage the arts and creativity?

Through polls, online forums and public meetings, the City of Melbourne took these questions to Melburnians as part of a comprehensive public engagement process conducted in 2014. The themes that emerged from that conversation formed the basis of the organisation’s new Arts Strategy, which outlines Council’s commitment to the arts from 2014–17.

At the centre of the strategy is the idea that creativity begins with the artist. The main areas in which the City of Melbourne can make a difference for artists is in the provision of spaces to create, spaces to present, and funding in the form of residencies, grants and commissions. This support enables artists to connect with audiences and participants, to test, develop and realise ideas and to activate the city.

A room on one’s own

For more than five years the organisation has provided low-cost, rental space for artists through the Creative Spaces program. The program identifies vacant or disused spaces in the city and reinvents them as usable, practical spaces where artists can create, connect and be inspired.

Beginning with the Boyd School Studios in Southbank, the Creative Spaces inventory has expanded to include Boyd Heritage, West Melbourne’s River Studios, Carlton Connect LAB-14 on the site of the former Royal Women’s Hospital in Carlton, 30 spaces in the Meat Market in North Melbourne and, currently in development, The Guild in Southbank.

In total, Creative Spaces now manages 117 artist studios, housing approximately 154 artists across the five facilities. The different spaces foster interactions between artists of similar and different disciplines. Indeed, space was sought in the new Carlton Connect site with the specific intention of positioning artists among the researchers, academics and entrepreneurs who occupy the rest of the building.

To date, Creative Spaces tenants include some of the biggest names in Australian literature, music, theatre and dance. All working away in a place of their own.

A place to perform

When it comes to performance, the heritage-listed North Melbourne Town Hall on Errol Street has been home to Arts House, Melbourne’s leading centre for contemporary and experimental arts, since 2004.

Opened and operated by the City of Melbourne, Arts House has provided an important platform to nurture and support independent artists in Melbourne. Its North Melbourne location acts as the perfect cultural counterpoint to the bright lights of Southbank’s established arts precinct. Over the past 10 years Arts House has established a strong reputation for its contemporary, experimental and performance arts, and it now attracts artists and audiences at local, national and international levels.

This year a new vision and operating model for Arts House has been instigated to continue and build upon the program’s success. The new vision will introduce a core creative program of work, year-round arts programming and opportunities for partnerships and co-productions with likeminded organisations and groups.

Councillor Rohan Leppert, Chair of the Arts and Culture portfolio, said this is an exciting time for Arts House and emerging arts in Melbourne. ‘I’ve seen Arts House grow, steadily staging bold and vibrant programs such as Dance Massive, the Festival of Live Art and curated seasonal works.

‘This new vision will provide a marvellous opportunity for our emerging artists and an exciting viewing experience for audiences’.

The program for Arts House Season 2 runs from July to December. Residents of North Melbourne, West Melbourne and the central city area are also eligible for a local discount, which entitles residents to purchase tickets to all Arts House presented events at concession prices.

Funding options

The City of Melbourne also supports the arts sector with funding through its annual Arts Grants, Triennial Arts Grants and a new program of Arts Residency grants. Public Art seed funding has also been established this year. The new arts residencies are an opportunity for individual artists, arts organisations, collaborations and partnerships to research, develop and test ideas in a City of Melbourne space, throwing new light on old or challenging subjects.

Up to seven residencies are available through the grants program and are connected to the Boyd Heritage Studios, Carlton Connect and the City of Melbourne’s Art and Heritage Collection – an extensive portfolio of indoor and outdoor artwork which includes lord mayoral portraits, contemporary art and permanent public artworks.

Melbourne artists Debbie Symons and Jasmine Targett were awarded the first Artist in Residency placement at Carlton Connect earlier this year, to develop a new body of work. As part of the project, residents and workers were invited to bring samples of water from different sources to the artists who incorporated it into their installation, called The Catchments Project, to help underline the complexities of adapting to reduced rainfall and drought.

The annual Arts Grants program will offer more than $700,000 in funding opportunities for arts projects, Indigenous arts projects and residencies in 2016. The 2015 round of annual grants supports 58 artists and arts organisations working in film, music, visual art, live art, theatre, dance and performance.

