Are You On Board?

Queens Quay is hosting a week-long celebration to build anticipation of "the dynamic new urban design that will change the way we live, work and play along our waterfront." Today's your last chance to jump on board for a free boat tour, which leaves the York Quay terminal at 10, 12, 2 and 4. Even if you miss the free ride, the tours are always operating, and the charges aren't too steep. I did a recent tour with my mum, for $12 a piece it was well worth it, even if I did feel like a bit of a tourist. I never tire of looking back at our booming skyline, I just hope the promised changes are as "dynamic" as they say.

While this 3.5km stretch of downtown waterfront has received a lot of attention, sadly, further west, residents are still fighting to save the waterfront from an atrocious parking project. Initially, the city, backed by wayward councilor Sylvia Watson, was going to rip down a grove of old willows adjacent to the newly reno'ed Palais Royale. Surely this isn't in line with the grand waterfront plan. Who wants to go out on the water only to gaze back at concrete and steel? In a compromise, council has now voted to build the lot, but back it up about 50 yards, enough to keep aestheticists, Martin Goodman trail users and boat-happy kids like me enjoying the waterfront, oh, and drivers too.