All posts by Gary Buck

St Kilda Rd living

Fibre internet connection

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After all that footpath digging, it is now possible for you to get your internet connection via TPG’s FTTB service.  There are multiple suppliers who can use that fibre but the TPG related company is called Wondercom and here is their web site.  Their phone number is 1300 160 163

It is not compulsory and I have no knowledge of the performance.  Personally I am very happy with my current Telstra cable service and will not be swapping.

We are still waiting on NBN and I expect it is not too far away.

If anyone starts using the TPG service it would be great if you could post your feedback (good or bad) on the blog.

Metro Rail, St Kilda Rd living

Metro Rail – Answers to some questions

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  • Should residents / owners put in their own comments to Metro Rail?

I am submitting my feedback to them as Chairman of The Botanica Owners Corp and I am trying to represent views of most residents.  But I do not know everyone’s views.  I am very happy for anyone to submit further feedback to Metro Rail.

The best email  address to use is james.tonkin@melbournemetro.vic.gov.au

James is Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relation, Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

  • Modifications to our carpark would be expensive and involve legal costs etc.

I don’t think it is feasible to modify our carpark to allow basement vehicles to enter/exit via Bowen Cres.  However if that did happen then Metro Rail would pick up all costs.

  • Concerns on noise and dust during construction

They are well aware of this being a major issue.  In the last few months, they have been in contact with the organisation who is completing a similar project in London.  This has meant that they now believe that the ‘open hole’ period will be reduced from around 36 months to 24-30 months.  That’s still a long time but the focus of making this time period shorter is great.

They have agreed to regular washing of our building.

Going forward there will be an opportunity for The Botanica OC and individuals to provide formal feedback.  At this time you can comment on issues such as hours of work, noise, dust, local amenity and the like

St Kilda Rd living

Metro Rail – Re-emphasizing our position

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With the project now out to tender, the following information was sent to the James Tonkin, Director – Comms and Stakeholder Relations at Metro Rail.

We plan to formally respond as part of the public comment process when that time comes.

James

Seems that things are now full steam ahead.  On behalf of Botanica I’d just like to again highlight our major issues.

 

  1. Driveway access from each of our two independent driveways is critical.  The St Kilda rd. driveway is the more critical as it:
  • Provides access to around 50 cars
  • It is also the only disabled access to the building
  • It is the only access for significant deliveries.  Lack of access would prevent people moving in and out, furniture deliveries and the like.

 

  1. At the meeting you suggested that some form of car lift may be possible.  Please be aware that my understand is that anything that requires a building permit will trigger a council requirement for Botanica to  meet current disability access requirements.  This is likely to be expensive and undesirable.

 

  1. You have reassured us several times that the emergency exit will not be outside Botanica.  We have a preference for it to be near the corner of Bromby St and St Kilda Rd, a practical location for an emergency exit.  Bowen Cres is a poor second choice.

 

  1. The trees form a fundamental part of our St Kilda Rd vista.  A comprehensive plan is essential to give us confidence that the leaf coverage will be substantial at the conclusion of the project.  We expect much better than young developing trees.

 

  1. We were pleased that you assured us that we will not have any adverse noise or vibrations when the Project goes live.

 

  1. We were pleased that you accept that it will be necessary for the Project to fund some maintenance works on the building during the construction period.  This is likely to be issues like regular wash downs of the façade.

 

 

Gary Buck

 

St Kilda Rd living

Painting and redecorating

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Residents have seen painters around the building and asked a few questions, let me try and answer.

A few months back we replaced all of the hall and lobby lights with LED lights (which are much cheaper to run).  The old lights had caused some heat flaring on the walls and so we need to repaint the hallways.  They have not been done for about 10 years and it is in our fully funded long term plan.  No levy will be required to carry out this work.  (This is feeling like a budget speech now!)

Before we paint the hallways / lobby, the Committee thought it was a good time to consider the building interior as a whole.  This includes individual doors, lift surrounds and lobby furniture.  We have not made any decision on the how much will be done during 2016 but we felt it was important to have the big picture before we start.

One of our owners is a retired interior designer and offered her services at no charge.

We have asked her to come up with two fully costed options that the Committee can consider.

We are also planning to get a second opinion.

No decisions have been made as yet and the level of change will dictate the degree of consultation.  If we decide to repaint the hallways the same colour, then I would not envisage taking that to an AGM.  If the changes were dramatic then I feel taking it to a much wider audience like the AGM would be sensible.

 

Metro Rail, St Kilda Rd living

Metro Rail update – April 2016

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MM MINUTES 20160405 Botanica

MM PRESENTATION Update to Botanica Apartments 20160405

Please find attached notes from our recent meeting.  Some of the main things to note:

  • The marked emergency station exit is now planned for Bowen Cres and not out the front of our building.
  • Our St Kilda Rd car park exit is a major issue for them.  They understand the criticality of it to us and are trying to find a workable solution.  The are even entertaining spending significant dollars building some form of permanent car lift to allow all vehicles out via Bowen Cres (I don’t think it is feasible but shows how serious they are treating the issue)
  • They are prepared to fund regular washing of the building during construction.
  • They understand the importance of our street trees.
  • The period for the ‘open cut’ has been reduced to 24-30 months.

Feedback welcome

Gary Buck

Safe and Secure

Time to pay the piper :-)

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I am delighted with the feedback from many of you about the Botanica blog, it is great that you find is useful.

Some of you know that I am an author of technology books.

My latest book is about passwords, security, privacy and that sort of thing.  It is designed for the day to day non technical person.  In January it was the top selling book in Amazon Australia in it’s category.

I’d appreciate if  you click on this link and have a look, it would be even better if you lash out and spend the $2.99 on a copy.

Feel free to share the link.

Thanks …sorry about pushing an ad out to you.

 

Metro Rail, St Kilda Rd living

Detailed Metro Rail info

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I have some contacts in other buildings that are also meeting with Metro Rail – I have attached a copy of information that has been provided to them.  The first half page is blank so that their names are not published.

2016 03 Melb Metro Rail update

We will build on this at our meeting.  Main issues to date for us are

  • Confirmation that the emergency exit will not be outside our building
  • Clarification of exhaust location
  • Impact on trees during and after change
  • Building / car park access
  • General impact during the construction
  • Bike lanes – make sure any changes are co-ordinated.  Don’t spend a fortune installing one and then rip it out
  • Traffic impact during and after change
Metro Rail, St Kilda Rd living

Any questions about Melb Metro Rail??

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The Committee have a scheduled update with the Metro Rail team in a couple of weeks.  Any questions you would like me to ask??

We will cover things like:

  • Current preferred design
  • Plans for the construction period
    • Where will the ‘hole’ be?
    • Where will tram lines go?
    • How will traffic be handled
    • Any impact on our building access?
    • Noise / vibration / dust impacts?
    • Trees?

You can place a comment on the blog here or send me an email to buckgw@gmail.com

Gary