Recipients from the 2015 round of annual grants include Larry Walsh for his interactive, multi-media platform, Star Stories; local rock-group Warmth Crashes In for recording their first studio album and the Testing Grounds in Southbank for the development of an artist in residence program.

Through the current Triennial Arts Grants program 2015–17, the City of Melbourne will invest more than $2.7 million in 31 arts organisations. Successful recipients include prominent names like the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Melbourne Festival, as well as new kids on the block such as Melbourne Web Fest and Poppy Seed.

Meanwhile, the Public Art Framework outlines how the organisation can work with key external partners to develop and deliver major public art commissions through the City of Melbourne’s capital works program.

‘Investment in the arts is a key part of a thriving creative city’, said Cr Leppert. ‘With our focus on supporting artists, whether through provision of Creative Spaces, or through direct grants to artists, I believe that the City of Melbourne is playing a big role in keeping Melbourne’s reputation at the cutting edge. ‘More and more, we are becoming known as a great place for artists to experiment and collaborate on new creative ideas, and in turn, we are growing as a sophisticated, contemporary and creative city’.

Access all areasMelbourne’s mounted police are on the move. This year’s Open House Melbourne is the last time visitors will be able to see the Southbank Victoria Police Mounted Branch in operation before the premises are handed over to the Victorian College of the Arts.

Built in 1912, the Dodds Street stables were sited within fast galloping distance of nearby Government House. The distinctive hexagonal building includes stables, tack room and a riding school.

Emma Telfer, creative director of Open House Melbourne, said other popular historic buildings include the Melbourne Town Hall, which had more than 9000 visitors in 2014, and the Russell Place Substation. The most requested building is the Flinders Street Station Ballroom. ‘We finally got to take people through in 2013. We are only able to take 20 people through each year, but we hope to increase that number in coming years as the building is restored’, said Emma.

When it comes to modern buildings there’s plenty of variety. ‘We were blown away by the interest in BHP Billiton’s new workplace within 171 Collins Street in 2014 and we are looking forward to opening the space once again in 2015’.

‘The new Australian Institute of Architects building on Exhibition Street is an exciting example of sustainable architecture, as is Council House 2, a visionary building for its time. Melbourne Central Glass Cone tour is a special opportunity to see the impressive 20 storey high cone up-close. The glass cone is the largest glass structure of its type in the world’.

Meanwhile, new buildings added to the list this year include Carlton Connect on the former Royal Women’s Hospital site and the slick Collins Street headquarters of Escala Partners.

An annual festival of architectural excellence, novelty and heritage, Open House Melbourne has been inviting people in through otherwise closed doors since 2008. ‘The concept of Open House is built on generosity. We have more than 900 volunteers that give their time to make the weekend happen and generous building owners opening their doors on the weekend for free’, said Emma.

Open House Melbourne takes place on 25 and 26 July. Free event. For more information visit What’s On10.

New MPavilion designer announcedBritish architect Amanda Levete has been announced as the designer of the 2015 MPavilion. As the architect of the futuristic Media Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, Amanda is known for her sinuous shapes and conceptual designs.

The 2014 MPavilion, an open air steel structure designed by Melbourne architect Sean Godsell, will be erected at a new location within the city, where it will become a permanent feature.

Founded in 2014, MPavilion is an annual architecture and design event in which a four-month program of talks, workshops and performances are staged in a purpose built pavilion in the Queen Victoria Gardens.

Funded by the City of Melbourne and the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, MPavilion is a four-year program celebrating great public design and architecture.

The new MPavilion will open from 5 October to 7 February.

10 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/whatson

Winning ideas from wonderful writersIt was on a visit to the Melbourne City Library in Flinders Lane that writer James Cristina happened to see a flyer advertising the Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Awards. Sometime later, he clinched the top prize. But James is no accidental author. He had worked on his winning novella, Antidote to a Curse, for years on and off.

‘I saw the ad and it motivated me to address a story I had been working on and got me to the next stage’, said James. Although James had been writing for years, he says he only really started writing seriously at university, during his creative writing master’s degree.

When it came to writing his novella, James acknowledged it wasn’t easy at all, but said that participating in the process was a very positive experience and he was glad he entered. He has since expanded the novella into a novel and is considering his options for publishing.

The Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Awards aim to nurture, support and recognise the talent and creativity of emerging writers, while celebrating Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature.

The Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Awards 2015 are open to all Victorians, span five categories and cover a range of writing styles. Entries close on 31 August 2015.

Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Awards: award categories

Prizes will be awarded to the value of $1000 in each category. The main prize, the Lord Mayor’s Award to the value of $5000, is chosen from a shortlist made up of the winners of each of the five categories: Short story (3000 words), The Dorothy Porter Award for Emerging Poets (no more than 100 lines), Novella (10,000–20,000 words), Graphic short story (up to 8 pages) and Narrative non-fiction (up to 10,000 words).

For more information, visit the Melbourne Library Service11.

Elm tree anniversary The annual tree-planting season began with the planting of a very special elm tree in Carlton Gardens in late April. The tree was selected to commemorate the joint 140th anniversary of the first street trees planted in the central city and the founding of Presbyterian Ladies’ College (PLC), one of the oldest independent girls’ schools in Australia.

It was 1875 when Mayor James Gatehouse planted the first elm trees in Collins Street in response to concerns about the lack of shade in the city. At the same time a new school for girls opened in Albert Street, East Melbourne. Among its initial enrolment of 60 students were Catherine Deakin, sister of future Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin, and Helen (Ellen) Mitchell, who would later go by the name Dame Nellie Melba.

Ten junior school students from PLC came to Carlton Gardens to help Lord Mayor Robert Doyle plant the tree, which was grown from selected tree stock in Royal Parade. A second elm was donated to PLC to plant on their Burwood school grounds, in recognition of the school’s East Melbourne roots.

The City of Melbourne plants 3000 new trees every year, in line with the Urban Forest Strategy vision to double the tree canopy cover by 2040.

11 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/health

Events calendarStep into the city and get taken away this winter.

Until 14 August

City Gallery: Special

A surplus of badges, medals, armbands and buttons mass-produced for issue from Melbourne Town Hall in times of strife and celebration are now on display, en masse, in the City Gallery.

Until 4 October

World War 1 Centenary Exhibition

Head to the Melbourne Museum to see this world premiere exhibition from the Imperial War Museum of London. The exhibition features items from World War I including personal stories and artefacts, many of which have never been on public display.

3 June to 26 August

Luna Night Market

Embrace the winter nights and let yourself be surprised, romanced, wined and dined by some of the region’s best independent designers, artisans, performers and chefs. See an array of Melbourne’s finest artisans and food vendors as well as some of Melbourne’s most talented and intriguing artists and entertainers.

6 June

Artplay: close encounters

Hundreds of Japanese lanterns will light up the ArtPlay space in a beautiful display, drawn from the Buddhist Obon festival tradition. This breathtaking installation will pay respect to the extinct species of Australia, in a timely reminder of the extinction crisis that we currently face on a global scale. Suitable for ages 5+ years.

7 June

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival

Hear the city jump to the beat of this annual, world-class festival. Concert halls, arts venues, jazz clubs and the streets of Melbourne come to life with the spirit of jazz.

7 June

A Taste of Portugal

Join Portuguese speaking people from countries such as Portugal, Brazil and East Timor, to celebrate their historical ties. Find out more about Portuguese culture, cuisine, music, dance, history, language and tourism at this annual event.

17 June to 12 July

Circus Oz

But Wait…There’s More, this winter under the heated Circus Oz big top, Melbourne’s own world-famous circus will put on exuberant live performances, presented at increased velocity and featuring a creative bunch of 12 fabulous weirdos.

17 June, 16 July

Organ-ic Lunch

Organ-ic Lunch is a free series of inspiring lunchtime concerts on the Melbourne Town Hall’s historic Grand Organ. On 17 June, don’t miss local rising star Ria Angelika Polo while on 16 July, virtuoso British organist David Briggs will give his Grand Organ debut.

19 to 26 June

Melbourne International Animation Festival

A whopping eleven day celebratory feast of forums, workshops and more than 400 of the best recently released, historical and retrospective animation from around the world. MIAF continues to promise fearlessly uncompromising programs to inspire, delight and challenge.

21 June

The Design Market

Discover new products, meet the designers and buy or sell a little piece of designer goodness at the Melbourne Design Market. Filled with hundreds of great designs including furniture, fashion, jewellery and homewares, you can even grab coffee and a bite to eat after trawling the stalls.

