Great grey hope??

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This small grey box may become the friend of many people in Melbourne living near tram tracks.  During the  Metro Tunnel work for the new Anzac (Domain?) Station, new tram tracks were installed that had a terrible squeal – after a lot of debate and numerous studies, a solution has been found.

It involves applying a ‘friction modifier’ onto the tracks.  During August, tests were carried out by manually ‘painting’ this emulsion on the tracks and it made a significant difference.  But the only issue is that it needs to be applied every 15 minutes or thereabouts.

Hence the grey box – when complete by early next week, it contains the gear (and tank) to spray the emulsion on the wheels of passing trams.  The one above is in St Kilda Rd, near Toorak Rd.  The photo below is the site of the one that will capture southbound trams and is in St Kilda Rd, near Park St.  That should be completed on Sunday night

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Why is it good news for all??  It seems if this works well then it can also be deployed on other noisy sections of tram track around the network.

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Info from CYP presented at The Botanica AGM

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Lots of good information here but I think the main piece of critical info is the broad notification of the worst time ahead for us.  You can see that the worst time will likely be April – June 2019.  This involves putting the ‘lid’ back on to the ‘southern box’ outside The Botanica.

The date may slip but given the following step involves moving the tram lines…and that can only be done in school holidays (eg July), I think the broad window won’t move much.

AGM Info pack

It was great having good attendance from CYP and The Botanica, thanks all

Good new on cigarette butts

After some gentle prodding from The Botanica and others, Cross Yarra Partnership (CYP) have managed to convince the City of Port Phillip to install a temporary bin outside 390 St Kilda Rd for cigarette butts.

I understand that they have refused to erect goal posts for the guys who kick a footy out there each day – all quite reasonable.

Mail theft – let’s see if anyone recognises our thief

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I was contacted by a journo from News Corp about our mail theft.  She had seen my video on YouTube.

I decided that I was happy to be quoted (even if she didn’t get my quotes 100% right, they are near enough) but did not mention our building specifically.

Article is here

Police were not interested – maybe someone will recognise her and report it.  Already 30 people have viewed the video.

Metro Tunnel CRG -October meeting

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Meeting notes

  • Northern box has now had a number of “D Wall” panels installed
  • First panel had some issues but process working well now
  • More panels being done Thursday/Friday this week – northern box
  • Southern box work is mainly a low retaining wall.  Needed due to proximity of hole to the road
  • Ground anchor work to happen at 390 St K Rd next week
  • Small business mentoring work being offered in the area – free.  Goodwill for small business.
  • Dust monitoring now fully operational and reporting being done
    • Two monitoring stations, one inside Melb Grammar and one inside Albert Rd Reserve
    • All reports shows well under the legal limit
  • A lot of discussion on impact of dust on all residents/buildings
    • CYP pushed the line
      • Not all dust caused by them
      • They are meeting their contractual obligation
    • The meeting made it clear that it was not acceptable
    • Added for further discussion
  • Trees
    • Tabled the obligations on CYP (in attachment)
    • Concern about the additional trees to be planted in Albert Rd Reserve.  What type?
  • Noise – CYP acknowledged that they had not provided timely noise reports.  To be rectified ASAP
  • Tram Squeal
    • Equipment has been received
    • Tender has been issued and let (to Fulton Hogan)
    • Pits to be modified
    • Needs to be done at night when no trams
    • Will be done in last week of October
  • City of Melb – Domain Parkland study
    • Commenced in 2015
    • As population increases and climate change occurs, need to manage parks differently
    • This is looking forward 10+ years
    • Big issue around having 5 different controlling entities (City of M, State Govt, Shrine, Myer Music Bowl and Botanic Gardens)
    • Likely to see a proper Visitors Centre
    • A lot of work around making getting into the parklands better – for example getting from Anzac Station to the gardens
      • Likely to see Dallas Brooks Drive improved for peds
      • Some tweaks to Edmund herring Oval (post Metro Tunnel)
    • Will see reduction in commuter car parking – these are the 10 hours type bays, they want more people parking near the park who use the park and less city workers!
    • Big focus on managing events better
      • One co-ordinator across all bodies
      • Some fun runs starting in Olympic Park.  It has permanent toilets and makes setup easier.  It also means some runs will go towards to Fitzroy gardens…spread the load

Presentation here

2018 10 CRG Handout