VOTERS bored with a seemingly interminable eight-week federal election campaign can now begin to focus attention on polling day on 2 July after the political runners were confirmed on Friday. The Australian Electoral Commission released the official list of candidates on Friday (10 June). A field of six will contest the seat of Flinders and 11 candidates will battle to win the hotly-contested marginal seat of neighbouring Dunkley. Liberal Environment Minister Greg Hunt holds Flinders by a whopping 11.8 per cent margin so there seems little chance of an upset victory as he faces challengers Carolyn Gleixner (Labor), Willisa Hogarth…
Author: Neil Walker
FRANKSTON Council has officially decided not to take a stand against sky rail on the Frankston line after councillors voted to defer a stance on the contentious possibility of elevated rail as part of the separation of rail and road at level crossings. A packed public gallery, including Liberal state Upper House MP for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region Inga Peulich and anti-sky rail protesters, at last Monday evening’s public council meeting heard councillors debate whether council should now formally oppose elevated rail along any section of the Frankston line or wait until the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) release…
UNRULY Frankston Council meetings are becoming the norm rather than the exception in the lead up to council elections in October when councillors face the voters for re-election. Cr Suzette Tayler was ordered out of the council chamber during last Monday evening’s monthly public council meeting amid arguments between councillors over business cards. The latest public spat comes after last month’s public council meeting was cut short amid threats to expel Cr Tayler from the council chamber during a debate about rising costs to refurbish Wells St in central Frankston. Frankston mayor Cr James Dooley ordered Cr Tayler from last…
AN AUDIT of upgrade works to Wells St will be conducted after the cost of a ‘new look’ for the central Frankston street rose from $3.5 million to $4.9 million. Councillors last month decided to instruct internal council auditors to comb over spending on new street lights, street furniture, wider footpaths and new gardens. Council CEO Dennis Hovenden confirmed at a public council meeting there had been “project scope changes” increasing the cost of the Wells St revamp but he stressed all changes had been signed off by council. The project was originally slated to be complete in October last…
A BITTER war of words has erupted over the closure of City Life’s cafe in Clyde St Mall that feeds Frankston’s homeless and disadvantaged. Pastor Mark Whitby, founder of the charity who has overseen its operations for two decades, announced last week the cafe and associated Frankston Churches Breakfast Club will stop dishing out meals for the last time next month. City Life is being forced to move due to the construction of a $16 million five-storey apartment building at 4 and 6 Clyde St Mall and 36R Ross Smith Ave East (”Homeless’ charities close doors’, The Times 6/6/15). Frankston…