A BUSINESS case assessing the proposed electrification of the Frankston line to Baxter has suggested that a different option be taken instead. The business case was finally publicly released last week, more than a year after it was handed to the federal government. It assesses five options to improve local public transportation. One option assessed in the business case only provides improvements to bus services. Two would see no electrification works undertaken and add passing loops to the Stony Point line, and the final two would see the track duplified and electrified to Langwarrin and Baxter respectively. The study identifies…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
THE results of the Kingston Council election have been announced. Crs Georgina Oxley, Steve Staikos, George Hua, David Eden, and Tamsin Bearsley were re-elected to sit on the expanded 11 person council. Other running incumbents Rosemary West, Geoff Gledhill, and Tamara Barth lost their bids for another council term. Six new faces were chosen by Kingston voters to represent them in the 2020-2024 term. Cameron Howe, founder of the Carrum and Patterson Lakes Forum resident group was comfortably elected in Banksia Ward. Tracey Davies, Chris Hill, Hadi Saab, Tim Cochrane, and Jenna Davey-Burns were elected in Chicquita, Como, Karkarook, Melaleuca,…
TWO COVID-19 testing sites have been closed by Peninsula Health. The drive through testing site at FDBA Stadium in Seaford has been closed, and so has the walk-in clinic at John Madder Hall in Frankston Hospital. To replace the two testing sites, a new clinic has been set up at the former site of the Frankston Tennis Club at Frankston Hospital. The new site will operate from 8.30am to 6pm daily, and can be accessed by car via Yuille Street. All ages can be tested, and no booking or GP referral is required. Peninsula Health operations director of screening clinics,…
THE votes are in, and Frankston Council is undergoing a major change. Just one incumbent Frankston councillor was re-elected for the 2020-2024 term. Another eight candidates, a mixture of former councillors and new faces, will be sworn in imminently. The VEC declared the results of the Frankston Council election on 4 November. Cr Kris Bolam was the last man standing from the previous council term. Joining him as North-West Ward representatives are first-time councillors Steven Hughes and Sue Baker. Council veteran Glenn Aitken and former mayor Michael O’Reilly both ran to be re-elected in North-West Ward, but were defeated. Both…
NEW and returned candidates for Victorian councils have been warned that the state’s peak anti-corruption body is watching them closely. Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission deputy commissioner David Wolf said last week that the watchdog is committed to preventing the misuse of public office. “IBAC works closely with the Local Government Inspectorate and the Victorian Electoral Commission to take complaints and investigate any allegations of misconduct or corruption in council elections. We also work closely with the Victorian Ombudsman on other council related matters,” he said. “Despite our different areas of responsibility, the integrity agencies share intelligence to make sure that…