A FORMER Frankston Council employee has pleaded guilty to scamming ratepayers out of more than $460,000. Andrew Williamson, a former community development manager at council, was alleged to have stolen $460,870 from ratepayers. He was also charged with attempt to commit an indictable offence for the amount of $65,530 and misconduct in public office. On 18 August, Mr Williamson pleaded guilty at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. Mr Williamson’s conduct was the subject of an investigation by the state’s peak anti-corruption body. The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission began Operation Topi after Frankston Council made a report to them. A statement from…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
MORE than 50 staff employed by Peninsula Health have tested positive for COVID-19. Frankston Hospital has been the hardest hit by the outbreak. Early last week, Peninsula Health CEO Felicity Topp confirmed that 51 staff members had tested positive for COVID-19 and 211 staff had been sent into isolation. Those numbers were released on 19 August. “Of the 51 staff cases, 40 are nursing staff, with four doctors having tested positive at this point, along with five support staff members and two Allied Health employees,” Ms Topp said. “Since the beginning of the pandemic we have tested 54,981 people, 336…
A DRAIN installed on the beach in Mentone is causing safety concerns for residents. The drain, which received a “major upgrade” last month, is located near the life saving club. Kingston councillor Geoff Gledhill raised the issue on his Facebook page. “I’ve been contacted by a number of residents who are concerned about the design of the new drain infrastructure on Mentone Beach. It is a substantial drop into what can be deep water, or at low tide, rocks with obviously insufficient barriers to stop a small child,” he said. “I have asked City of Kingston to apply a temporary…
THE planning minister is close to making a decision on the future of Alex Fraser Group’s Clarinda recycling plant, The News understands. The recycler’s permit to operate at the site expires in 2023, but it is applying to stay on until 2038. Kingston Council voted to refuse an extension to the permit last year, but the final decision will ultimately be made by the planning minister. It is understood that an advisory committee appointed to assess the application will make a recommendation this week. The mayor Georgina Oxley has called for the company’s bid for a longer stay to be…
FRANKSTON Council will consider extending many of its COVID-19 relief initiatives. At their August meeting councillors agreed to order a report which will assess “the feasibility of extending support and options to ratepayers who are experiencing financial hardship”. That report is due back in September. In principle, councillors supported not raising penalty interest on overdue rates payments and suspending legal costs relating to debt recovery action until 30 June 2021. They had previously resolved to put those measures on hold until the end of September this year. Council also agreed to prepare a second report, due back in February 2021,…