3, 10, 17, 24, 31 July

Docklands Winter Fireworks

Start your weekend with a bang during July and August with free Friday night fireworks at Docklands. Come early to enjoy the entertainment and get a prime view at one of the waterfront restaurants. Find out more on page 7.

5 to 12 July

NAIDOC Week

An opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and our society, Naidoc Week celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements. Local events include the Naidoc Week show for the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum.

8 and 9 July

ArtPlay: Argus

Follow this little creature as he explores the ocean, north pole, desert and even outer space in an attempt to find a home in a world where he just doesn’t fit in. This imaginative puppetry show uses only the performers’ hands to create the character, Argus. Suitable for ages 5 to 12 years.

16 July to 1 November

ACMI: David Bowie is

Explore David Bowie’s creative processes as a musical innovator and creative collaborator in this acclaimed exhibition from the Victoria and Albert Museum. A program of public and educational events will accompany the exhibition with talks, workshops and a panel discussion, all held at ACMI.

18 to 19 July

Bastille Day French Festival

The French are known for their passion, romance and revolutionary zeal, which is what helps make Bastille Day such a uniquely Gallic event. Experience the French influence in Melbourne through magnificent French food, wine and culture.

23 July

Nite Art

This year Nite Art expands into curated architectural spaces, not usually open to the public. We open doors to major art museums, like the Potter Museum, ACMI mediatheque and unique university institutions like the Grainger Museum and the Dax Centre in a nocturnal celebration of contemporary art.

25 to 26 July

Open House Melbourne

Open House Melbourne is a free event, providing access to the city’s most significant buildings. Find out more on page 12.

30 July to 16 August

Melbourne International Film Festival

Experience the festival buzz as you immerse yourself in the year’s most extraordinary contemporary cinema, revel in rarely seen repertoire and participate in provocative discussion panels. Now in its 64th year, be moved and inspired at MIFF.

31 July to 8 November

Melbourne Winter Masterpieces 2015

More than 400 works from the personal collection of Catherine the Great will travel to Australia in July as part of the exhibition Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great. Gathered over a 34-year period, the artwork represents the foundation of the Hermitage’s collection and includes outstanding works from artists such as Rembrandt, Velasquez, Rubens and Titian.

Sport17 June

State of Origin: NSW v QLD

For the first time in 18 years, rugby league’s showpiece event, the Holden State of Origin series, will come to the MCG. Australia’s greatest league rivalry between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons will be played out on the hallowed turf of the MCG and is sure to be another thrilling chapter in rugby league folklore.

15 and 21 June and 17 July

NRL Melbourne Storm

The Melbourne Storm takes on the Parramatta Eels, Brisbane Broncos and Penrith Panthers at AAMI Park this June and July.

18, 21 and 24 July

International Champions Cup Australia

Real Madrid, AS Roma and Manchester City football clubs will take centre stage at the MCG as part of the International Champions Cup. The cup is a scheduled series of friendly tournaments played separately in Australia, China and the United States.

26 July

Run Melbourne

Run Melbourne is a mass participation running event conducted in central Melbourne. The event offers various distances (half marathon, 10km, 5km and a 3km kids course) to cater for all abilities.

Discover all that’s happening in Melbourne on What’s On12.

12 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/whatson

A sweet story for community food programsVanessa Kwiatkowski woke up one morning and said to her husband Mat Lumalasi, ‘we have to take bees to the city’.

He thought that was odd, but they left their IT jobs and now manage more than 70 hives on top of buildings around Melbourne, including in Bourke Street and Carlton and 10 hives at the Alfred Deakin Building rooftop at Federation Square.

An innovative beehive sponsoring and adoption program, which includes the opportunity to name your queen, is vital to their success. The City of Melbourne sponsors two hives and receives several harvests of honey from each beehive per year.

Ten kilos (33 jars) of fresh, unpasteurised honey, straight from the hive, have already been donated to community organisations such as the Salvation Army, the Lazarus Centre, The Kitchen and Ozaman Community Centre, which support vulnerable groups in Melbourne, through programs such as breakfast clubs.

Peter Hichaaba, Salvation Army coordinator, received his first batch in March. ‘Within two days it was all gone. It was very well received’, he said.

