On a recent trip to Cairns and Port Douglas, I couldn’t help but notice the vast difference in how councils manage the basics — and it left me asking: why can’t the City of Port Phillip (CoPP) do so much better?

The Cairns & Port Douglas Example

Cairns is bustling with residents and tourists, yet its commitment to core services is clear. Dog poo bags are available everywhere — and there’s no mess on the footpaths. BBQ areas are spotless, bins are not only emptied regularly but gleam as if freshly scrubbed, and the footpaths have clearly been jet-washed (properly). Vinegar is placed beachside in case of stings, showing foresight and care.

Bars insist on photo ID after certain hours, ensuring accountability. Police and PSOs (or their local equivalent) are highly visible, not heavy-handed but present, friendly, and reassuring. Council workers are everywhere, cleaning after major events like visitors piling into small businesses for rugby matches, the AFL grand final, and through school holidays. The greenery is lush, welcoming, and makes the city a pleasure to walk through. It’s tropical up North, I get it, but we can make Acland Street greener if the will was there.

And while it’s the State Government that provides the cheap, accessible public transport (50-cent fares, tap-and-go or cash), Cairns Council sets the stage by ensuring public spaces are clean, safe, and well-maintained and ample, affordable parking.

The Contrast in Port Phillip

Here in Port Phillip, the difference is obvious. Our bins overflow, BBQs and parks look neglected, footpaths are dirty, and antisocial behaviour thrives in neglected spaces, because we’re a safe haven for deliberate, poor behaviour. Instead of prioritising amenity and core council services, CoPP spends on “glitzy” projects — flashy fairy lights and pink bollards — while basics like the O’Donnell Garden fountain sits broken.

Acland Street could be shaded by drought-resistant trees, but instead it’s covered with fibreglass canopies and cheap umbrellas. This is a choice, not a climate inevitability.

The Way Forward

If Port Phillip wants to be truly welcoming, it must lift its game. Yes, the State Government runs public transport, but CoPP controls what people see and feel the moment they step onto our streets: clean spaces, safe and uncluttered pathways, greenery, and basic amenity.

Fix the fountain before the fairy lights. Empty the bins before more “placemaking” spin. If Cairns and Port Douglas can do it, CoPP can too — if it focuses on what matters.