All posts by Gary Buck

Our tram stop survives a little longer

A number of you have asked about whether our tram stop at Bowen Lane will be re-instated.  I have had confirmation today that it will be operational again tomorrow.  The new stop on our side of Toorak Rd will be accessible from near the old Police Building.  That stop is a new generation, safer and with better accessibility.

Our old stop will clearly have to go when they do the serious tunnel work next year.

 

Major impact on footpath outside Botanica

You should have seen this document in your letterbox

2017 07 MM NOTIFICATION 030717 Service Relocations Update[37827]

It outlines some major work that will impact us greatly.  Essentially John Holland will be digging up the footpath from Bowen Crescent to Bowen Lane, immediately next to our wall.  They need to do this to move all of the telecommunications cables that run under the footpath – essentially moving them further from the road edge (and effectively further from the edge of the new station).

More information will be coming out from John Holland soon.

Be aware

  • There will be a outage of around 4 hours when no access will be available to/from the basement car park.  We have suggested to lowest impact is likely to be 10am-2pm on a Tuesday or Thursday.  They will give us notice beforehand
  • There will be no street parking immediately outside our building
  • The work will commence around next Monday and take around one month
  • We have stressed safe access for pedestrians is essential.

Don’t forget to check out the ongoing photos of the tram work here

 

Those beeping bloody trucks

I was woken at 5am by this truck – no video but judging by the rig, he could afford to pay for new generation reversing beepers.

DSCN4782

I think the same guy was back again at 8am.  Again doing a long reverse, this time with video and more and more and more

Here are some close ups

Just before 9am we had another beeping truck

Video is here

Then right on 9am we had this effort.  And it went on and on .  Here is his rego

DSCN4799

The EPR’s specifically say broadband beepers are MANDATORY.  Yesterday we were told it was really mainly the cherry pickers.  Well here are 3 trucks that have offended inside a few hours.

Footpath work immediately outside Botanica

You may have received this document this evening in your email (if you subscribe to MMRA info). MM NOTIFICATION 030717 Service Relocations Update[37840]

It notes that from next Wednesday our footpath will be dug up (again) and seems it may be that way for a month.

I have asked for a detailed technical briefing on Monday or Tuesday morning next week.  It will be held in their pop up office downstairs.  All welcome.  I suspect I won’t know until Monday and so it may be very short notice.  I will put a note up here

Those noisy reversing beepers

Metro Rail told me some time back that they are going to enforce the rule that all ‘vehicles’ on site will need to have the new generation reversing beepers – the ones that sound more like a quack and are MUCH less penetrating.

MOST vehicles have complied but some have not, I’ve been told that perhaps the sub-contractors have not yet changed their equipment…tough.  Tell them they are banned from site until the fix it!!

Here is an example of the banned one

If you hear one – take a short video plus a still photo to identify the offender.  I’ll start sending through to MMRA

What will St Kilda Rd be like after these tram works??

I was trying to get my head around where the cars and the trams will go after these current works are complete.  I dropped in to the pop up shop at 402 St K Rd and picked up this map.

I didn’t talk to anyone but this map shows the centre car lane get moved across to the side lanes near the Royce Hotel.  I suspect that there will no longer be any right turns at Toorak Road.20170705_131852

As always photos of the progress are here.  Note you can ‘subscribe’ to the photo site and you’ll get a message when I post new photos.

 

No nearby tram stop – July 1 until July 11

With the work going on outside Botanica, there will be a major impact on tram access during the period July 1-11

There will be tram replacement buses but they will NOT stop between The Shrine stop (number 19) and Arthur St stop(number 23).

So if you want to catch a tram to the city, you will need to  walk to the Shrine stop

Normal buses will continue.

*** Correction – You can catch trams TO the city at Domain tram stop

Details here SCN970

John Holland update

From: Bec Rowe
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 8:14 AM

Subject: Today’s works continuing until tomorrow

 

Dear Gary,

 

I have been advised we are service proving around tree roots today and tomorrow which will continue to result in car parking impacts at the front of your building.

 

This will continue today and tomorrow with driveway access to continue to be maintained.

 

Unfortunately this work was deemed necessary following works earlier this week and needs to be completed ahead of tram works.

 

I apologise for not having provided this update earlier.

 

Regards

Bec