MORE than $75 million will flow into the Frankston area after the federal government was re-elected, Frankston mayor Kris Bolam says. At the 3 May federal election the Labor government was comfortably returned to office. Incumbent Dunkley MP Jodie Belyea also retained her seat with an increased margin.
Shortly before the campaign officially got underway, the federal government announced it had budgeted $50 million towards Nepean Highway works and $5 million towards the Bruce Park pavilion redevelopment. During the election campaign Labor promised $2.5 for the Len Phelps pavilion expansion, $1.75 million for the Frankston Bowling Club canopy dome, $225,000 for new sports lighting at Ballam Park, $1.5 million for CCTV infrastructure, $400,000 for Smacktalk online safety education, $500,000 for Sikh Volunteers Australia’s Langwarrin facility, $10 million for Westernport Highway upgrades early works, $200,000 for McClelland Sculpture Park’s greenwave program, $1 million for Thrive Hub in Frankston, and $2 million for the Cranbourne Road and Beach Street intersection upgrade.
Bolam said the cash injection “well and truly exceeded all expectations” “I thank Jodie Belyea and indeed the Frankston community for mobilising to embrace the bulk of Frankston City Council’s advocacy agenda,” he said. “This is what happens when we all work together and put community before politics.”
The Liberals’ largest local promise was $900 million for the extension of the Frankston railway line towards Baxter. The project was costed at $1.5 billion in a business case completed more than five years ago.
A statement from Frankston Council read that it would continue to advocate for projects which were unfunded during the federal election campaign, including “emergency relief funding for organisations such as Community Support Frankston. “A report will be presented to council following the election to determine next steps on unfunded projects, particularly ahead of the 2026 state election.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 13 May 2025