The beehives are supported through the City of Melbourne’s food policy, Food City. A key priority in Food City is to increase access to nutritious, safe, fair and culturally appropriate food for all people in the municipality, with a focus on those most in need.

City rooftop beekeeping has long been a feature in Berlin, London, Paris and Tokyo but this ‘hive-rise’ venture is the first in Australia. For Vanessa and Mat, the city rooftop’s low hum of activity is a serene outpost, high above the honking of car horns, and the urgency of a major metropolitan city.

Mat, a honey ice-cream enthusiast (crumpets and honey for traditionalist Vanessa), says the product’s flavour has a distinct difference from roof to roof. Federation Square honey, he says, has a big lemon streak running through it from a local native plant. Bourke Street honey is different, darker because the bees feed off the gums at the Botanic Gardens.

As we talk about their love for bees and taste for honey, Mat flinches as a rogue bee attacks. The husband and wife team have been stung regularly in their pursuit of the natural. Vanessa is unconcerned. ‘If you play with bees you get stung’.

For more information, visit health13.

13 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/health

Making the most of every opportunityA social responsibility clause has opened the door to full time employment for Carlton Housing Estate resident, Salah Musa. The City of Melbourne’s Neill Street Reserve landscape and redevelopment contract stipulated the successful contractor include work experience for people from disadvantaged groups in the local area. Adrian Cadenazzi, the Project Manager for 2Construct, interviewed, selected and mentored Salah for the job in July last year.

Salah, who heard about the job through his local branch of the Brotherhood of St Laurence, initially thought it was a labouring job, but was delighted to discover it was project administration, which aligned with the diploma of project management he was completing.

‘It was perfect. Close to home and an opportunity to be part of something which would change the area where I live and help my community’, said Salah.

‘The guys on site were really helpful and showed me around and answered any questions I had. Learning and working beside a project manager was a great opportunity. My family were pretty happy for me’.

Salah was given the additional responsibility of completing a project for the landscaping of an area being returned to the neighbouring Carlton Primary School. As Salah himself had attended the school and still had connections with some of the teachers, the project was even more special. Following his placement with 2Construct, Salah got a full time job as a project administrator for Arrow Constructions.

He worked in the head office for a couple of months before being assigned to a large renovation project back at the Carlton Housing Estate, where he was asked to act as site manager for several weeks. Having come to Carlton from Eritrea, via Egypt, and now married with a newborn baby, the work experience opportunity could not have come at a better time. ‘It was a very good experience’, said Salah.

Great grants and sponsorships: Application datesHave you got a great arts project, a cool event or a small business idea, and you need some help to get it off the ground? The City of Melbourne can help.

A range of grants and sponsorship opportunities are offered by the City of Melbourne to help applicants realise their dreams in a number of sectors including the arts, business, community activities and sport.

Mid-year application dates:

4 May to 15 June - Annual arts grants

11 May to 22 June - Community grants

13 July to 10 August - Events partnership program, Small business grants, Social enterprise grants

Open all year or until funding for that financial year has been allocated: Community use of town halls, Individual athlete grants and Indigenous grants.

For more information visit grants and sponsorship14.

14 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/grantsandsponsorship

Grand dream comes trueJakarta-born organist Ria Angelika Polo began to learn piano when she was five years old, then moved to the organ at age eight. Now you can hear Ria play the Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ in a free lunchtime concert on 17 June.

What do you like about playing the organ?

The organ is a fascinating instrument in many ways. You need both hands and feet as they are dancing up and down the pedal board. You need an active brain and eyes to read three lines of music and sometimes more. In big organs such as the Grand Organ at Melbourne Town Hall, they have four keyboards. It keeps me active and busy! Most importantly, it can make a super loud and majestic sound with mixtures and reeds as well as a sweet dolce sound with flute, strings or vox humana.

The Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ is one of the largest organs in the southern hemisphere and one of the finest organs in the world. What is it like to play?

Words can’t describe how lucky I am to be able to play the Grand Organ. It was my dream to play on a magnificent instrument at a grand hall. One of the particular elements that I love in playing the Grand Organ, the instrument has Carillon, Glockenspiel, side drum and bass drum percussions, which are great to add orchestral effect to famous movie soundtracks such as The Simpsons, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean, which I played last year. Another highlight was playing the introduction music to the ABC TV show Q&A as I performed it on live TV.

