Author: Neil Walker

A CONTROVERSIAL near half a billion grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation has been slammed as “a slap in the face” to scientists working in Aspendale. A federal government decision to give $443 million to the foundation is under scrutiny after it emerged the organisation itself did not formally apply for the taxpayer-funded grant. Federal Isaacs Labor MP Mark Dreyfus blasted the decision by the Liberal National Coalition government and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Dreyfus said the money would have been better directed towards climate change research by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). “Mr Turnbull’s…

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A PRINTING bungle will see Frankston ratepayers receive a replacement 2018-19 rate notice in coming days. Frankston Council blamed a contractor for rates notices being issued with an incorrect address and assessment reference number on the back of rates notices. Council said the contractor will reissue corrected replacement notices to all Frankston ratepayers even though the barcode on the front to make payment scans correctly. “Council’s customer-facing staff were quickly armed with the information and processes they needed to assist ratepayers, and initial reconciliations of rate payments to date indicate there has been minimal negative impact,” mayor Cr Colin Hampton…

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A FOOD charity that feeds the needy is encouraging people to visits its op shop to support its ongoing operations. Theodora House Cheerful Givers, founded by Gina Poulos, said the shop is “a little out of the way” and people may not know of its existence. “It’s great if people buy something from the op shop,” she said. The cheerful givers dish out about 1000 food parcels each week thanks to support from the Langwarrin Hotel who pitch in about $1000 a month to keep food flowing to those who most need it. Ms Poulos said there is an “everything…

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THE high-profile sand sculpting exhibition that lured millions of visitors to Frankston is leaving the city. The annual sand sculpting exhibition, hosted at the Frankston waterfront for the past decade, will not return next summer. Failed negotiations between commercial event organiser Sandstorm Events and Frankston Council about making the sculptures exhibition an all-year round event are believed to be partly behind the decision for the event to leave Frankston. Sandstorm Events did not return calls from The Times before publication but council did confirm the sand sculpting exhibition’s exit. “The end of the major event contract with council coincided with…

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A COMMUNITY-MINDED neighbour has ensured a fire emergency service fit for the future by agreeing to sell his former home to make way for an expansion of the Edithvale Fire Station. John Hennessy, 88, attended a march by Country Fire Authority firefighters as part of the new station official opening ceremony on Saturday (4 August). Mr Hennessy agreed to sell his Station Street residential property to the CFA a decade ago when it became apparent that the fire station would need to be refurbished and expanded. The Edithvale resident turned down approaches by property developers for the land and property…

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