A VCAT decision to remove a long-planned hospitality space from the Mentone Hotel redevelopment has been labelled “deeply disappointing” by Kingston Council. Late last month, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal granted a permit to applicant Mentone Bayside Corporation Pty Ltd to replace the planned hospitality space with two apartment dwellings. The decision overrides a settlement agreement reached in 2018 which allowed for the site redevelopment to proceed with a requirement for a food and drink premises. The published VCAT decision read that Mentone Bayside had “applied to the council for permission to amend the permit to replace the food…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
EDITHVALE-Aspendale Junior Football Club is calling for the urgent redevelopment of its clubrooms to improve accessibility. The junior football club now hosts nearly 900 players a season at its Glen Street Reserve homebase, including more than 200 children in the AusKick program. EAJFC president Naomi McKay said a redevelopment of the club’s facilities is necessary to facilitate “inclusion, dignity, and ensuring every member of our community has equal access to participate.” A statement from the junior football club read that “on 11 June 2025, a person with a physical disability was unable to access the toilets and had to use…
TESS Law has resigned from Kingston Council. Law’s resignation was confirmed by Kingston Council in a statement last week. Law has resigned from her position as ward councillor for Melaleuca effective immediately. Council’s statement did not outline the reason for Law’s resignation. The Times reached out to Tess Law for comment, but did not receive a response. Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley said “on behalf of council, I thank Cr Law for her service to the Kingston community and in particular her representation of the Melaleuca ward. We wish her all the best for her future endeavours.” Law was elected at…
THE federal government has finally confirmed its long-awaited plans for gambling reform, nearly three years after a gambling inquiry chaired by former Dunkley MP Peta Murphy handed down its final report. The “You win some, you lose more” report was published in June of 2023. Among the 31 recommendations was a ban on online gambling advertising, stronger consumer protections for licensed online gambling, a crackdown on illegal gambling websites, and a legislated duty of care (“Murphy’s gambling law considered” The News, 22/1/2024) . Last week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the National Press Club that the federal government would legislate…
A RATE rise of 2.75 percent for Kingston residents has been proposed for the next financial year. Kingston Council’s draft budget for 2026/2027 was released for consultation last week. The budget proposes a 2.75 percent rate rise in line with the state government’s rate cap. The draft 2026/2027 budget projected a surplus of $6.4 million, and an infrastructure budget of more than $80 million has been set aside for capital works projects. The draft budget is impacted by the planned opening of the new Mordi Aquatic Centre in the middle of the financial year. Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley said that…