Author: Stephen Taylor

FRANKSTON City’s health sector is booming and the mayor, Cr Darrel Taylor, thinks the time is right for major health organisations to set up shop in the city centre. “The shift in the industry has been so great it has now overtaken retail trade as the largest employer in Frankston with more than 7000 jobs,” he said. “Whether it be private health providers or public agencies like the Department of Health or Peninsula Health, there are fantastic opportunities to set up health administration offices in the heart of Frankston’s growing Health and Education Precinct, recently defined under Plan Melbourne. “Our…

Read More

ESTABLISHING a post office at Aspendale Gardens would be a “huge win for a community isolated from postal services,” Mordialloc MP Lorraine Wreford said. She is urging residents to sign her online petition or one at Aspendale Gardens News & Lotto. Ms Wreford said the Aspendale Gardens Residents Association had made “solid progress” with the campaign for a post office, but needed a “real show of community support” to get results. “I have been lobbying Australia Post heavily about the need for a post office here,” she said. “They are listening, and we are getting close to a breakthrough, but…

Read More

FRANKSTON Council has endorsed a $20-$25 million plan to provide adequate basketball facilities through to 2031. A report to council last week outlined ways to upgrade and expand the city’s indoor basketball facilities, focusing on a staged development of Frankston Basketball Association’s stadium in Bardia Ave, Seaford. Officers have been asked to develop schematic plans for the improved facilities and to report back by December. They will undertake a funding advocacy campaign to identify potential grants from state and federal governments and other potential partners. The council has assigned $500,000 in next year’s budget towards the project. The full cost…

Read More

IT’S going to be hard for the crew at Frankston SES to think of Brian McMannis as anything but the chief. But that’s the reality as the man credited with turning the branch into perhaps the best in the state stands down after 28 years at the top. Tributes flowed at a retirement dinner attended by 220 wellwishers at Frankston RSL last week. State emergency services commissioner Craig Lapsley, SES chief officer Trevor White, deputy chief Tim Wiebusch, Dunkley MP Bruce Billson and the heads of the local CFA, police and the RSL all sang his praises after 36 years…

Read More

FOOTBALLERS, cricketers and netballers all got a boost last week with a $100,000 grant to redevelop the pavilion at Bonbeach recreation reserve. The money will provide unisex change rooms, improved umpire, first aid and storage areas, accessible toilets and a lift to access the upstairs community areas. The pavilion is the home of the Bonbeach Sharks Football Netball Club and the Bonbeach Tangy Cricket Club. Funding is through the Country Football Netball Program. Sharks vice president Gerard Turville said he was “happy happy, happy” with the funding announcement and that all those associated with the club were excited. “We’ve had…

Read More