Community gathers under sunny skies in Parkville Gardens

Melbourne’s weather has a reputation for changeability, but Parkville Gardens Residents’ Association could not have asked for a more glorious day on Sunday, March 23.

Brilliant blue skies, glorious sunshine and beach-like warmth – along with generous funding from Greater Western Water (GWW) – made ideal conditions for our Neighbours Day Celebration. The result? A great time was had by all.

Highlights for the kids were a magic show and amazing balloon twisting by a children’s entertainer, followed later by a very popular Tae Kwan Do demonstration.

The barbeque with halal sausages, vegie burgers and onions were such a success that extra snags had to be acquired in a hurry to cope with the demand. Greater Western Water supplied water bottles and fresh water, along with activities for kids and billing answers for adults.

Friendly officers from Victoria Police engaged positively with local residents, as did the staff from the City of Melbourne’s mobile library, the MelVan, and our regular Neighbourhood Partner, Nas Mohamud.

We were particularly pleased that Cr Gladys Liu accepted a late invitation to join us in her capacity as the council’s portfolio head for Community, Health and City Services. She spent a generous amount of time connecting informally with the community.

A great team effort by PGRA committee members ensured that all went smoothly. Our aim was to draw the community together in a safe and welcoming space, create the opportunity for residents to connect with one another, and enable everyone (kids especially) to have a good time. We were delighted with the whole celebration. It’s fair to say this was our biggest and best event ever. Thanks, GWW!

On a smaller scale but just as high in the popularity stakes, our annual Easter egg hunt took place just three weeks later, on Sunday, April 13. It’s just as well it was held early in the day – at 9.30 am – as the chocolate treasures would have melted in the afternoon heat. Thanks to the City of Melbourne for funding this event.

There’ll be a report in next month’s bulletin on Housing First’s Easter Family Fun Fair scheduled for the school holiday weekday of Wednesday, April 16.

The City of Melbourne has conducted an online survey of pedestrian and road safety in Parkville Gardens. The results will generate proposals for addressing residents’ concerns to be offered for comment in mid-May. We look forward to this next round of consultation.

The council is also embarking on a much grander project of consultation. It’s seeking input to formulate a 2050 Vision for Melbourne (M2050). The first stage will be a 9am to 5pm Summit at Melbourne Town Hall on Friday, May 9. Those who have a passion for Melbourne and wish to contribute must submit an Expression of Interest (EoI).

After that it will proceed with a 50-member People’s Panel which will meet for an evening and then five full days through May. For more information and to submit an EoI go to participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/m2050-vision. Successful participants in this more intense phase of the consultation are promised a gratuity of $600.

Thanks to all local residents who responded to our appeal to contact the state government about its failure to fulfil its promise of a community centre once the area became residential after the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The matter has been referred to the Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts Harriet Shing. We look forward to her response. •