TWiSK #374
New bin collection is rubbish
Survey reveals extent of bin failure
Plus new art, music and theatre
Have your bins been collected?
Take our survey now – click here
Preliminary results from a TWiSK community survey cast serious doubt on Council claims that 90% of household rubbish have been collected as expected despite widespread problems with the new bin collection contractor.
The survey is still open, so please add your feedback to help us get the most accurate picture.
Survey update (Wednesday 19 July, noon)
214 TWiSK readers have reported failed bin collections across over 100 different local streets.
Bin spin could be rubbish
Council CEO Chris Carroll took to Facebook last week in response to a flood of resident complains to bin collection failure.
He apologised for problems but sought to minimise the problem by asserting that 90% of collections happened as usual.
Responses to an online survey by TWiSK point to a dramatically higher failure rate, with St Kilda areas amongst the hardest hit.
In just 48 hours, survey respondents reported collection failures in over 100 local streets (see list at end of this post).
Mayor apologises but minimises failure rate
In a statement supplied to TWiSK late on Friday, Mayor Heather Cunsolo was clearly upset.
“We sincerely apologise to residents whose kerbside bin collections have been affected since we changed contractors on 1 July. While 90 per cent of bins are being collected, the missed collections are unacceptable and we understand residents’ frustration,’ she wrote.
She said the new contractor, Citywide, was experiencing technical difficulties navigating new routes and identifying where bins are put out.
“We have been very clear to Citywide that we expect them to resolve their collection issues as soon as possible,” she said.
“We hope to see improved collections from next week”, she promised.
New contractor is owned by the City of Melbourne
The Council statement also reveals that the new contractor Citywide is wholly owned by the City of Melbourne.
Citywide was selected after “after a rigorous public tender in which probity advisers were involved at all stages.”
The Mayor said selection considerations included value for money and technology.
Fears about service before contract handover
As reported in TWiSK #371 (26 June), the Council website was warning residents about handover problems when it announced the change in June.
Is there a story behind this fiasco that we are not being told?
Your responses to our survey clearly report a serious problem way beyond a 10% failure rate.
The survey is still open
Council electoral structure review info sessions @ VEC online
Monday 17 July, noon
Tuesday 18 July, 6 pm
From next election, Port Phillip Councillors will be elected to single-councillor wards. There may be a change in the number of councillors the ward boundaries and names.
The link for the online information sessions will be available 30 minutes before the start time.
Get the link 30 minutes before
Rough Trade @ Theatre Works Explosives Factory
Wednesday 19 July – Saturday 29 July, 7.30 pm
Part takedown of capitalism, part wannabe dancing dildo musical, this one-woman play is a celebration of resilience, humour … and adult toys!
Inspired by true stories, playwright Katie Pollock peels back the layers to reveal thrilling (and sometimes terrifying) examination of the ways capitalism and the patriarchy fail us, and the precarious position all women risk. $45
Tix
No wheelchair access
Remembering Tracey @ Gatehouse
Thursday 20 July, BBQ from 5 pm, candlelight vigil from 6.00 pm – 6.30 pm
Honour Tracey’s life on the 10th anniversary of her death.
36 Greeves Street
Oppenheimer – 70mm @ Astor
From Thursday 20 July, various times
The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
3 hour epic based on the Pulitzer winning book American Prometheus.
Tix
Bowie Unzipped starring Jeff Duff @ Memo
Friday 21 July, 7 pm
A tribute to the thin white Duke with a serious pedigree. $50/$40
Tix
Shepparton Airplane @ St Kilda Sports Club
Friday 21 July, 7 pm
After a year of silence, Shepparton Airplane return to the stage with support from Affordable Repayments, with their guitar driven 90s Seattle style of rock, and young ratbags Persecution Blues. $30/$25
Tix
Art Cards workshop@Space2b Art space
Saturday 22 July, 11 am – 1 pm
Create your own unique SoulCollage® cards and connect to your inner storyteller with local artist Cheryle Bannon. This workshop is held as part of Cheryle’s Nature’s Sanctuary solo exhibition. $28 All materials supplied – includes starter kit.
Info and tix
144 Chapel Street St Kilda. 
Printmaking Masterclass @ Linden
Saturday 22 July, 11 am – 4 pm
A two-part masterclass to explore printmaking strategies without a press and unleash creativity in printmaking. In the first session, you’ll experiment with the printmaking technique Monotype Trace. In the second session, you’ll learn about intaglio printmaking strategies through the Drypoint technique. Whether you are a seasoned artist or a beginner exploring the world of printmaking, this masterclass offers a dynamic and enriching experience for all levels of expertise. $100
RSVP 
Shane Nicholson @ Memo
Saturday 22 July, 7 pm
Shane’s current album Living in Colour was named 2022 CMAA Album Of The Year as well as Alternative Country Album Of The Year. $40/$30
Tix
Wendy Matthews & Grace Knight ‘We’re Going to Graceland’ @ Memo
Sunday 23 July 2023, 2 pm
Grace Knight & Wendy Matthews present the songs of Paul Simon.
