Author: Neil Walker

A BACKLASH against a proposed 24/7 off-leash zone for dogs at Edithvale beach has seen residents gather on the foreshore to show opposition to the proposal. Some dog owners also attended the demonstration. Demonstration organiser Kevin Harrison said many residents and beachgoers are aghast at a Kingston Council suggestion to allow dogs to run off-leash at all times of the day and night on a 300-metre stretch of Edithvale beach between Somme Lane and Bristol Avenue. He said the demonstration held on Saturday (7 July) was well attended despite poor weather on the day. “We cannot for the life of…

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KIND-HEARTED rescuers who adopt pets from Frankston pounds will no longer pay registration fees after councillors decided to “reward love with love” by dropping the fees for the first year of ownership. North-West Ward councillor Kris Bolam’s notice of motion was unanimously supported by fellow councillors at council’s latest 2 July public meeting. Council officers crunched the numbers and advised council would be forfeiting about $30,000 annually in registration fees. Cr Bolam believed the financial trade off is worthwhile. “It’s another way of saying thank you to people who are doing the right thing and adopting animals,” Cr Bolam said…

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FRANKSTON Council has come under fire over the sudden axing of trees on Cranbourne-Frankston Road. Readers have contacted The Times expressing alarm about “a desolate bomb site” left in the wake of trees being removed on Cranbourne-Frankston Road between Fletcher Road and Moorooduc Highway. Council says more than 150 trees will replace the previous trees as part of a boulevard planting project and the mayor Cr Colin Hampton said an arborist report found many of the axed trees were “in poor health and no longer providing adequate amenity”. “Two species of trees have been selected for planting, including the iconic native Norfolk…

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THE members of a major business chamber group in Frankston will vote later this month on putting the organisation into voluntary administration. The Frankston Business Network (FBN), also known as the Greater Frankston Business Chamber, wrote to its members on Thursday (5 July) to advise a special meeting vote will be held on Thursday 26 July. “While no commitment has been made at this stage, Frankston City Council has indicated they may explore options for supporting a business entity in lieu of FBN in 2019,” FBN president Kath Ferry said in an email to members. The business chamber representing many businesses throughout…

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FRANKSTON has a new deputy mayor. North-East Ward councillor Michael O’Reilly was elected to the role at council’s latest public council meeting on 2 July. A split 5-3 vote of councillors saw Cr O’Reilly, first elected to council in 2012, become deputy mayor in predecessor Cr Lillian O’Connor’s absence on approved personal leave “for several months”. Crs Kris Bolam, Brian Cunial, Sandra Mayer, O’Reilly and the mayor Cr Colin Hampton voted for Cr O’Reilly to be deputy mayor. South Ward councillor Steve Toms, deputy mayor last year, also put his hand up for the deputy mayorship last week. Crs Glenn…

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