What will you play at your Grand Organ concert in June?

I will be performing pieces by Mendelssohn, Buxtehude, Franck, one of Charles-Marie Widor’s symphonies, and the concert won’t be complete without performing a work by Johann Sebastian Bach.

When did you move to Melbourne?

I came to Melbourne in 2002 to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree at The University of Melbourne. After I received my Master’s degree in Music in 2006, I decided to give it a try to teach music here. I have been living in Melbourne for 13 years now and still counting.

What do you like best about living in Melbourne?

Melbourne holds a lot of live music events with a variety of genres. Ever since I moved to Melbourne, I attended concerts by MSO, Herbie Hancock, Tommy Emmanuel, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Chick Corea, Michael Buble and Coldplay. Melbourne has an easy access to public transport, it’s a multicultural city and offers a lot of awesome places to eat! :)

For more info visit Grand Organ15.

15 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/grandorgan

In briefIBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant

The City of Melbourne has won an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge Grant. Melbourne was one of 16 cities selected, from a pool of more than 100 cities around the world, to receive free consulting services from IBM in 2016. Up to six IBM experts will spend three weeks with staff analysing data about a critical issue facing the municipality. In addition, Melbourne, Detroit and Memphis, will also receive analysis on Twitter data relating to their city, to help inform policy decisions.

Green light for Urban Forests

The ideas behind the City of Melbourne’s highly successful Urban Forest Strategy will be shared with other states and territories to enable increased urban greening across Australia. A collaboration to develop a White Label Urban Forest Strategy is now underway between the City of Melbourne, 202020 Vision and the Victorian State Government.

BlackBOX showcases Melbourne innovations in Milan

An exhibition celebrating Melbourne’s history of design and innovation excellence was staged as part of Expo in Citta in Milan, Italy, in early May. The exhibition, presented by the City of Melbourne and Monash University, shared the stories behind 64 Melbourne innovations that have profoundly impacted our day-to-day lives.

Play on: AFL club songs

Listen out for the theme songs of your AFL team as you walk to the ’G through Birrarung Marr this season. The Federation Bells will play both team songs in the hour leading up to each match and the winning team’s song in the half hour immediately after the match at selected game days only. www.federationbells.com.au

Stay healthy this winter

With winter upon us, it’s not only important to stay warm, but to also protect ourselves from the flu. See your local GP or pharmacist about the flu vaccine. Your best defence against seasonal influenza.

Your CouncilThe Right Honourable Lord Mayor Robert DoyleFuture Melbourne (Major Projects), Committee Chair Phone 9658 9658Email lordmayor@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Deputy Lord Mayor Susan RileyFuture Melbourne (Marketing Melbourne), Committee Deputy Chair Phone 9658 9043Email susan.riley@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Cr Richard FosterFuture Melbourne (People City), Committee ChairPhone 9658 9056Email richard.foster@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Cr Rohan LeppertFuture Melbourne (Arts and Culture), Committee ChairPhone 9658 9051Email rohan.leppert@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Cr Kevin LoueyFuture Melbourne (Economic Development) Committee Chair, Docklands Coordination Committee Co-ChairPhone 9658 9170 or mobile 0413 960 811Email kevin.louey@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Cr Stephen MayneFuture Melbourne (Finance and Governance) Committee ChairPhone 9658 9636 or mobile 0412 106 241Email stephen.mayne@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Cr Cathy OkeFuture Melbourne (Transport), Committee ChairPhone 9658 9086Email cathy.oke@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Cr Ken OngFuture Melbourne (Planning), Committee ChairPhone 9658 9704Email ken.ong@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Cr Beverley Pinder-MortimerFuture Melbourne (Marketing Melbourne) Committee ChairPhone 9658 9038Email beverley.pinder-mortimer@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Cr Jackie WattsFuture Melbourne (Knowledge City), Committee ChairPhone 9658 8580Email jackie.watts@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Cr Arron Wood Future Melbourne (Environment), Committee ChairPhone 9658 9630Email arron.wood@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Postal address for all Councillors

City of Melbourne, GPO Box 1603, Melbourne VIC 3001Fax for all councillors 03 9658 9613

All committee meetings are held in: Council Meeting Room, Level 2 Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne, except the Docklands Coordination Committee, which is held at: Goods Shed, 710 Collins Street, Docklands, Melbourne.

