The Plane Trees outside The Botanica were removed today – very sad

Here are a couple of videos

Vid 1

Vid 2

I attended the Community Reference group (CRG) meeting on Wednesday – here is a pack of the info presented.  Domain-CRG-Presentation-30-May-2018

I’ll put up some more notes later but the main takeaways are

• 14 trees go from tomorrow – they should have pink pain markers on the ones to go…but I’m sure the elms are going but have no pink paint??
• The St Kilda Rd service lane in front of our building, will go in the next 2 weeks.  The ‘site fence’ will be moved back to the kerb.  Car parking will obviously go.  Our lower carpark driveway will be inside the ‘site fence’.  It will have traffic management and there will be no access to the city side of the driveway.  This means that you will come in and out towards Bowen Cres.  This will apply for 12-18 months.
• The noisest time for Botanica is now predicted to be Jan – March 2019

We did also discuss the tram squeal issue – it has been escalated and they now realise that it is having a massive impact on all local residents

As a nearby owner, I have today received a pack of information about the impending demolition of 412 St Kilda Rd.

This is the letter

The attachments were on a CD.  I have copied them here

2. A0020-0

3. A0003-1

4. IMP180313-DG-(01-02-04)-C

5. Mann_DWP – St Kilda Rds Rev B

6. 60.74897.01.H- Approved 18.05.09

7. 60.74897.01.H – CoC Design 18.05.10 rev1

8. 18-42.23 SK1-3

9. 18-42.23 Comps

10. 18-42.23 cert-design

11. Hickory – Liability CoC – $100m – 2017-18 (St Kilda Road) (ID 25916)

12.0 Dilapidation Survey 1of2

12.1 Dilapidation Survey 2of2

I have not read this and not sure whether it is good or bad – I decided that I’d upload it all and give everyone a chance to read.  I think I’ve copied it all – best efforts in a hurry.

I find the exit from Bowen Cres to St Kilda Rd still confusing…do you??

Here is a video

The answer is that to turn left into the city…first move right!!  The other left turn does not get to St Kilda Rd

See update latest formal update from RPG/CYP/Yarra Trams on the squeal issue

You have to laugh

The latest is as follows:

RPV/Yarra Trams/CYP have run a full review of all the documentation associated with the build and cross checked it with new measurements taken on the tracks as built.
There is no clear defect or construction issue that would cause the level of noise that you’re currently experiencing.

Yarra Trams are in the process of putting together a trial of the potential application of a friction modifier to the rails to see if that has any effect on the noise levels.

We’re just waiting on confirmation on the timing of the trial. The trial will establish if the product is a safe and efficient solution going forward.

We’ll update when we have more detail on the timing of the trial.

1. MMRA have been renamed as Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) – I guess since they are now looking after non-Metro projects, then the name Metro Rail didn’t make sense
2. Bowen Crescent at Kings Way has been re-opened. The Gurner Building on the corner may means some temporary closures but it was open again tonight.
3. The MMRA / RPV flyer in your letterbox today had some info for the overall Precinct – let me give the Botanica impacts
   • There is a lot about street lighting – applies mainly to areas north of us. But they know we have an issue and Citipower were intending to have our old street lights back on tonight – now looks like being tomorrow night. Tonight we will have the intrusive but necessary light towers
   • The noisy water blasting on Wednesday will be either side of us but not in front of us
   • On May 6, there will be concrete barriers will be in front of us – where the orange bollards are now. St Kilda Rd northwards will be diverted next to the tram tracks from in front of the Police Building. We will have one lane of traffic to our car park, to Bowen Lane and to Albert Rd South AND our parking bays.
4. Trees – our trees will stay until late June / early July. There may be 1-2 in front of 390 St Kilda Rd removed beforehand but ours stay until they really have to go to start work in front of us
5. Hoardings – we are still working with RPV (MMRA) and CYP with regard to some treatment of the ugly concrete barriers. Living walls and artist murals have been suggested by me…still hopeful

Tram noise update

This has just come through

From: Rob
Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2018 4:09 PM
To: Gary
Subject: Tram Noise

Hi Gary and Jan

Just an update on the tram noise issue as promised:

Once it became clear that the tracks had not bedded down in the anticipated time frame, Yarra Trams have been conducting various investigation works to try to identify the cause of the noise. As we discussed, the noise does not seem to be linked to either the stock type or specific tram number. Yarra Trams have held a workshop with respective experts in the field to look at possible causes based on observations so far. They have resolved to conduct another inspection of the gauge and cant of the tracks this week with a specialised trolley to scan the tracks. This will be timed to coincide with the times and conditions where the noise has been observed to be at its worst.

Separate to this process, a full review being undertaken of all technical drawings and other documentation from the works to try identify any potential issues. This is being led by MMRA, CYP and with support of the Independent Reviewer.

As I reiterated, there is a strong commitment to get this issue fixed. I’ll keep you both updated on the issue, Please feel free to share this with any interested residents of the building.

Thanks, Rob

On a lighter note…..Some of the more diligent readers of the letterbox flyers will have noticed that “luminaries” are to be hung from the poles in our area. We were stunned and thought that they would be hanging luminaires – if anyone has suggestions for luminaries to be hung, please add a comment to the blog.

Wow – the blog typically has around 500 views per month (15-20 per day), but this month it has hit the magic 1000 views in the month.  Not bad since there is only 58 apartments!!

Thanks – I will take that as meaning that people are getting some value from the site.  Suggestions welcome

Thanks all