Tix
Anne Harvey-Nagl (Violin) & John O’Donnell (Piano) @ All Saints
Sunday 23 July, 3 pm – 4 pm
Anne Harvey-Nagl returns to All Saints with Beethoven and Brahms:
Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonata no. 9 in A, Opus 47 (“Kreutzer”)
Johannes Brahms, Sonata no. 2 in A, Opus 100. $25/$20
Info 
Away @ Theatre Works
Until Saturday 22 July
Shakespearean in structure, but deeply personal in tone, Michael Gow’s Away is a uniquely Australian look at small families… and their epic stories. Directed by Steven Mitchell Wright.
Tix and info
The Age review
Next week
Heritage Talk: Enchanted Beneath the Bluff @ St Kilda Library
Tuesday 25 July, 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm
Isaac Hermann and co-author Heather Arnold, discuss their recently published book Enchanted Beneath the Bluff. The talk will look at the history of the Elwood Swamp and Red Bluff where theosophists Agnes Simmons and Geraldine Minet mined for coal in the 1890’s. Talk introduced by David Brand. Free.
Bookings required .
Lethal Practice: Murder + Mayhem + Malice in the Medical World @ Sisters in Crime
Friday 28 July, 8 pm – 10 pm.
Medicine is supposed to be about healing and helping but the medical world can also offer many opportunities to do harm . . . even kill. The three authors, Anne Buist (Locked Ward), Jacinta Halloran (Dissection), and Sue White (Cut), are all medical doctors. They know the issues firsthand and will tell all to host Toni Jordan.
Book by Thursday 27 July, 2 pm
Rising Sun Hotel, 2 Raglan St., South Melbourne
No wheelchair access
Bjorn Again – Featuring the Arrival Orchestra @ Palais
Saturday 29 July
Björn Again bring ABBA’s timeless hits back to the stage in a sing-along, dance-along extravaganza. $80
Tix
RocKwiz Salutes Mushroom 50 @ Palais
Wednesday 2 August. 7.30 pm
Julia Zemiro, Brian Nankervis, Dugald McAndrew, and the RocKwiz OrKestra will bring their unique brand of comedy, kwizzery, and musicality with a host of special guests from the Mushroom stable on the national tour to honour five decades of iconic music. $129
Tix
Local and independent coverage
of Council news and decisions
Preliminary data from survey responses
Survey still open – click here
Preliminary results (until noon Wednesday 19 July)
265 responses
Failed collection
214 responses or 80%
Normal collection
41 or 15%
Streets with failed bin collection reported via survey in first 6 days
Alpha order, duplicates removed
Acland St, Albert St, Albion, Alfred pl, Alma Grove, Alma Place, Alma Rd, Argyle St, Ashworth St, Balston St, Barkly, Bertie St, Blessington Court, Bluff Ave, Broadway, Burnett St, Byrne Ave, Canterbury Rd, Carter St, Chapel St, Charnwood Crescent, Clyde St, Clyde St, Cowderoy St, Cowper, Cowper St, Crimea St, Daley St, Dalgety lane, Dalgety St, Duke St, Eildon Rd, Emilton Ave, Evans, Evelyn St , Evelyn St,, Fawkner St, Fiona court, Fitzroy st, Foster Ave, Foster St, Gibbs St, Glen Eira Ave, Glen Huntly Rd, Grosvenor St, Gurner St, Hawsleigh Ave, Head St, Hennessy Ave, Hotham Grove, Inverleigh Crt, Irymple Ave, John, John St, Kendall St, King St, Kipling St, Lansdowne Rd, Little Grey St, Loch St, Loch St, Longmore St, Lytton St, Marine Parade, Marine Pde, Marriott St, Mason Ave, Mitchell St, Mitford St, Napier St, Nelson St, Neville St, Nightingale st, Nimmo St, Normandy rd, Not St Kilda, Ormond Rd, Park Lane, Park Rd, Park St, Patterson, Perrins St, Pilley, Pine Ave, Poets Prove, Richardson St, Robe St, Scott St, Sebastapol, Sebastopol St, Shelley St, Shirley Grove, Smith St, Spray St, St Kilda St, St Leonards Ave, St Leonards Place, Steele Ave, Sycamore Grove, Tennyson St, The Esplanade, Tiuna Grove, Vale St, Waterloo Crescent, Westbury Close, Wimmera Place, Woodstock St, Wright St
Click here to participate in survey
Council statement on bin collection in full
How does Council describe the performance of the household rubbish collection in the first weeks of July?
We sincerely apologise to residents whose kerbside bin collections have been affected since we changed contractors on 1 July. While 90 per cent of bins are being collected, the missed collections are unacceptable and we understand residents’ frustration. We are doing what we can to help the contractor resolve their issue, including redeploying Council Officers in Council trucks to assist with missed bin collections.
What is council’s explanation for this performance?
The new contractor, Citywide, is experiencing technical difficulties navigating new routes and identifying where bins are put out.
What assurances does Council offer for performance throughout the remainder of July and then beyond?
We have been very clear to Citywide that we expect them to resolve their collection issues as soon as possible. We are assisting them to improve the mapping and hope to see improved collections from next week.
Why did the service provider change?
We changed contractors after a rigorous public tender in which probity advisers were involved at all stages. Considerations included value for money and technology.
Who owns the new service provider?
Citywide is wholly owned by the City of Melbourne.
Are there any senior officers formally from CoPP employed at the new service provider?
No.
Greg Day
Happy to chat anytime 0418 345 829
Content suggestions and community questions are always welcome.
gday@archives.gdaystkilda.com.au
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