Be careful in St Kilda Rd…and elsewhere.  Slow down or STOP

We’ve been having issues with tram squeal in St Kilda Rd for 6-7 months and just when I thought that Yarra Trams had tried everything…I spotted this today

Capacity is down a bit and no squeal BUT I’m not sure I like the strange clip clop sound!!

Actually they’ve done a great job by using the special friction modifier goo.

The squeal from the trams has returned!!  As I understand it, Yarra Trams have identified the problem and are working on a remedy

Many of you know that I’ve been representing The Botanica Owners Corp for some time on the Metro Rail Tunnel Project (with a lot of help from Jan).  A few friends and colleagues have queried why we are SO obsessed with the project and I usually say…”It is going to cause us a LOT of short term pain but will be fabulous when it is done.  It will be very close to our front door”

How close?  The reality of the proximity has become more evident this week with the obligatory footpath paint marks.  In the photo, I have emphasized their marks with my own to make it clear.

You can see that the hole will be a couple of metres on ‘our side’ of the kerb and almost to Bowen Cres.  Our front door is just to the left of the Ficus tree in the photo.

My educated guess is that the worst time will be April – June 2019.  After that they will put a ‘lid’ on the hole and work from underground.

Just saying – bloody close!!

Afternoon all,

Just a quick note to advise that the upcoming works that will require the closure of The Botanica lower basement carpark have been delayed

(This is due to some interface issues with the power company)

This means that the planned closure of the lower basement carpark on 14 and 15 November 2018 will not take place and has been postponed until a later date.

The associated pedestrian diversion out the front of The Botanica will also be pushed back.

Apologies for any inconvenience called – as soon as we have new dates we’ll let you know.

Thanks, Rob

More info later  but the car park will NOT be closed this week now

Just in case you didn’t read the highlighted bit in your letterbox, I’ve copied it here

Car park CLOSED on Wednesday and Thursday – call them if that causes you grief

You will have noticed that we have started the work to relocate our letterboxes to a safer location inside, near the lifts.  The premium boxes did not match our expectations and the flaps do not close as smoothly as we expected.  The supplier has agreed to replace the entire bank of boxes.  This will take another ten days

Thanks for your patience

BTW – Apartments in Albert Rd had their letterboxes broken into last weekend

Be careful tomorrow there will be some CYP work happening on our doorstop tomorrow.  You should have received details in your mailbox – here is a  copy

Bottom line is that they need to dig up our footpath (again!) to relocate some high voltage cables and need to install a covered walkway.

Access will be maintained but a little different – for walkers and drivers, so be careful

Who is this unmasked man in a high vis vest??  It seems he is the man who is the key guy for fixing tram squeal on the Yarra Tram Network.

This was him back in April 2018 just after Rail Projects Victoria had moved the tram tracks in St Kilda Rd when they had somehow turned silent tracks into something terrible.

Now SEVEN months later, he is out there checking that their special new ‘friction modifier’ has been installed correctly.  This is him earlier in the week

It is certainly better but not quite  right – do the tanks run dry, does the rain wash it off??

If you recognise him please pass on my thanks