Latest articles by Simon Harvey
Reflecting on the Kensington Story
Kensington sits on a hill with the Maribyrnong River flats to the west and a gentle slope down to the Moonee Ponds Creek in the east. The suburb transformed from the poverty of a “struggle town” in the 1940s to the present gentrified multicultural community, one still in transition, now from an industrial to a residential community.
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The democratic process – a reflection
As we digest promotional material provided by candidates for the City or Melbourne (CoM) election, a deeper look – an historical look – might be appropriate. Democracy is fragile.
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A new life for Moonee Ponds Creek?
On Wednesday, September 4, I joined an eclectic troupe of Moonee Ponds Creek (MPC) advocates. We met to hear about any MPC-related progress and refocus our collaboration towards rejuvenation of our forgotten waterway.
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Macaulay Amendment C417
On Thursday, August 8 I logged online to listen to an information session by the City of Melbourne’s planning team, and “have my say” in framing the proposed planning scheme amendment (Macaulay Amendment C417) to the Melbourne Planning Scheme.
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Macaulay canyons
For many years some members of the Kensington Association have been talking about “the Macaulay canyons”.
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Put yourself in their shoes!
These shoes are those of hundreds of Kensington Banks residents feeling disillusioned and angry after receiving an updated map of flood modelling of the Maribyrnong River, which puts their homes at a higher risk of flooding from a one-in-100-year event.
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Local fires are burning
Following the failed 2023 Referendum there is a sense that, while the dust of bitter discussion has settled, the fire for ever deeper “reconciliation” with our Indigenous peoples is burning even brighter.
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E-scooter trial extension: fun and convenience versus safety
The Melbourne e-scooter trial has been extended, and e-scooters are here to stay.
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Unison Housing … what are you thinking?!
Many will know that our Kensington Community Network (KCN) meets regularly to share news, perspectives and needs in the community. This committee is jointly managed and chaired by Unison’s Deb Wilson and Rebecca Smith from Kensington Neighbourhood House (KNH).
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Kensington Association at a crossroad
The Kensington Association (KA) was formed in 1997 … 26 years ago. In the first edition of North West City News (NWCN) in February 2021, as chairperson of the association, I penned a brief history of the KA, in which I documented some of its achievements.
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Bearing the brunt
Assemble (or Assemble Communities) is a property development and community management company.
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The bulldozer is on the block
Anyone who follows “the news” will know there is almost a sense of panic within government ranks in relation to the provision of housing.
Read MoreTrust is on the ballot
Trust is always on the ballot. In elections we place our trust in the candidate for whom we vote. On October 14 there will be similar trust at play.
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Community cohesion
Will the continued demise of church congregations make any difference to the general wellbeing and cohesion of our community?
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Transition or transformation?
In the July edition of North West City News Brendan Rees reported on the sale of the iconic church on the corner of Queensbury and Curzon streets in North Melbourne. Apparently a Uniting Church leader said that “such a substantial landholding … no longer met their missional goals”.
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The Kensington Association – “taking stock”
From time to time any organisation needs to undertake some kind of appraisal of its operations, even to the extent of reflecting on the reason for its existence.
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The 2023 Referendum and respectful conversations
“… good information and good listening will produce a good result for all Australians …”
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Reconciliation ... a process
Reconciliation Week is coming up from May 27 to June 3, also NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day ObservanceCommittee) Week, from July 2... then later, probably sometime in October, we will be voting on the constitutional change to establish the Voice to parliament
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R U OK … with change?
Yes, I know, a big question … too general. There’s so much that is changing, some change we welcome, but other change we resist … even fear. The speed of change (ref. Future Shock by Alvin Toffler 1970) is often the biggest challenge! Resisting, monitoring, or advocating for change is core Kensington Association business.
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A year of reckoning – 2023
The year is upon us. On behalf of the Kensington Association, greetings to all North-Westies.
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