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…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
A PROPOSAL to allow Kingston Council’s CEO to strike down notices of motion before they are debated in the council chamber remains under consideration. At Kingston Council’s March meeting, councillors received an analysis of the Governance Rules relating to notices of motion. Council officers were asked to consider the merits of allowing the CEO to veto controversial proposals (“Council considers CEO veto powers” The News 25/2/2026). At council’s March meeting, councillors voted to commence another review of the Governance Rules and receive “a further report regarding the Governance Rules review and proposed amendments, with a view to formally amend the…
AN external provider has been appointed to take over the community and aged care services being phased out by Frankston Council. Late last year, Frankston Council announced it would cut its personal care services, domestic assistance including house cleaning and unescorted shopping, respite care, Home and Community Care Program for Younger People assessment services, meals on wheels and delivered meals for HACC-PYP clients only, home maintenance and modifications including gutter cleaning, flexible service response, and escorted shopping (“Council confirms care cuts” The Times, 4/11/2025). Last week it announced that AccessCare, which is managed by Kingston Council, would take over its…
THE planned redevelopment of Rossdale Golf Course in Aspendale took another step forward this month with the release of an independent planning panel report. The golf club unveiled plans to build housing of up to three storeys on the 43.5 hectare site in 2024. The planning minister referred the proposed Rossdale Golf Course redevelopment to the state’s Priority Projects Standing Advisory Committee for consideration in mid-2025. The committee’s report was released this month; it found that the conversion of the land to housing was “possible while protecting the site’s areas of environmental sensitivity and the Ramsar wetlands.” “Ultimately, the committee…
A SEAFORD woman has avoided conviction after pleading guilty to aggravated cruelty under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. In a statement, RSPCA Victoria said it attended a Seaford home and found an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier–type dog with a sizeable suspected tumour. The dog was assessed at a RSPCA Victoria veterinary clinic, where a bacterial skin infection was found on the tumour site. The mass was removed by surgery, but the dog received a terminal cancer diagnosis. During a follow-up inspection, RSPCA staff say they “detected a strong odour and found the dog was unable to walk and…