All council meetings are held in: Council Chamber, (Public Gallery, Level 3) Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne.

On occasion, council meetings are rescheduled or special meetings of the committees and council are called.

For upcoming council and committee meeting dates and times, visit melbourne.vic.gov.au

Changes to the meeting schedule are published at melbourne.vic.gov.au and on the notice board at the front of the Melbourne Town Hall administration building.

Council meetings June 2015Meeting Date Time

Future Melbourne Committee Tuesday 2 June 5.30pm

Future Melbourne Committee Tuesday 9 June 5.30pm

Council Tuesday 30 June 5.30pm

Council meetings July 2015Meeting Date Time

Future Melbourne Committee Tuesday 7 July 5.30pm

Future Melbourne Committee Tuesday 14 July 5.30pm

Council Tuesday 28 July 5.30pm

Lord Mayor’s CommendationsCarol Mackay and Greg Branson: Mackay Branson Design

The world of design has changed significantly since Carol Mackay and Greg Branson started their design studio from a flat in North Melbourne in 1984.

Home computers, desktop publishing and the world wide web were yet to burst onto the design scene when Mackay Branson Design started out, yet the dynamic duo have managed to plot a successful course from one end of the city to the other, keeping their customers close and staying one step ahead of the pack. Carol is the creative head, while Greg looks after the business side of things.

Starting in the second bedroom of their flat, they soon moved the studio out to a serviced office, then into a terrace house, then over the road to a warehouse until the late 1980s when, with their studio averaging roughly 13 employees, they moved into a building in William Street to accommodate their size. The studio remained there until a research trip to the USA in 2000 led Greg and Carol to rethink their business model.

‘In New York we met with a number of studios that were compiling teams of freelancers suited to a project, rather than using all-rounders on a payroll’, said Greg.

On returning home, Greg and Carol changed their business plan and reduced their staff before the ructions of the global financial crisis set in. Apart from the economic value, the flexibility put the fun into design again. ‘It’s difficult to work in the same space for 30 years and stay fresh’, said Carol.

‘Changing our business model meant instead of holding the course of a large cruise liner we could perform more like a small, nimble tugboat.

‘I think our survival is built on empathy. We’ve had the same clients for a number of years because we understand their business and know how design can help them do business better. For many, we act as an external in-house studio’, said Carol.

Today Carol and Greg combine living and working in a loft-style building off Little Bourke Street, with a designated studio on one floor, their residence on the other and Melbourne on their doorstep. Greg has used his design business skills to start his own business, the Design Business Council, while Carol heads up the leaner boutique version of Mackay Branson Design. They love the convenience of their central city location and would not swap it for the world.

‘I leave here at 10.27 for a 10.30 meeting at Kirk’s cafe in Hardware Lane’, said Greg. ‘I walk to all my clients’, said Carol. The only drawback they can note is the car battery continually going flat from lack of use.

Lord Mayor’s Commendation recipients Carol Mackay and Greg Branson received Silver commendations in 2013. Mackay Branson Design is located at 3/362 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne.

The businesses featured on this page are all recipients of Lord Mayor’s Commendations. The commendations recognise the long-term commitment and contributions of Melbourne’s small business proprietors and family-run businesses to the City of Melbourne.

For more information visit Lord Mayor’s Commendations16.

16 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/commendations

Contact03 9658 9658 (7.30am to 6pm)

City of Melbourne website17

Contact the City of Melbourne18

National Relay Service

Teletypewriter (TTY) users phone 13 36 77 then ask for 03 9658 9658

Speak & Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 9658 9658

In person

Melbourne Town Hall Administration Building120 Swanston Street, Melbourne7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Postal address

City of MelbourneGPO Box 1603 Melbourne VIC 3000

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To subscribe, update your address, unsubscribe or provide feedback, contact the City of Melbourne or email melbournenews@melbourne.vic.gov.au

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To receive a copy, email john.rojas@visionaustralia.org at Vision Australia or phone 03 8378 1252.

17 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au18 http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/contactus