Heritage Docklands ships evicted with nowhere to go

ABC NEWS (Australia)

It was all hands on deck down at Melbourne’s Docklands today to save a fleet of heritage ships from being evicted.  The fleet, which includes the historic tall ship the Alma Doepel has been ordered to leave the Docklands for a major housing development in a move supporters say threatens Victoria's maritime heritage.

Transcript

00:00More than 100 years of history sailing into port.

00:07The majestic Alma Doppel and a replica of the enterprise

00:12are part of a heritage fleet that's called the Docklands' home for many years.

00:17But now they're set to be evicted as early as next month.

00:22They are Melbourne identities and they should remain in Melbourne.

00:26The fleece was given notice to vacate North Wharf by Government Agency Development Victoria

00:31so that demolition can start next year for 900 new apartments.

00:35Today a sail passed protest objecting the decision received a groundswell of local support.

00:45The neighbourhood's history so tied to the fleet, three of its streets are named after the ships.

00:50Her history is linked to Melbourne, it's linked to Docklands.

00:53The height of the Balti Bridge is the height of the Alma Doppel's mast.

00:57Besides being popular with tourists, the ships have supported youth training programs for decades,

01:02giving young volunteers the chance to learn the ropes.

01:05There's people here today who had a really challenging upbringing

01:09and the one time that they really felt that they were part of a team

01:13is when they came and did a nine-day voyage on this ship.

01:16Supporters say the restoration of the Alma Doppel years in the works is also under threat.

01:23Who knows what happens to that? If we have no workshop, we can't continue to work.

01:28Development Victoria says the heritage fleet has been operating out of the Docklands

01:33for the past 16 years on a peppercorn licence.

01:36It says boat owners were given plenty of notice that they'd have to vacate,

01:40but their captains say they have no other port to call home.

01:44The government's suggested site at Williamstown is undergoing restoration

01:48and won't be ready until mid-2026, leaving the fleet stuck in troubled waters.

01:54At the moment there is no other port. Melbourne has no other place that we can go.

01:59There we go.

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