Author: Neil Walker

A MOOROODUC artist won a top award at this year’s Chelsea Rotary Art Show, taking out first place in the oils/acrylic category. Janis Barbieri’s Tropicana was deemed best in show in its category by judges at the 43rd annual Chelsea Rotary Art Show held at Chelsea Hall on 9-11 June. Barbieri, who signs her maiden name Janis Taber on her artworks, said it is the first arts award she has won since taking up inks and oils six years ago after working in the fashion industry. She said her art is “creative botanical and inspired by nature”. “I love combinations…

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REPORTED crimes across the Kingston area dropped in the first three months of the year according to the latest figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency Victoria. The statistics, released on Thursday (14 June), showed there were 10,376 offences recorded in the Kingston region in the 12 months until March, down from 11,652 at the same time the year before. Neighbourhood Watch Victoria, which started with a pilot program in Frankston in 1983, welcomed the statistics “indicating a continued decline in crime across the state”. There was a decrease of about 10 per cent across Victoria. Neighbourhood Watch Victoria CEO…

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ELECTIONEERING ahead of November’s state election has gone up a level with a Liberal Party pledge to limit residential development across Melbourne’s suburbs. Opposition leader Matthew Guy has promised to bring back a two-dwelling limit on lots in Neighbourhood Residential Zone areas, stopping multi-developments allowed if a “garden area” of 25 per cent is in place. The state opposition has also vowed to reduce the height limit in General Residential Zone areas back to nine metres, down from its present 11 metres limit. State planning spokesman David Davis said Andrews government “changes to our planning laws are now choking Melbourne’s…

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REPORTED crimes across the Frankston area dropped in the first three months of the year according to the latest figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency Victoria. The statistics, released on Thursday (14 June), showed there were 14,313 offences recorded in the Frankston region in the 12 months until March, down from 16,652 at the same time the year before. Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke welcomed the 14 per cent crime drop. “This is what happens when you’ve got a government that gives police the resources it wants which is more police, more power and more protection to get things…

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DOGS will be allowed to roam free at a section of Edithvale beach as part of a trial of a possible 24-hour off-leash area. Councillors at the 28 May public council meeting voted to allow dogs to walk off-leash along the Edithvale foreshore between Somme Lane and Bristol Avenue but are seeking community feedback on the plan. South Ward councillor David Eden said people may completely back or oppose the move or be happy for it to proceed “with some modifications”. He acknowledged “a compromise” between dog owners and non-pet owners is needed when deciding where dogs can walk off-leash…

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