Opinion

Emerald Hill is more than a road closure, it’s an opportunity to create South Melbourne’s civic heart, says the South Melbourne Business Association.

Port Phillip Council is asking for feedback on a proposal that would breathe new life into a part of the municipality that has been struggling for years by replacing land for cars with land for people. Nick Bailey, ANAM Renewal Director, puts the case for Option A.

The South Melbourne Town Hall has stood as a proud sentinel of our civic history for generations. Its bluestone foundations and towering spire do not just map our skyline—they anchor our community’s soul. Michael Sabada fears that council is planning a sanitized, artificial event space by closing Bank Street.

Melbourne sells a pristine, lakeside picture to over 400 million television viewers worldwide during the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. It is a masterful global postcard, framing Melbourne as a sophisticated metropolis that effortlessly blends nature with premier sport. Nick McGowan, Shadow Minister for the Environment, sees neglect lurking behind the picture-perfect postcard view.

Council’s draft creative strategy promises stronger cultural outcomes while relying on continued cuts to the St Kilda Festival budget. TWiSK comments and reports.

Geoff Gower was on the community panel that helped develop the original site brief almost a decade ago. He is concerned that the lessons of the first failure have never been identified, let alone fully understood.

Not tragedy but testimony. Three actors embody the journey of Taungurung Elder Uncle Larry Walsh, showing the power of theatre as a vehicle for truth-telling and art as a form of memory activism. Olivia Di Grazia was at opening night.

Balaclava is on the verge of a series of Council decisions about the renewal of the supermarket precinct on Carlisle Street. Resident and urban researcher Rachel Iampolski urges people who love Balaclava to speak up before it’s too late.

The 2025 Safety Roundtable headed by Ian Gray AM brought police, local welfare agencies and council together to have a coordinated response to community safety concerns. He comments on the proposed local laws.

Theatre Works brings another authentically Australian story to the stage: a tale of isolation, alienation, and miscommunication.  Red Sky Morning until 16 May.