MORE than $91 million in ratepayer money will be spent on major projects in Frankston during the 2022/2023 financial year. Frankston Council ticked off its budget for the next financial year at its last public meeting. The final budget confirmed that Frankston Council will spend more than $15 million on the Jubilee Park redevelopment. Ratepayer funding is also being used to fund redevelopments at Eric Bell Reserve, Lloyd Park, and Belvedere Reserve. The final budget also confirms that ordinary rates will rise by an average of 3.4 per cent in the next financial year. Rates on vacant residential land will…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
UMPIRES as young as 13 are being berated and abused while officiating junior football matches. In the opening six rounds of the Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League, five adults have been suspended for umpire abuse. The suspended people include team officials and coaches. One coach has been handed a lifetime ban, and an ex-AFL player is also alleged to have been involved in an incident. A University of Sydney report into umpire abuse was leaked earlier this year. The report featured horrifying accounts of sexual harassment, racism, and abuse faced by female umpires across Australia. A recent AFL crackdown on…
A FRANKSTON councillor could be sent to arbitration to fight misconduct allegations for the second time in two years. An arbitration process has been initiated between Frankston Council and Cr Steven Hughes. The application was made after seven other councillors signed a written dispute statement alleging he had engaged in misconduct. The Times asked Frankston Council for the specifics of the allegations. Council CEO Phil Cantillon said “information relating to an internal arbitration process, other than the arbiter’s finding and reasons, is confidential information in accordance with Section 145 of the Local Government Act 2020. On this basis, it would…
DOGS could be banned from the new community park on Tarella Road in Chelsea. Kingston Council is considering banning dogs from the public space. They have put the proposed ban out for community consultation. A report into the proposal prepared by Kingston Council officers read that the ban would “safeguard and protect the native flora and fauna found on the site”. “The proposed area for the new no dog zone would need advisory signage to be installed to clearly indicate that no dogs are permitted within the park,” the report read. “The closest dog off leash area is located in…
CONSTRUCTION work has begun on the multi-billion dollar Suburban Rail Loop project. The eastern section of the rail loop will link Cheltenham Station on the Frankston line to Box Hill Station. Early excavation works began in Clayton last week. Early construction works on the project will include the laying of a 63 metre sewer pipe, road modifications, service relocations, and preparation to install tunnel boring machines. Project crews are expected to install up to 10 tunnel boring machines to create 26 kilometres of twin tunnels for the rail line, with six stations to be built underground. Premier Daniel Andrews announced…